The Passport
sometimes, seemingly,
a kaleidoscope
A turn here, focus
bright times shining
passports document places
home provinces
traveling, entries, stamped
Birth to marriage is a passage
A given day
families and friends assemble
(church family too)
“In the presence of God and these witnesses”
two passports are presented
vows taken
stamped “Approved!”
two becoming one
walk well
the journey continues
yours to color
yours to twist and focus
life’s kaleidoscope….
Lin 1/2011
David and Courtney Graham
Sweet Spots
there is a spot
a very special spot
it may be a pitch thrown just right
a home run hit, just right on the bat
a golf ball drive
where the ball and the club
connected just right
the ‘sweet spot’
It could be life
the meeting of love…for a lifetime
of a Savior, lifetime and more
or special times less
but still ‘sweet spots’
For me
The Chi O hallway
the door opened
and Kay walked in
to stay…for a lifetime
A small church
a stairway
prayer with Sobol
connection with all things
Children born
count them
one two three four five
each so special
oh so fine
mine
ours
His
In 89
“Farm Leader of the Year”
by my peers
farm leaders all
lifting me
toasting me
Whew!
In ’06
“Trustee of the Year”
Illinois
fellow trustees
leaders all
lifting me
toasting me
Whew!
Each early morning
I pat the one beside me
choose to start the day
acknowledging her great value
her status and her rank
it is then I can look the day full faced
can pray in peace
can study deeply
reflect and offer thanks
I imagine God unlocking
doors to us held secret
until we’re ready,
God, the I Am,
always has been
is now
and forever will be
Yet God moves constantly
by the Spirit
Our challenge is to see
what has been prepared
for me
for thee
Lin 06/06
The Accountant and the Romantic
are nestled into one
the one I happily call my wife!
Ah, yes, she is an enigma
who chases hard a penny
to make her numbers perfect
and yes, she loves love stories
roses on a trellis, a swinging garden gate
a man and woman deeply in love
finding each other in some night
At first I thought it odd
that an accountant could be so tender
but then I met her dad
got to know him deeply
from trips together near and far
(three weeks in the Antarctic far!)
As we plumbed each other
I found the tender heart
expressed in care for students
long outside the classroom
A love for his mom
that was gripping
a love for his wife
a love for his daughter
impressive
indeed, a tender man
and indeed, an impeccable accountant
of putting folks in boxes
neatly defined, contained
in ways we understand them
But if you can I wish you
would step upon the cardboard walls
to know the world outside
as perhaps God can see us
Complex
in His image
God created
put his stamp upon us
set us here for moments
created a forever
where we can dwell with Him
To Kay, 45 years and counting
Love, Lin
Kernel Richard Burwash
steeped in farming for sure
Blue shirt and blue jeans
he’s mingled with country clubbers
Through and through
an honest fellow
what you see
is what you get
a gift, is he,
in many ways
to me, to thee
and our community
Nine decades now
his hands on the plow
he’s preached to sidewalk pounders
about the vagaries of growing
the crops and animals
that feed the nation
freeing most to other work
One moment shines
for fifty years
he sires a sweet corn feat
“Champaign Rotary Sweet Corn Roast”
is him there is no doubt
He sets aside an acre
researches best genetics
plants and tends the very best corn
than picks it, cooks it, shares it free
to Rotary, church and friends
picked at peak of sweetness
ears spend a day
soaking in cold water
then are slipped in baskets
Twelve big bags of charcoal
white with heat perfection
steam the kernels half an hour
then are spilled in a pile
Fun to see
a line of folks
buttered, salted ears of corn held tight
chomping down
“Mmmmm. Ahhhhh.
Boy that is good!”
“Well done, Dick!”
“Thank you Richard!”
“Three cheers for Burwash!”
And two hundred people
raise their voices
“Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!”
Intelligence in action
compassion for every one
Maybe there should be a title
Could it be “Kernel”?
In that elevated sense
of the very best
Richard Burwash, Kernel
Gift giver extraordinaire
Champaign Rotary Corn Roast 2010
Lin 07/10
Loving You
swirling our days
and relationships
One is very special.
A little one
can easily say
“I love you mommy!”
“I love you daddy!”
and be as sincere as possible
But the depth and height and breadth are short
captured by the numbered birthdays
Adolescence takes some steps
bouncing here and there
between a great big ‘self
and discovering others
with hormones being thrown in
Then “I love you” may get said
to someone of opposite sex
but again, though sincere,
the measuring stick is short.
In college years
our subject moves out
into the partway world
Not at home
but not on own
tethered still, by needs
Hormones roar
demanding attention
so we may find each other
And liking that
along the way
may venture forth the words again
“I love you.”
Three little words
that can carry two worlds
yours and mine
to mist away the other worlds
A hand holds a hand
two people hug
and hold
And the world goes away
for a precious moment
The Good Book puts it this way:
“The two shall become one” There you have it.
Linked forever, come what may
day after day
big things and little shared
happiness, sadness, neither spared
they walk together now
once again saying
“I love you”
Passing days
are many brush strokes
of a painting being done
two framed on one
the canvas measured
as lifetimes are
we start to see a picture
Children coming
parents going
life is always changing ah so busy!
hurry now!
time is slipping by
Grandma and grandpa
together in evening
watching little ones play
there is a knowing
a seeing deeper
and still they are wont to say
“I love you.”
But now the screen is great and huge
flooded with pictures past
I loved you then
I love you now
I’m loving you tomorrow
Some day
I want to say
“I love you’
my final words before I pass
What I held tight
for many years
will fly away
to heaven
I will have known
in tiny bits
heaven here on earth
because of you
and your saying to me
living to me
giving to me
“I love you.”
Happy Anniversary – 46 years and counting!
Lin 12/08
Fabric…
Jan…
Becky…
Kathryn…
Jane…
Jessie…
Joanne…
Ruth…
Bitsy…
Jen…
Kate…
Mom…
Gammy…
Granny…
with ladies with whom you share
there’s probably 50 more
who are somewhere ‘out there’
Someday at a sitdown
pencil and paper handy
your story would be glorious
if you would let it go
Your ‘book’, I’d buy,
to get your take
listen to your story
of those around you
Love,
Lin