Tag Archive | Poetry

Me hung!!

Feb19

Mommy, me hung, me hung!
English please?!
Mommy, you know!
I am hungry!
Could you make a snack for me?
Bread with chocopasta*
And some applesauce
That would really hit the spot!

Nicki, darling, you’re eleven years old
I’m sure you can do this on your own

Yes, I could
But it’s so much nicer
When you make it

Why don’t you get it yourself
It’s so easy, not complicated

It’s OK mom
I’ll wait for you
When you have time
Please remember, me hung!

Because you’re sweet
And diplomatic and kind
Because you give me
Kisses morning, noon and night
Because your hugs
Are so delicious, I say

I’ll make your snack for you
This time
But you’re growing up
You’ll make it next time!

Lida Berghuis
February 18th, 2011

*chocopasta = nutella in Dutch

Tahirih

Feb7

There was a time
When women were not seen,
heard or could move about
Hidden behind a veil
A curtain
Or the walls of the house
The woman was not seen, because
Her beauty would tempt men
Her safety would be in danger!
Anyway, that was what was said at the time!

Women were not heard
Outside the house
They spoke to other women
But with men in public places
They could not converse
Their duties confined them to the house

Women could not easily travel and
Move about
To be a model of chastity
In their homes they would reside
No need to travel anyway
Since they were not allowed to learn
Teach and have a public life

At such a time
Appeared a women named Tahirih
The pure one, the solace of the eyes
She wanted to learn, teach,
And travel abroad
Her restless mind and soul
Could not be confined

In pursuit of knowledge
A fearless lioness
An orator
Admired by women and men alike
A scholar, a poetess, a teacher, a leader
The like of which no one had
Seen in Iran

Tradition could not silence her
Convention could not stop her
She was a free spirit
Unique in the land
Her words and deeds
Brought fear to man!

A champion of equality
An activist for change
Unhindered by tradition
Ready to forge ahead

Her affection could not be bought
Life with the King, she even denied
Her heart belonged to the King of Hearts
Her poetry a testament to that love

Her spirit too frightening
For those in power
They wondered how to
Contain her

Prison did not prove sufficient
In time
Her life would be a sacrifice
To her Cause

A brilliant star devoted
To truth and love
Taking her life they thought
Would stop her rise

But you cannot stop the sun
From shining
You cannot stop the moon
From guiding
You cannot cover up the stars

Tahirih galvanized so many hearts
Her sacrifice
Had marvelous results

She inspired women
In the East and West
A model of courage, purity
And steadfastness

Her life will be celebrated
For all time
Those who tried to silence her
Failed outright

Their vision so small
Their hearts so cold
Even the fire of Tahirih’s words
Did not warm their souls

A woman leading men
Unheard of!
But Tahirih was the woman
Who dared to try!!

Lida Berghuis
February 6th, 2011

Let yourself be seen!

Jan22

“In order for connection to happen
You have to let yourself be seen
Be really seen”

With your strengths and weaknesses
With your beauty and ugliness
With your courage and your fear
With your smiles and your tears
With your joy and your sorrow
With your highs and your lows
With what you know and do not know
With what you feel and what you don’t

If this connection is to last
All these things will come to fore
Why hide them
Why pretend?

For an enduring connection
You need to be loved
Warts and all
You need to love yourself
Before all

Love yourself
Have compassion for yourself
Be content with where you are
While you forge ahead in life

Lida Berghuis
January 20th, 2011

*Brene Brown in the ‘Power of vulnerability’

They come and they go…

Jan19

Laughter like water
Puts out the fire of pain
Laughter like a flower
That has bloomed today

Tears like rain
Wash off the dross
Tears like a balm
Soothe a sad heart

A smile, like a rainbow
Brings a smile
A smile, like a light
Brightens the night

Frowns, like clouds
Hiding the sun
Frowns, they come
They are a part of life

Laughter, tears
Smiles and frowns
They come, they go
As we live our lives

Lida Berghuis
December 29th, 2010

Not philosophical!

Jan17

 

I can be philosophical
A lot of the time
Maybe I need to lighten up!
Write a poem about something fun
Something to cheer someone up!

“Tu veux ‘messer’ avec moi?”
Said Nick this morning
To my Ipad as he played a game

That cracked me up!
“Don’’t even think of it
Tu vas ‘dier’”
He went on

I asked him if he felt lighter
Because he lost a tooth last night?
He said, “No, not really
Another tooth is growing in its spot!

Natalie was nervous for her
First day back
Ready to walk out in -14 degree weather
Without mittens on her hands

Natasha had her new green hat on
With a jacket and a scarf
And as she was leaving the house
She was going over her schedule
Thinking out loud

One by one, they left the house
Into the cold winter day they stepped out
Are these my kids, I thought
I promissed  I wouldn’t get philosophical
So, I guess I’ll stop now!

Lida Berghuis
January 17th, 2011

I have to leave!

Dec24

 

Smash!
There goes my favorite vase!

Splash…
All the water spills out!

Splatter…
The flowers fall on the ground!

Scream!
Oh no!
That was my favorite vase!

Tears…
I’’m sorry I didn’’t mean to
I was just playing a pirate game

Anger!
I’ve told you many times
Not to play with the broom inside!

Sobs…
You have pushed me too far
I think I want to run out of the house!

Astonishmet!
Who should be angry right now?
The one whose vase is broken
Or the one who has done the crime!?

Mommy I told you, I didn’’t mean to
Mommy, I need to go
First though I’’ll pack my teddy bear
And some spare clothes
A flash light, some books and toys
And then I’’ll  leave
And stay outside
Maybe until it’s dark at night

And where do you plan to go
All by yourself?
Can you tell me that
Before you start on you adventure?

I’’ll be just down the road
In the second court
And when it gets dark
I’’ll come back home!
You just pushed me too far
This time
I have to leave
I must go right now!

Well, Tasha dear
I’’m sorry too
I did not mean to hurt you
What if we try a compromise?
Let us try this idea for size
What if you go out in the front of the house?
Stay out for a while and come back inside.

All right
I think I can do that
As long as you promise
Not to hurt me like that!

Lida Berghuis
March 28th, 2004
Tasha was 8 years old at this time.

The colours of my life

Dec23

Blue jello!
Blue roses
Blue sky
Blue is the colour of my life…

I turn my face
Heavenwards
I pray for the rain of healing to fall
I pray for brighter colours is my life

And my prayer is heard
Joy returns
Red and orange and yellow return
The flowers are enchanting
They perfume the air

Blue is part of life’s colour palate
Without it
Red and white don’t stand out
Blue is not how I want to feel
All the time
But sadness is part of life
It’s something I can’t run from

So, welcome sadness
Welcome joy
You are my friends
Forever more!

Lida Berghuis
March 23rd, 2006

Changing moods

Dec18

When everything takes so much effort
To make a phone call
Or go out the door
When I’’m not sure what to look forward to
Or  how to enjoy the things that I do

When I can’’t laugh at the funny things
In life
When I look in the mirror
And see a frown

When creativity says goodbye
When anxiety is all around
When I forget how it feels to be relaxed
When enthusiasm is a thing of the past

This is when I know
That darkness has come
There is a shadow
Over my life

And no matter how hard I try
And no matter what I do
I can’’t step out of the shadow

Once in a while I see a glimpse of light
But it does not last for long
Darkness is what dominates
The sun seems so long gone

I tell myself things must get better
But even hope is hard to come by
My patience is tested one more time
When will the darkness be finally gone?

I pray and entreat the heavens above
I pray for the rain of healing to fall
I must be patient I tell myself
But for how long? For how long?

And after it seems like I can’’tvtake it any more
And after having said prayers for what seems like a million times
Something begins to change in me
And I wonder if the feeling is real

The world is suddenly brighter
I can see why others laugh and play
I can hear myself laugh again
And feel the pleasure and joy again

Life seems meaningful once more
There are projects to do
Things to plan,
And places to go

A sense of calm comes over me
Anxiety begins to leave
Challenges don’’t seem insurmountable
And as suddenly as the darkness came
It begins to fade awayIMG_7283

Lida Berghuis
November 19th, 2005

Broken winged birds

Jun29

Does it matter where I come from?
Yes and no!
No, because we are all brothers and sisters
No matter where we were born

Yes, because acknowledging
My heritage
Is acknowledging who I am
Heritage and self-worth
Seem to go hand in hand

This did not make sense to me
A few years back
But I think I’m starting to understand

I love the West and what it stands for
But if I don’t appreciate the East
I’m not balanced

East and West
Hand in hand
Wings of a bird
Fingers of one hand

If I reject the East
I’m rejecting myself
I need me
And I need others as well

A broken winged bird
Cannot fly high
I want to soar
Soar in the sky!

Lida Berghuis
March 17th, 2004

Lost!

Jun19

I can read a map
But I would rather not
I can follow directions
But I often get lost!

Going North would be all right
If I knew which way North was!
And with all the one way streets downtown
If I make a wrong turn
I’’m out of luck!

The other time
All I wanted to do was to get back home
But instead
I took the scenic route!

I visited these new areas
I did not know existed
I saw new places
And tried to enjoy them

Finally I decided to ask
For directions
But remembering the directions
Was another challenge!

A GPS would be great
To tell me where to go
But for now it’s my hubby
On my cell phone!

Lida Berghuis
June 8th, 2004

 

*pre Google-map daysimage