Eight years ago today, I began writing poetry. It was a beautiful spring day – the promise of things to come. But, as is so often the case at the end of a Melbourne winter, the spring was fragile. Cool weather could return at any moment and snap up the new growth. I was about to begin teaching and had recently emerged from a bad relationship; life was hopeful. Yet it seemed to me it could so easily fail. I turned to poetry to express this feeling and never looked back.
Today is another beautiful spring day. Life has brought more disappointment and more joy than I could have known. My hope is quieter, my heart more still and my poetry is – I hope – a bit better. But God is the same as He has always been.
August Sabbath
Hope settles as wind whistles in fresh leaves;
August grins in unexpected warmth, and though
Next week may bring cold worse than before,
New days are sure to prosper in His plan.
As we await the joys, the sun, the cold,
Hope settles and the wind whistles today.
The Consolations of Writing 
Spring can be so fickle can’t it. Yesterday – the final day of Winter – was glorious. Here in Sydney, it was the first sunny day we’ve had in almost two weeks. In fact, it was so warm, you only needed a short-sleeved t-shirt instead of a long-sleeved one plus jumper and hot water bottle 🙂 It is indeed a blessing to know that we serve a God who is rock solid and reliable and we can depend on Him never to change.
I’m glad God is more reliable than the weather! We’re back to winter here in Melbourne today.
We’re going to get the cold weather again for the rest of the week. Maximum temps between 15-18. Think I’ll get the hot water bottle out again 🙂
Not to rub it in, but it’s in the 90s here. 😉 Trust me, I’d rather have cold weather than hot weather. If I had a choice, I’d keep it at 75. Matthew, I love your poetry. I don’t get to read it often, but when I do, it’s like watching a rosebud unfold.
Thanks so much! And fortunately I prefer the cold to the hot too (though we use Celsius here so even 75 degrees sounds absurdly hot!). Just as well, because I’m about to go hiking in the southern most part of mainland Australia. Brrr.
LOL…:-)