Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait: Francis Bacon

Memories cast; black and white—

     images that once were clear

     begin to fade and disappear…

Life is a reflection

of everywhere we’ve been,

where we come from; who we are;

filled with introspection,

we can never start again.

Looking toward the light

profiled in the lens—

each deed and every sin;

colors fade with time,

only memories remain.

So what will the camera capture?

Who are we in the end?

What image left to ponder:

     a life full of regrets—

       or one filled with love and friends?

©    Ginny Brannan 2013

Written for The Mag #200. Image provided by Tess Kincaid, she provides the image, we the story!

December's Gift

Once upon a winter's night

the snowflakes gathered on the ground;

while through a tattered cloud-filled sky

the moon and stars stood shining down.

‘Twas in the early morning hours

long before the light of dawn

we headed west on empty road

through ice and snow, we traveled on.

You were not anxious to arrive,

I paced the floor and spoke in tongues—

we waited hours for you to come

then finally...the struggle done.

As daylight once again rolled dark

our December babe was born

our hope, our gift, and our delight

to love and cherish, evermore...

©  Ginny Brannan 2013 

Sharing at The Mag #199. Image provided by Tess Kincaid, she provides the image, we the story!

For us, Christmas will always bring to mind two December babies—one born in a stable long ago; and one born shortly after 7 pm on 12/23/85. Two different children to be sure, one would be the hope for All Nations, one the simple pride of his mom and dad. And did I speak "in tongues"? You betcha--just ask the husband, who will be happy to share the tales!

Casting Stones

How often during a single day

do we make a judgment call

to criticize what others say

and judge what we don’t know at all?

Perhaps it is some ingrained need

to voice superiority,

or conflicts with what we perceive

that makes us act pejoratively.

But what gives us a special right

to cast out stones so randomly—

with cruel and zealous words indict

while spreading the hostility?

For only He who holds the key

to kingdom’s gate can truly know

what’s inside another’s heart

the rest of us should let it go.

© Ginny Brannan December 2013

A bit of a rant, in light of the social networking commentaries abounding the past few days. So many criticisms, not enough understanding. If we judge others harshly, with out-of-context facts and no attempt to understand their side, what kind of person does that make us? 

O Tannenbaum

Through the years we all will be together,

if the fates allow…

The beads are hung, the garland strung

the candles glowing bright—

"Babcia"

our family comes together

to trim the tree tonight.

Unpacking very carefully

the treasures we’ve collected;

some fragile from the wear of years—

wrapped gently and protected.

Each piece has a tale to tell

the brass one from your dad;

the embroidered one your mother made,

a soft cloth bear in plaid…

a Beleek plate from Ireland,

those tiny leprechauns;

my little Polish babcia—

blue gingham kerchief on…

a painted seashell from the Cape,

a jingle bell or two—

in case an angel “earns its wings”

...this year, there’s been a few.

Each piece becomes memory

recalling loved ones gone,

and so we gaze upon the tree

and know their love lives on.

© Ginny Brannan 2013        

Brannan tree 2013

Forgive my lapse into simple rhyme--I tend to wax nostalgic this time of year. True though, the memories. The Polish "babcia" (grandmother) ornament, a favorite of mine,  was gift from my dear Aunt Helen. Remembering some of the 'angels' that earned their wings this year: Aunt Helen Sak; cousin Patti Unaitis; neighbor Donald LaPointe; childhood neighbor & friend’s dad, Clayton 'Gris' Griswold; my dearest sister-in-law Susan Brannan

The Peacemakers

A child in the ‘sixties

the Civil Rights movement,

the March on Birmingham

were but excerpts on the evening news…

things I didn’t really understand.

Now that I’m older, I’ve come to learn

of the peacemakers,

the innovators of change—

Martin Luther King,

Rosa Parks,

and eight thousand miles and half a world away—

Nelson Mandela.

They called on us to rise 

above learned hate and discrimination.

We are better people because of them.

May we never forget…

© Ginny Brannan 2013
**Image: Google Images, Mandela quotes.