Poetry with photos by Jobie Avonley

Womanhood Delivered

My mind’s mouth

is sometimes covered

by an invisible cupped hand.

My facial mouth

is allowed to sip tea

and say niceties anytime.

Let words of honesty gather

and the cupped-hand 

specter looms.

I don’t believe in ghosts.

“My heart, why are you quivering?”

“I hear the vicious taunt,

‘Being honest and efficient

means you’re not

a real woman!’ ”

“Don’t worry, no ghost’ll have our words.

They’re kept safe

until their time of birthing comes.

Then, we will stand and deliver.

The words themselves will

release the ghost’s smothering hands.

Not just from my mouth

but from all 

who take my words to heart.”

Womanly talents have been developed

but hardly spoken of -

seldom used! 

But the mere knowing of geography

doesn’t help arrive at

any promised land.

Useless, we wander 

in the desert

finding only broken promises.

Then, our hearts see…

heavenly guidance?

“Look, a line tossed from above!”

Our hearts hold tight. 

Our talents are reeled in,

put to use, in our promised land. 

 - Jobie Avonley

( You may also like the related poem, 

Across the Rio Grande.  You can read it here:

https://tenderandstrong.wordpress.com/2022/05/07/across-the-rio-grande/ )

Destiny for the U.S.

Is democracy in decline in the USA?

Well, it’s up to us to say.

Even if we follow self-rule to its tomb

it’s not final. There’s still a fix.

Self-government can rise again.

Stick with it to the end -

if needed, await its Phoenix.

 - Jobie Avonley

Here – a Piece of Paper

Here, your listening ear 

landing pad for creation. 

Here, the potter’s wheel 

centers imagination.

Here, chisel meets stone – 

transfigures a world apart. 

Here, the open door. 

Here, the ships depart.

Here, the seedbed 

and the watering can.

 -   Jobie Avonley 

Joy for us!

I am 

in awe of 

mirrors. 

They redirect

light to 

touch us. 

Oh Divine One

praise Your dispatch 

of reflectors

of all kinds -

the faces, places

talents, that shine 

Your grace 

into darkened hearts 

rekindling their flames.

I praise God for poetry - 

like sunlight reflected off 

deep blue bay waters

it brightens our days 

brings joie de vivre

to you and me!

   - Jobie Avonley

Carvings in Rock

It’s in the breaking of the seed 

that new growth begins.

Purity of water has power

as strong as love.

When we break bread, do we

recall the farm workers’ bending backs?

Using Apple devices, do we dwell on the close 

quarters of those toiling to make them?

Will we recall and empathize with the plight

of workers slaving for our creature comforts

when we let ourselves be touched, and no longer

toss our heads and say “Cry me a river”?

Crying out, crying for, lost humanity - if we 

all united in that the flood of our caring

would break open calloused hearts.

As surely as ocean tides carve

new forms on coastal rock cliffs

we would carve new forms of 

humane actions - guided by our 

tenderness, newly broken open.

   - Jobie Avonley

SHADOW-WAR HERO

Once shadows were exciting!

Dark cloud shadows, with scent of coming rain

The shrinking shadow of a descending carrying-my-friend plane

Fan blade shadows, rotating over my summer reading

But lately, gloomy shadows have come creeping

across my mental landscape, screaming

fearfully ominous lies in my face,

as I’m forging ahead with good projects in my embrace.

“Why are you doing this at all?

“Somebody else could do it much better than you!”

“Your efforts for good are so small 

nothing worthwhile will ever come through!”

I should have slammed the door in their faces!

They now hover over me, a black umbrella in all places,

blocking the light, suffocating what’s right.

Under their shadow, will I ever grow?

Hello, warm friend! I feel bouncing off you, the light of what’s true!

Can I grow across to you? 

No. To be upright, 

I, myself, have to head towards the light!

Thank you for your reflected light, it’s given me courage to fight.

I will destroy this tyrannical umbrella of lies by being wise.

When they’re not looking,

I’ll give them the boot with what’s true:

“Why are you doing this at all?”

I’m doing this because of my divine call.

over which you have no power at all!

“Somebody else could do it much better than you!”

There’s no one who’s “better” - what’s needed is my uniqueness;

but you can’t understand that - you represent mass hypnosis.

“Your efforts for good are so small -

nothing worthwhile will ever come through!”

My efforts are more than your unlawful lies, which are zero.

My source is endless good, which ultimately rules as hero.

   - Jobie Townshend-Zellner