The Carousel

by Cheryl Merrick

The Carousel whirls around
ever faster and faster
to a mad hatter refrain of,
“You’re late! You’re Late!
There is so much to do!
Hurry! Hurry!
You’ll never get it all done!”

Endlessly spinning
Endless details
Up and down
Endless routine

Lost Sunsets

by Cheryl Merrick

Wearing her busyness
as a badge of importance,
she spends her days meticulously
tending her possessions.

A woman of responsibility,
she rushes and bustles from thing to thing,
all the while complaining
that there is never enough time.

She hardly notices as sunsets and seasons
disappear into a speeding blur
of furious activity,
til in her winter season,
she is left to ponder her lost sunsets.

You Can't Take It With You

by Cheryl Merrick

Nobly, wearing their suffering
like a metal pinned on their shirt,
They rush here and there,
stressed, tired, and cheerless,
Doing the things that “need” to be done.

With no time for thought or planning,
They scurry around finding
No time to build relationships,
not even with the Lord,
No time to nurture themselves or others,
No time to notice the many gifts
they have been given,
or even any time to enjoy life at all.
Obsessed with “shoulds”
They dash and run, muttering,
like the poor white rabbit
from Alice in Wonderland,
“I’m late! I’m late!”

As day after day is consumed in
amassing and caring for things,
and constant but purposeless movement,
They completely forget that
You Can’t Take It With You.

Peace, Be Still

by Cheryl Merrick

We rush around,
     blown by countless cares
     and commitments.
Pushing ourselves,
     our tumult of activity
     keeps us ever in danger of capsizing.

Finally above the roar
     of daily errands and cares,
we hear the words of the Master,
     “Peace, be still.”
And his words which calmed the stormy waters
     begin to bring peace to our restless souls.

Many Voices

by Cheryl Merrick

Cheery calls
announce their busyness
as they bustle past one another.

Martyred sighs
proclaim
their myriad responsibilities.

Modulated tones
innumerate
all the tasks to be done that day.

Marshaling shouts
rally troops
to get the job done.

And Appreciative voices
raise in praise
of those who’ve helped work.

Why?

by Cheryl Merrick

Frenzied and overwhelmed
the women bemoan their life.
There is so much to do
and so little time:
Quilts to make, errands to run,
garden to tend, food to cook,
appointments to keep,
children to run places.

Bragging of their busyness
they unequivocally declare,
“There simply isn’t enough time!”
All heads nod in agreement,
all except one.

Distracted

by Cheryl Merrick

“Encumbered much”
the woman busily
rushes through
her day.

Her home hectic,
she confuses
mere movement
with purposeful action,

And thus is surely led
far from the eternal course
she was seeking.