Time

I drove up to the ‘drive through’ for coffee

As I sat to order, in flew a ‘white tail hawk’,

I interrupted my order with a “Woah,” to see,

A huge magnificent bird looking back at me.

When I was done, and ordered placed,

It looked twice in my face and off it flew.

I wondered , was it something I said,

or did it not like my cold brew?

copyrighted: CMM. 2023

I roll the dough between my hands

The crumbs drop off into the pan.

I was drawn to a kitchen from long ago

My Scottish Grandma , I remember so.

Hands with a dish towel she rang ,

I remember how often she sang.

Amazing Grace, she chorused the home.

Scottish aired from her among the scones.

The whirl of the smell drifted toward me.

I in my memory can still see .

©️CMM 2023

Damp, cool autumn wakes.

as the apples drop,

sunset shades are pulled just

before the clock can change.

The aroma of the apples

crisping from cinnamon

as the butter browns just in time

to take them out to serve.

Celebration of the season

seems sweeter from a hard summer.

CMM. 2023

A September day

Shadowed by

The summer sun.

As sunflowers

Dance in fading light .

The moment reflects

A wistful sight .

Passing season of heat

And drought.

Lends now to a walk about,

The fields of sunflowers .

I wake and rouse

Throw on my shoes

I meet the dark

And watch to see

Nature smiles

Gives back at me.

My DNA is from the Scots 

Legacy of 6 generations of women sit on the piano.

The music from the isles of Scotland 

plays in my veins, carrying the rhythm of the past.

Giving me the song of promise.

Let me dance with echo’s, let me sing with voices.

Reminding me to not let them down.

They cried, they laughed, and they lived in hope.

It is in that hope they bore the tides of their wombs.

Rushing onto the promises of tomorrow, 

the slipping sands grip into the current of time.

I share the apron of hope to the beauty left behind.

Christine McNeill-Matteson

copyright : 2023

I woke wondering

What should I do

I poured my coffee

And tied my shoes

I guess I will run

That is who I am

The beauty of the sunrise

My day begins again

Copyright ©️ CMM 2023

I know that if God decided to return me back to earth to be

he would decide to return me back within the sea.

There where life is motion, smell, wind and air

then among the seashells you will find me there.

I will be mystery of change within the sand;

you will hear me as the water reaches the land.

Across the waves haunting seagulls will sing

The symphony of sounds I will bring.

Safely on the grass, spotted on the beach,

you will see my human steps, the lessons they teach.

Teaching although for a moment gone by,

the sounds of the ocean you will hear my sigh.

It is now your turn to capture the essence of you.

to share this essence ; your purpose be true.

Deep within life’s cycle with yesterdays and me,

I see a familiar reflection within the sea.

As it will mirror the beauty of what is left to say,

and look no further than your own gifted way.

Leaving behind with you the love that is divine,

this love that will transcend beyond the shore of time.

“Sharing Poetic Expressions, Beauty, Sublime and Mysticism in Occidental Culture”

Chapter: Tuning Forks of the Soul, Christine McNeill-Matteson

copyrighted: ISBN 978-94-007-0759-7

DOI 10.1007/978-94007-0760-3

Springer Dordrecht Heidelburg London New York

Sharing Poetic Expressions; Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka