She took a deep breath and took hold of the peeling shopping cart handle. One arm battled to bend her daughter’s leg, while the other arm hoisted the baby awkwardly above the metal basket. Anchoring one foot behind the closest wheel to keep the cart from rolling away, she wiggled the uncooperative little girl into… Continue reading Solving the Struggle of Mom
Dearest War, Waking up this morning I felt that sick stone pressing on my lungs again. Breath a little short, metal spoon-like keeping me from inhaling the bright dawn. Throbbing pools held back just behind the shell of my face. Not enough power to let it down, to let them fall, to release. Because I… Continue reading Dearest War
My necklace broke. When I took off my shirt today. Just a tickle, on my chest. Was it a thread or bug. Or healing scab. That fell. I slid a finger down my chin. Where it had always been, for now. A lifetime counted by hours of twisting, spacing, fingertips tracing, tiny silver laces. Around,… Continue reading Girl Problems
There are all kinds of conversations that we have with all kinds of people. But every once in a while, the discussion gets serious, and we discover it’s one that really matters. Just today, I was surprised to find my relatively normal, everyday small talk heading down a road that I did not expect. Especially… Continue reading Gospel Resistant
Plastic molded stiff armed beauty Velcro dress and plastic shoes I cut your hair one afternoon Naive, deceived, it won’t grow back You were made in the image of pretty Smooth and polished synthetic smile In the image of what I could be Shiny glossy plastic teeth Stiff armed beauty, straight up or down Popped… Continue reading Laws of Beauty
Everyone can read, but does everyone understand? We see it every day. Person after person read these same words but believe these words mean totally different things. Bible believing Christians faithfully arm themselves with beautiful words of scripture, but end up fighting on opposite sides of the spectrum. How does this happen? Is there a… Continue reading Read You Bible Better
She limps and sets her eyes beyond you. Watching your youthful steps from the unfocused peripheral. Inside focused on you seamless steps over cracks and curbs. That she remembers in her bones, and can’t bring her broken body walk such carefree ways. He scuffs a mismatched shoestring underneath a too loose boot. Layers of the… Continue reading People Walking
I don’t need validation I don’t need a touch I don’t need anyone Why do I fool myself into thinking that I need a you I don’t. Curious. You say. Do you want too much Do I. Say. Why would you say that I have what I need. And you do too. So it isn’t… Continue reading Want to
The stone is rolling. Teetering on the edge. Where once it was secure, placed by the fingers and hands of the Almighty Creator, fixed in its place. Where it once was separated from the waters, the sky, and the soft earth. Where it once was part of majestic mountains that hovered, that threatened. Where it… Continue reading The Stone is Rolling
When once she might speak, but ever sits silent. He waits for her voice to comfort, but when will he learn that he has waited in vain. Imagined her lips. Again and again, moving around the words that he longed to hear. Did she breathe. It is the eternal second right before she says that… Continue reading Mourning the Loss of a God
Cindy Koch 