A New Year Begins

by Cheryl Merrick

Brashly announcing its entrance
 with horns and bells,
the New Year soon settles, 
gratefully, back into familiar routine. 

Fading are the sound of bells.
Dimming are the twinkling lights.
With the gifts given and 
the festive meals eaten,
the jovial bustle of the holiday season
quickly dissolves into 
an amiable quietness.

Choice

by Cheryl Merrick

Accepting both my talents and my needs,
I turn from the dizzying rushing blur,
and retreat back into my quiet world;
A world where there is time to watch
snowflakes fall, leaves turn, and sunsets.

Depleted by schedules and rules,
my energy is refreshed in waterfalls of ideas.
Numbed by the cacophony of strangers’ demands,
I recover in the warmth of friends’ love.

Healing, I choose to remain
in my world of beauty and thought.
Nourished, I reach out
to share, teach, and love.

Earned

by Cheryl Merrick

Melting away in the heat
     of a bustling day,
Peace disappears.

Distilling again
     only though hours
of quiet prayer, study,
     and thought.

People's Choices

by Cheryl Merrick

Each choosing from
what comes easily to them,
what they enjoy,
what they value most,
makes choices throughout the day.

Some valuing preciseness,
spend their time with a computer
neatly organizing data.

Others who favor working with things,
fix cars, bake cakes, grow gardens,
build homes, or cook meals.

Those who enjoy being with groups of people,
attempt to teach, preach, lead,
heal, or sell to them.

Some dynamic enterprisers
employ their drive
in making the economy thrive.

There are a few, though,
who prefer to quietly reflect
on choices.