Poem: “Fences” I walk through my town and the palpating segments sliced into the fabric of our humanity are on full display. Space is at a premium and the touching of flesh against flesh is an unwanted leftover of waste and a time long since past. The cataclysmic weaving of humanity is staved — the systems of wood, metal, and concrete prevent any mixing or kind gestures. And I see it being mimicked in my neighborhood , the open space of my soul.... Read more
Who am I to give advice concerning something like doubt? I’ve been struggling with doubt more than ever before these past four and a half years. I’m apprehensive to say I’ve gained some wisdom about overcoming doubt. I feel as if I’m a a fool standing before you pointing with a trembling finger. And I’m saying, “I might be lost and full of fear you should follow me anyways. I’ll show you the way out of the dark and mirky... Read more
This past week I’ve been working on a manuscript of poems about God and nature, I hope will become a book someday. I’m always hesitant to call myself a poet because I have only a few pieces of poetry published outside of the self publishing done on my website and here on Patheos. Since the poems I wrote this past week are for a manuscript, I cannot share them with you here on Patheos—you’ll just need to wait until the book comes... Read more
Ghazal: “Soul” I wish my heart wasn’t a locked empty room. It’s my soul’s desire. Your love is a Fruit of the Spirit that frees me from my lonely tomb, so my soul desires. The shadow of emptiness envelops every fiber of my being. Darkness is brushed aside with the sweep of sunlight’s broom, so my soul desires. Naked I lay exposed to the elements of the universe. The moon’s chill won’t lick my neck, it melts away with a... Read more
The chill in the morning air is getting heavy, and it’s easier said than done getting out of bed nowadays. Fall has made its way to us in the Pacific Northwest. I noticed the darkness in the morning sky lingers longer than the previous day. And I saw leaves swirling in a dance across Black Butte Boulevard, as I made my way to the coffee shop for quiet time, coffee and writing. It’s things like the chill in the air,... Read more
Poem: “Landfill Memories” I was at the landfill today dropping off some of our memories from the last five years. I sat in the bed of our trailer on our old couch, hesitant to toss it in the hole. It’s a couch we’ve had with us for three states. It’s a couch our dog, who passed away recently used to perch on, waiting for us to come home. It’s a piece of memory from our days in southwest... Read more
Poem: “If Hope had Coattails” I had hope once by the coattails. My fingers doubted and loosened their grip, slipping down around hope’s legs, and beyond its ankles with only the worn-out aglets left to clasp. It was just enough to drag me through the inky murk to the ends of the universe. Read more
We live in a culture where shame and guilt permeate everything and everyone with an infection so destructive and thorough; and it seems there’s no antidote. We often witness the destructive nature of shame and guilt through words, physical abuse, social media, identity politics and other metrics used to measure another person’s worth or value—with the end game being the destruction of someone’s dignity. Another way people use shame and guilt is to cover up their own insecurities and deficiencies.... Read more
Poem: “To Hell or High Water” out of inky blackness you called the universe into being. from water and dirt you shaped and formed me, the crown of all your creatures. you created me to be godlike, but my desire was for more. I asked myself to whom should I lay bare my devotion? to you or me? I chose me. now I’m misplaced — a sojourner wandering outside the garden fence. I straddle its boundaries hoping my tongue can taste over-spray from the... Read more
As far as we can tell from the gospels, meals were extremely important to Jesus. He rarely ate alone. We often rush through our meal times not thinking about the opportunities we have to truly get to know someone or let someone get to know us. Food is the great equalizer. It levels the playing field. It disarms any inhibitions or fears. And food has a way of cultivating love and harmony. Two eggs. I know it seems kind’ve strange,... Read more
Joe Puentes
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