Category: poem

Found Poem: Caroline’s Purpose

She took a deep breath,
she closed her eyes,
to hesitate, straining to see,
to focus on the script.

Her eyes shined with tears,
identical gazes staring at him.  
She was an outsider,
between you and me.

A crisscross of light,
from a white crescent moon,
opened up his heart, to the
hurt she felt inside her chest.

Lanterns caused stones to glisten,
from the rain, from wanting to believe,
From the longing to find a way back,
from wonder turning into a sense of hope,

The first time a smile had ever reached her eyes,
Their elbows brushing every few steps,
cold drops of rain, the sense of relief,
the top of the last hill.  

Explanation! I’m teaching my students how to write Found Poetry. You flip through a book or a magazine, or anything with words really, and you make a list of phrases and words that stand out to you. Then, you arrange these phrases and words to write a poem. To give them an example, I used my book, Caroline’s Purpose. Let me know what you think!

If you want to know more about the story behind these words, order your copy of Caroline’s Purpose today!  

Alone

Alone. But always facing the sun.
Hope and strength in the unlikeliest
Place.

Broken. But always pushing though.
Beauty and grace from an unexpected
Face.

Growing. Despite the pain and fear.
Faith and courage setting a different
Pace.

Belief. Clinging to what is true.
Lies and doubts disappear, crumbling to
Waste.

Trusting. Even when it’s impossible.
Love and peace from the One who erases
Every mistake.

Two Years Passing

Time flies by, and drags on,
Opposites true in an instance.

We wait for something that never comes,
And miss significant, small moments.

What is two years, besides the passing
Of days? What remains? What will be?

Two years is the time that has now passed
Since I lost you, and a huge part of me.

The ache stays in place, the tears still fall,
Roses, growth, change-all have new meaning.

I’ve changed, a lot, I’m growing up now,
I hope my life would have you proud, beaming.

I talk to your memory, I miss your advice,
And most country music now makes me cry.

We’re doing alright, Mom and me, but we’re
Different, changed, with each day going by.

I wish I had one more chance to thank you,
For everything you did, and still do,

You shaped me, loved me, cared for me,
And I will forever and always love you.

Something Beautiful

She landed where she didn’t belong,
In a place of fear and uncertainty.
None of her plans worked out,
Not a single dream came true.

She questioned why she was there,
What good it could possibly be for.
She’d ruined everything else she’d touched.
Why would this be any different?

She felt out of place, not good enough,
To stay put where she had been placed.
She was hurt, frustrated, ready to quit,
Until she was gently and sweetly reminded

She doesn’t do anything alone.

It’s through His strength, and not her own,
That she is used for His plan.
So even in a place she never thought of,
In a dream she had never had,

He can make something beautiful.

The Shepherd, The Lamb

The sheep are bleating, crying
For help, longing for a place,
Where they can feel safe, where they
Know they are loved and belong.

They’ve wandered in darkness,
Misguided by the world,
Trying to fight off the predators,
But they can’t win the battle alone.

The Shepherd comes down,
To protect and to guide them,
Fighting off their enemies,
And shouldering their burdens.

He cares for every need,
Carrying the weak and wounded,
Leading them to quiet pastures,
Guarding their hearts from hurt.

He’s attentive, checking each one,
Showing them love and kindness,
Making sure no bone is broken,
Making sure no fear remains.

He knows what has to be done,
To bring the scattered sheep home,
He loves them enough to save their lives,
Even if it means giving up His own.

The Shepherd became the Lamb,
The Perfect One for sacrifice,
Silently, He suffered. Nails and thorns,
And sin, piercing, and weighing Him down.

But death on the cross could not hold Him,
The Lamb rose from the grave,
Defeating the darkness and the enemy,
Paying our debt, setting us free.

The Lamb now sits on the throne,
Shepherding the sheep, binging them in,
Until the day He comes back,
And wipes every tear from our eyes.

Your Plan

I loosen my grip,
Lift up my hands,
Let everything slide
Away.

I move each finger,
Maintain my composure,
Make myself take a
Breath.

I stare at my reflection,
Sigh so I can think,
See the pain mixed with
Hope.

I blink back the tears,
Break away from the mirror,
Bring myself to face the
Truth.

My grip will never be,
Tight enough, to hold on,
To anything that isn’t
Your plan.

And even in the moment,
When it hurts, as I question,
I know it’s for the best,
Because

You don’t make mistakes.

Instead of Me

You saw who I was
And died for me anyways
Love was not blind.
But all knowing.

Which makes the gift,
Even harder to understand.

You knew my flaws,
My inner heart, my thoughts,
And still, gave Your life
For mine.

You Who were perfect,
Who never made a mistake,

Silently let them nail You
to a cross, a crown of thorns,
pressed into your brow,
with blood dripping down,

The white and blameless lamb,
Stained crimson red, tarnished,

instead of

me.