FAMILY: God Damn

GOD DAMN

When I feel the warmth of love

 by one

who winks a smile at me

across the cavernous emptiness,

When I see a hand reach out,

enfolding mine,

with tears and tenderness

lingering on its touch,

When I am greeted by a kiss

that sits upon my lips

in thoughtful seriousness,

only to happily scurry off

a moment later--

It is in that quiet, carefree moment

I know, despite my toughness

and awkward wisdom,

that I am cradled by eternity.

  

(Written for her husband by Beth Good - 1973)

CAUSES: The Be Cause

THE BE CAUSE

Blocking paths of ignorance

with questions. 

Opening gates with Whys

that spew forth floods

of frustration from those resting on

the Because That’s Why.

No comma from the Because That’s Why.

Just a period followed by declamatory silence.

Challenging dogmas that drive fear into

 helpless, naive, uncreative souls.

What to do? 

What to do when

the Whys hit the

Be Cause?

Duck ‘n tuck.

(Beth Good - 2006)

FAMILY: Fortune 500 Family

Fortune 500 Family

 

As for our finances,

we blissfully move our family's

vast amounts of funds

from one piggy bank
to the other.

(Beth Good - 1997)

C

FAMILY: Stardust

STARDUST

You are the stardust who winks a smile at me

    Across the cavernous universe.

       Who blankets my life with lingering love and compassion,

          And blends tender tears with laughter.  

You are the stardust whose brilliance radiates

   From quiet logic and caring composure,

      Who surrenders the show to the gaudy galaxy

          While tenderly cradling your children. 

You are the stardust whose light focuses my life

  Toward goals traversed,     

      And instills in me the hope and courage

   To trudge forward.

You are the stardust who, in my dying embers,

    Will carry me to the edge of life,

       And help prepare me for my peaceful

Leap into eternity.

You are my stardust of fervent shining faithfulness

Whom I will love and cherish

  ‘Til death binds us together 

        In the brilliance of never-ending life.

(Written & dedicated by Beth Good to her husband

on the celebration of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary - 1997) 

FAMILY: Little Snot Nose

Little Snot Nose

Little boogers in my nose

dripping down into my toes.

Where they’ll stop no one knows.

Bubbly boogers in my nose.

Some think I’m snooty, but I’m not.

It’s just my nose is full of snot.

That’s why I keep it in the air,

So those boogers won’t fall there.

I cough and sneeze and fuss a lot.

Yet this is one thing it has taught.

When someone special cradles me,

those little boogers seem to flee.

They run and hide in caverns deep

when crusted eyelids close for sleep.

And when a dream comes twirling by,

I reach for it, and with a sigh,

I’m in a place where boogers see

that no one gets the best of me.

(Written by Beth Good for her granddaughter

on a particularly snotty Christmas, 2001)

SPIRITUALITY: Angels Are Among Us

Angels Are Among Us

 Angels are among us,

targeting life-worn souls

that cling helplessly and listlessly

to the realities beating down

upon them.

(Beth M Good - 2006)

FAMILY: The Side-Car Casket

The Side-Car Casket

"You know how everyone was putting something into Mother's casket for a remembrance?"

"Yes," I answered my husband.

"I got to thinking what I would like in my casket with me."

"What's that?" I asked, figuring it would be something along his long-discussed circus theme.

"You."

He's sleeping alone from now on.

(Beth Good--September 2002)



SPIRITUALITY: What Love to Us

What Love to Us

What love to us comes in the night,

Turns back the covers, holds us tight,

Mocks the shadows that kindle our fright,

Cuddles our fears to our delight?

What love to us turns anger away

When hatred smolders in human decay,

And beckons souls to kneel and pray,

"Our dear Father, give us this day?"

What love to us caresses tears

As wisdom shared is met with jeers,

While bigots fondle and twist our fears

To single out differences prejudice mirrors?

What love to us grieves through our pain

Of disbelief and sinful gain,

And toils to teach us to refrain

From evil's tantalizing reign?

'Tis God's omniscient power that holds

True answers as our lives unfold,

And with Her love, tenderly molds

Our souls to stories yet untold.

(Beth Good - August 2002)

COMMUNITY: There Is a Santa

THERE IS A SANTA

Why are you crying, Joel?

Is it because the darkness

is teasing the Halloween ghosts

to come and scare you?

Is it because the door creeks

and the moon doesn't smile

through the crack in the glass?

Is it because the Easter Bunny

was grey with soot and had no candy

when he hopped by your house

on his last visit?

Is it because a flea-infested rat

shared your baby sister's crib

and now she's ill?

Why are you crying, Joel?

Christmas isn't far away.

Beth Good

1972







FAMILY: Big Sister

BIG SISTER

Light squashes my eyes.

I want to crawl back into

my womb room

even though

I've totally outgrown it.

But my big sister

calls to me.

Who is this family

I'm growing into?

Will I be loved?

Will my sister beat on me,

or will she share her nuks?

Will she be jealous?

I hope not

because

I will look up to her

always.

Will we share guitar picks

and basketballs?

Will we jump

on beds together

when Mom and Dad

aren't looking?

I hope so!

Ready or not, here I come!

Written by Beth Good

for her grandchildren, one of whom

announced her presence six weeks early.

October 2002



FAMILY: The Color of Our Souls

THE COLOR OF OUR SOULS

My husband asked me how I would describe my soul, and I said, "You."

Thinkings I was just kidding, which I was not, he rephrased the questions.

"What color would be your soul?"

After thinking a moment, I said with all sincerity, "Blue and red."

"Would they be mixed together?"

"Not really.  They would be mostly separated with some swirling together."

"What do they mean?"

"The red stands for blood, for suffering, for pain. 

The blue stands for hope and faith and promise."

After we had contemplated that for a moment or two, I asked my husband,

"And now, Honey, what would the color of your soul be?"

"Plaid."

I can't believe we've been married 32 years.

(Written by Beth Good - 2004)