Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Tribute to You


 A Tribute to You

The day we
packed up the kids
and our lunches and our tie-dyed eggs
and drove through you,
was the day small things started to change.

As we entered your sacred space,
you embraced us, and whispered that we were safe.
My heart raced, and then slowed,
switching between fierce ebbs and
apprehensive flows.

Your aroma is permanently
carved in my heart, and I can still smell
the shawl of acceptance you wrapped around
me, knowing how hard
I was trying to
breathe while my children played among
the Joshua Trees.

My bones thank you.

It was there under the Cirrus clouds
that I lay down on you,
and became
simply
a woman in love

with a man.

I don't know how, but you knew
that I hadn't
really let him inside for at least
half a decade.

I needed to be among the rocks,
and the curves of you to begin again
to speak
a language so long ignored
it was gathering cobwebs and dusted specks.

We, in our own traps, were stuck.

That day, we stopped spinning and
surrendered
to being tangled up in you
and
your soothing, mud-less breeze
of fault lines and ego dreams,
and we let go.

We trusted that you'd bring us home

That was eight months ago,
and to this day,
we are still closing our eyes,
and pinching our skin
with appreciation,

ever so gently,
always gently.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

his dream



his dream

knowing his dream
is to wake
beside her
she follows him
where he goes

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Fallbrook Lane




Fallbrook Lane
There is only one house on Fallbrook Lane.
In it lives a little man and his Great Dane.
They have tea and biscuits every morning at six.
And then cold cuts and soda pop while they watch Netflix.
The man is not lonely, for he likes it this way.
They have a routine each and every day.
They drive to town on Wednesdays to get supplies.
They drive to the beach on Saturday to let salt air touch their eyes.
Everything is simple with the cottage and the man.
Some think he's melancholy with no one to hold his hand.
He doesn't think so until one day he agrees.
He rises at eight instead six and fixes black eyed peas.
His big dog is perplexed but happy at the change.
He thinks perhaps they will walk to another lane.
They do and that is where they meet Ms. Susie Frees.
She never ever gardens on Thursdays before three.
But today something tells her to go get things done.
So out she ventures with her Poodle named Everyone.
Everyone and Susie greet the man and Dane.
Then they leave the gardening and visit Fallbrook Lane.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

A Prayer for Lynn Pelton from GGM and for all of Salone.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ and gather with friends and loved ones, please take a moment to remember those living in West Africa suffering through this Ebola crisis and those helping to fight it.  I have only been here about 3 weeks and I am tired.  The Nationals, Doctors without Borders and others have been fighting it for as long as 6 months. 
Progress is being made but no end is yet in sight.  Prayer and more people on the ground joining the fight is the only way this will end. Lynn Pelton, GGM
http://greatestgoalministries.org




Monday, December 22, 2014

I want to give you something


Art by Sandra Moreano, Words by Courtney Hanes

I want to give you something
That's white and red
But if you take it.
You have to promise
You won't laugh
or start to run
but instead you'll stick it in a little vase
and show everyone.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

A Song for the Winter Solstice


A Song for the Winter Solstice

You are the wild horse
I ride carefree on Sundays

You are a canvas for the words
I decorate with green moss
and blue savage moons

You are my secret sun
hiding behind
the shortest days
and longest nights

You are not afraid
to scatter your seeds
on the breast of a robin
to make memories

You are my sanctuary
of hungry wheat and
longing warm
underbellies of home

written by Courtney Hanes

Friday, December 19, 2014

Art and Words : I Grow

I grow

I grow because
sunshine
smiles on me
and my roots mix with rain

Art by Sandra Moreano   Words by Courtney Hanes

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Art and Words ALL



Art by Sandra Moreano ------ Words by Courtney Hanes


All

All most of us
want
is to be
from a place
we're proud
of

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Courtney's Poems with my Gelli Prints



I just got back from a writer's retreat and met and amazing poet. We have joined forces with her poetry on placed on my art work. I hope you as thrilled as I am!  More to come!