Winter Night

by Cheryl Merrick

Moon- full disk of glowing light
high in the winter sky

Trees- dark silhouettes
trailing shadows behind them

Stars- distant points of light
punctuating the velvet expanse

As winter's intense stillness

enfolds the night in beauty

Thoughts on a full moon in December

Seasons

by Cheryl Merrick
Seasons
(Read by one person)                 (read in unison)                          (read by other person)

Winter

Hobbling                                                                       Hopping
                                           to the window,
the old man                                                                   the young boy
                                           definitively declares,
“Too cold out there!”                                                   “Great sledding!”
                                           and so, with one last               
chilling glare,                                                                longing glance,
the old man                                                                   the young boy
settles back in                                                               rushes from
 his chair,                                                                      the room,
                                            thinking
                                            of snow,
                                            and hoping it
will soon                                                                       will not
                                             melt.

Summer Mornings

by Cheryl Merrick

Still, cool, and fresh,
filled with the happy
chattering of birds,
the day stands poised to begin.

A moment,
quiet and un-rushed,
to pause and reflect
before activity
come bounding in.

Still Moments

by Cheryl Merrick

Breakfast on the patio
early on a cool summer morning

Pink mountains
on a snowy winter evening

Sitting in the late afternoon
glow of fall

Light filtering through a
forest of green leaves

Sparkling snow in
an intense blue world

Snowstorm

by Cheryl Merrick

Through a white mist
of steadily falling snow,
soundlessly,
the world slowly disappears.
Tiny flakes
mound upon bare branches
and heavily heap
on evergreens.
Walks, roads, and yards
become one,
leaving our home
a small, quiet haven of warmth
in a world of cold, crystal whiteness.

Snow Stories

by Cheryl Merrick

Unseen animals leave
me snow stories.

A family of quail
quilt the yard
with arrows pointing
where they’ve been.

January Has Arrived!

by Cheryl Merrick

Days short - but getting longer
Temperatures cold - but getting warmer

Frivolous holiday trappings
are carefully, but firmly, put back in their boxes.
Gone are the brightly tinkling lights
and the spicy smell of goodies baking.

Instead of basking in the warm glow
of celebration indulgence,
we squint in the glaring spotlight
of reality.

First Snow

by Cheryl Merrick

Gazing out at the cool, gray morning,

I am startled to see snowflakes

drifting down.

Unwilling to give up my autumn strolls

by the river,

I stare at the silent falling snow;

Til mesmerized by the delicate beauty,

My mind fills, flake by flake,

with Christmas memories.  

Easter Thoughts

by Cheryl Merrick
In submission to His Father’s will,
He, who possesses the power to create worlds,
allows nails to be driven into his flesh
that He might save His friends.

Knowing no guilt or sin,
He suffers the consequences
for us all,
Dying that we might live.

Spring

by Cheryl Merrick

At this time of
    New lambs and red tulips,
All nature reminds us 
   of the promise
    Of new life.

Late Spring

by Cheryl Merrick

Morning sparkling bright.

New leaves
whole and glistening
adorn once bare branches

creating a new world
softened by color.

It's Spring!

by Cheryl Merrick

Suddenly
all is different.

One day you awake to find
the solid frozenness of winter
melting into the muddy sogginess
of early spring.

Fickle

by Cheryl Merrick

Gazing out my window,
        Seeing the morning sunlight
       Shining through white blossoms and fresh new leaves,
I exclaim , “What could be more beautiful!”
Then one morning, cool, heavily green,
Full of the promise of a summer day,
I sigh, “Nothing could be better than this!”

Early Spring

by Cheryl Merrick

Snow
     Heavy, wet,
     Plopped upon branches.

Robins
damp, blown,
    Stoically clinging to perches.

Happy New Year

by Cheryl Merrick


Longing to forgive past hurts
Determined to live by correct principles
Anxious to improve relationships– 
with the Lord, family and friends
Eager to learn new things
Resolved to take better care of myself
Excited to write
Engaged in serving others
Striving for balance
I hope for a Happy New Year

1/1/2014

Light in a Dark World

by Cheryl Merrick

It is the middle of winter;

a time when the days are often gray

and plants are dormant or dead.

Perhaps this is when we need

light and hope the most.

The glittering holidays are over,

and it is now time to face stark reality.

Now is the time to allow the light He brought

to give us hope in our dark world.

Comfortable November

by Cheryl Merrick

The bright, busyness of summer
is over.
The dazzling colors of fall
are gone.
The harvest is in.
The leaves have fallen.
Trees stand gray-brown
against a muted sky.

Thanksgiving

by Cheryl Merrick

Not being the commercial heavy weight
of its December cousin,
    Thanksgiving gets pushed aside.

Even before its moment arrives,
     its leaves, pumpkins and corn stalks
     are replaced with wreathes and bells,

November

by Cheryl Merrick

A few tenacious leaves remain,
     Brown and withered,
      In a monotone world.

While the mountains quietly rust,
     and the evenings envelope the day,
     the holiday bustle begins.

Stillness

by Cheryl Merrick

Focusing on the beauty around me
my racing heart 
stills,
and my anxious mind 
calms.

Gazing upward
into the canopy of branches,
peace fills my soul.