Posted in poetry

A Christmas Poem

Peace on Earth By: Sherri Lupton Hollister 2011


Silver tinsel shining bright
Carolers singing Silent Night
Bells clanging, pealing ring
Peace on Earth the Angels sing
Chaos, confusion , heartaches abound
There is no Peace on Earth to be found
I pray for a calm, quiet place
God whispers, “Child I give you grace.”
Wadded paper, twists of tape
Knotted ribbon, the hour late
So much to do no time to pause
Children touting Santa’s cause
Alas upon my bed I rest
I know in truth that I am blessed
For Peace on Earth at last I find
Quiet rest for a weary mind.

Posted in poetry

Fear or Love

Fear

The four letter word that gives rise to tyrants

Terrorists

And bigots

 

Fear

Our excuse for prejudice

Hate

And anger

Persecution of our neighbors

 

Fear

builds walls

prisons

and slums

Shackles the masses and silences our voices

 

Fear

Crowns kings

Starts wars

Ruins lives

Reasons injustice, murder and slavery

 

Is it better to be feared or loved?

 

Love

Gives rise to faith

Grace

And peace

 

Love

Tears down walls

Opens doors

Frees us from our prison

 

Love your neighbor

Pray for peace

Be courageous

Strong and free

 

Fear has no strength when we stand and fight

Fear has no hold when free men unite!

 

 

 

 

Posted in poetry

Peace on Earth

“Let there be peace on earth…”
There doesn’t seem to be much peace this year, the news is full of anger and fear, police brutality, terrorists and hate, crime is on the rise. Everyone shouting and screaming about the color of a cup or the words we use to greet each other. All the while children are being killed in their class rooms and shot in the streets.
As the bells jiggle and the lights twinkle children huddle in the cold, hungry and old before their time. Happy holidays, good cheer, would you like fries with that? Close the borders, close your eyes, don’t let the truth disturb the lies. Live and let live as long as we don’t disagree. Martyrs and fanatics, Christians, Muslims and Jews, straight, gay and all the way. Why can’t we all just get along?
My heart is heavy as children cry, old people left alone to die. Hate abounds, fragile glass of hope it drowns. Christmas star shine your light, we need your Peace on Earth tonight. Little Christ child in the hay, bring your love to me this day. The world can’t change unless we do, let the change begin with you. Peace on earth, the song we sing, let the bells of freedom ring. Be the change you want to see. Hope and faith and love are free, priceless their value to humanity. Gold and silver and silicone, the greatest of these is love.

Posted in poetry

Laughter is my Night Light

Do not judge me because I laugh too much or too loud
Do not think I know not pain
You do not know the tears I hide
My jokes & jests are just so much camouflage.
I CHOOSE to be the happy clown
For one caustic tear like acid waste will erode this dammed wall—
And teardrops shored will then flood my soul.
You know not my fear, my guilt, my shame
The mistakes I’ve made the choices that blame
The monsters hiding beneath my bed
Those who call my name
The demons whose taunts linger in my head
screaming, clawing, accusing, condemning my soul.
The laughter chases back the night
Shoves my tormentors back into our shadowy corner of Hell—
They wait…straining at the edge of the light
Biding their time
Seeking the moment when they can sink their steely fangs into my fragile flesh
and devour my Peace.
They will not consume me.
I choose to be happy
I choose to be free
They will not enslave me
I will NOT give the monster succor!
They will not reign over me…Master supreme.
For I am the Captain of my destiny
Mistress of my soul
I shall not go quietly into the darkness
I will sing, I will dance, I shall give my words wings
For Laughter is the Night Light that keeps the darkness at bay.