“The Table” by Hannah Cunningham the weather, the traffic her mom’s cancer his new job highs and lows pre-school and pickleball tragedies and triumphs over coffee and poached pears after roast and salad bread and wine streams of red and white flowing as freely as the conversation backs against chairs elbows on the table every soiled cloth napkin a liturgy lifted word upon word hums of agreement rivers of laughter bubbling trickles of tears on cheeks a world in itself around four wooden corners fear ebbing, belonging in flow taking insecurities, loneliness out to sea as another glass is poured.
“When Tantrums and Love Pour”
by Christina Snyder
The tears gush like rivers
full of skinned knees
out of grasps for what’s “mine”
sunk in taking the forbidden
The tantrums burst like fountains
over turns not given
from hungry bellies and sleepy eyes
when candy is wanted to satisfy
The needs are a never-ending well
hold me
play with me
fix me
show me love
more
more
and more
But the graces are deeper than the oceans
the mercies wider than the sea
like a gushing spring that never runs dry
and forgiveness incessant like waves meeting shore
This the ever-flowing love of my Father
meeting me during my tearful, needy tantrums
pouring into me
to meet my own children,
loving them during theirs
“There’s a Stream”
by Michelle Choiniere
tripping and giggling over rocks,
there’s a stream at the foot
of the mountain
its cool, silky water reflects
the majesty all around it
I wish to sit for a moment
and drink in the still, hushed
portrait displayed
or to rest on its banks,
and bask in the sun’s warm rays
but the water pulls me in
by the tips of my toes,
sinking me deep
and swallowing me whole
I emerge with praise on my lips
thanking my Savior
for washing me clean
and refreshing my soul
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