©2014 Susan Noyes Anderson

acceptance of adversity

The phone rings.
Innocence answers cheerfully,
vanishes on a sigh.

Lightning shouldn’t strike twice.
Children should be bulletproof.

©2014 Susan Noyes Anderson

One faded girl in sepia,
eyes bright and opened wide.
Her life was sweet and simple then,
with nothing much to hide.

©2014 Susan Noyes Anderson

 Image: Musician in the Rain by Robert Doisneau
on art and artists

Never keep your art too safe and warm;
it isn’t right.
Abandon it to sleet and hail;
strip it in harsh sunlight.

©2014 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Walter Rane on
churchofjesuschrist.org

This do in remembrance of me, He said,
blessing and breaking the Passover bread.
Take now and eat, for my body is pure,
yet sorrow and sin will be mine to endure.

©2003 Susan Noyes Anderson, His Children, Vantage Point Press

Photo by Anita Schiller – Closed (for the new year)

Times Square with all its cheer
cannot revive a year.
And no amount of pique
will slow a passing week.

©2013 Susan Noyes Anderson

image by Ben White on Unsplash

Sometimes my heart is washed in tears,
or overcome by foolish fears,
but most days find me safe from harm
with all I need to keep me warm.

©2002 Susan Noyes Anderson (poem only)

Christmas

The greatest story that was ever told
has naught to do with soldiers, brave and strong.
It makes no boast of golden treasure found,
nor causes lost, nor valiant battle song.

©2013 Susan Noyes Anderson

Image: Resurrection Reunion 2 by Sir Stanley Spencer

Death is a many-splendored thing;
especially when it ends.
The shroud is shed; the raised heart sings
and everyone pretends