From an Upper Floor

Gift of Time

I am in a January

which thinks it is an April.

I fully expect to see

the rose in bloom and perhaps it is.

In my mind I have transplanted

the marigolds and set the annuals

in their proper places.

In my part of the world I awake.

It is dawn and I prepare for the new day.

The dogs are put out and

the papers brought in.

And in the dailyness there is virtue.

I marvel at the continuity of it all.

In the beauty of the day

I now see all days and

in the quiet of the night,

I note the world's silence.

In recognition of who I am

in connection with All That Is,

I am grateful.

I have taken this gift of time

and richly wear it like a money belt.

January 7, 2012

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
A Toast

May the winter sun warm you

and the winter moon

house your heart.

May the world

set the stage for your dreams.

And may love

choreograph your life.

Look up!

With these the New Year will be rich.

January 1, 2012

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
Christmas Lullaby

The moon assists the drama

heralding the arrival

of the event

locked within memory.

A place, deep within time’s measure

nudges from familiar territories

the clockwise turn of events.

Incense, sweet hay,

pungent holly, sweeping palms,

evergreen.

The eye follows the moon rays

to find the final beam

lodged in our heart.

The ear strains to hear

the lullaby last

to find we are the music.

December 24, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
An Offering

In all things good we ask that a Light so shine

that the good works which are ours

will glorify and exemplify all that is true

and divine, both within us

and within the Earth.   We ask

Divine guidance be placed

upon our heads and within our hearts

that we may bring to light

all that we have been taught and

all that we have learned.

We ask in all names that signify

the blessedness of life and the glory

which is both Divine and human.

We ask, please receive.   Amen.

December 21, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
Waiting For Santa Claus

The bare floor of the landing,

midway to the top of the stairs.

began to bite her knees and she grew weary.

Her chin pressed the ledge of the frozen window

where her breath left a misty hole.

Her eyes followed the range of the stars,

afraid, afraid of missing the sainted friend

who would deliver her heart’s desires.

Her vigil continued and

the night grew weary of itself.

The house slept under the weight

of the wonderless slumbering within

and its old bones creaked with fatigue.

She did not move and

her eight years spoke her eight millennia.

The promise was not for now but of forever.

Erstwhile urchin, never blended the phases

of the child’s dreams, but the boiling

of the witch’s brew to drink

from the cauldron of life’s ironies.

It was the story written of the night

in which a million stars stole the night.

She long remembered the banishment

and in her vigil she would have

reclaimed the homestead.

It was not to be. But in its stead,

the morning fir stood and the lights

reflected the stars which distilled

their radiance in the eyes of the child.

Not for long was the long wait.

She claimed her right as a child of the night

and gift wrapped was her life.

December 12, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
A Life Worthy

Life is kind to those who treat her kindly. But if intensity, with its power is used, then life desires to meet her match. And uses the match for preparation to a higher glory that has little bearing on what one believes.   It is not a matter of life in a hereafter that has one floating on a bed of tranquility.   When life’s conditions are met in the physical, there will be testing periods only chosen by the person who feels the need to gather time and put it to use in a way that others would find untenable.

Who would put or pit themselves against situations that would force a do or die attitude? Who would force themselves to grow in spite, despite all prevailing attitudes about stress and stress related illnesses, except the soul who knows a something that seems to escape the knowledge of others?

Escapes the knowledge of others.   It is an ancient thought that has propelled some to the present now with the knowledge that by stressing themselves they will prove capable of better and higher things.   And not necessarily in physical life.   There is something innate that tells them there is a something beyond physical life and when pressed, they will shrug and say who knows?   Or some such bright saying.   They will also when pressed deny it and say we work for our family, for position, for the good of some worthwhile cause.   But the truth of the matter lies in the fact that what they are saying is that they want to be qualified.   Qualified to pass a higher judgment to qualify for a position of work that will enable their transport into a world unlike the one they have known.

And the world held in mind is different than their neighbors, in that it will be of memory as they bring it to conscious mind. These will be glimpses. They could not elaborate if their lives depended on it and could not describe nor articulate their feelings.   It is done with the hope that what propelled them here has resulted in a life worthy of graduation to a something higher. They are in a cooperative venture with the heavens.   There is assistance for the intense desire of the pilgrim. It is there for the asking.

Though the majority of us feel we are plowing the field with runaway horses, it is enough to find at the end of the day, that we too have been tested. And found worthy.

December 6, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
Great Songs Will Be Sung

Should you find the need

to tell your story in words,

think mightily on them

and they will be caught up

in the air’s currents

and carried on the birds’ wings.

They will reach the ears

they were designed for.

You will find

you are not alone

and in this infinite universe

you will be heard.

And when the thoughts

reach the places in

the heart of an Other

great songs will be sung again.

November 30, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
Thanksgiving

THANK YOU

My days are filled

with murmuring thanks

for gifts unbidden. . . .

for the stray thought

giving answers

to questions I did not ask. . . .

for the beating heart

too tired even to stop

and glad that it does not. . . .

for the quivering morning

poised to take flight

through a day hard pressed . . . .

to a night bidden

with unfaltering love

as a thank you . . . .

for a day loved through. . . .

November 25, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
The Invited Guest

                        I once knew a good carpenter

                        who, with hammer and saw

                        and wood and file

                        showed me how to build a chair.

                        I did and sat on it

                        and then decided I needed a table.

                        With hammer and saw

                        and wood and file,

                        I built a table and sat at it.

                        I knew I needed another chair

                        for an Other to sit on.

                        So with hammer and saw

                        and wood and file,

                        I built it.

                        I then invited the carpenter

                        to join me at the table.

                        We lit a candle and talked

                        and a new world was born.

                        How did I know

                        I first needed to learn

                        how to build?

November 10, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.
the first snow

November 2, 2011

Veronica Hallissey has been writing since the 1960s, with her poetry published in a variety of small press magazines. Born into a farm family in Lockport, NY, and educated at the University of Buffalo and other midwest institutions, she brings and unusual point-of-view to her poetry, combining strong natural images with a deep spiritual language. She lives in Ramona, CA.