I have driven past this church for 16 years. It resides on the same country road as one of my schools. On the left is a small cemetery. Sometime this year I noticed a carpenter I know (I’ve nicknamed him Saint because he is selfless and kind.) doing work on this church. I assume it is an active congregation, but for me, it is the safe haven for our school’s safety plan in case we have to evacuate. We would meet a bus here that would take us to a high school down the road. Does this little building know its job? I’ve been wanting to take this photo for a long time and finally stopped last week. Notice the crooked stop sign, the high cirrus clouds, the simple steeple. Where does your mind go? Please write a small poem today and share it in the comments. Kindly respond to other writers.
I found out about the Stafford Challenge yesterday on Barb Elder’s blog post. I signed up. There is a Zoom gathering tonight with Kim Stafford. I had the pleasure of writing with Kim years ago at a writing marathon. His father William Stafford inspires writers everywhere to practice a daily poem. Whether you join or not, I think this is a good commitment to daily writing.
I continue to play with the elfchen (elevenie) form.
Temple
Margaret Simon, draft
safe haven
corner Baptist church
sky of cirrus fields
star
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, you are the elfchen queen! Thanks for sharing this special landmark and poem.
cross on a steeple
faith shines from a bare building
giving safe haven
draft, Jane Heitman Healy
“faith shines” – beautiful
I like the faith shining from a bare building. It shows the importance of the faith, fancy setting unnecessary.
I love the line about faith. I do feel how faith shines there even though I’ve never met anyone at the church.
Thank you, Rose, Denise, and Margaret
It starts with the cross, leads to faith, and then there is safe haven… as we all need.
I like how you weaved the name of the church into your elfchen, Margaret. Ending on “star” is perfect.
I wrote a hay(na)ku:
steeple
signals refuge
in this sanctuary
refuge and sanctuary are such beautiful words here. I like your hay(na)ku, and I’m glad to be reminded of this form.
All the s-words work well together.
this poem sings, Rose, and I love the message.
With so few words, you’ve described this specific church… and what every church should be.
I like this challenge, Margaret, and I love the word “steeple” so I had to use it also. Thanks! I like the sky fielding the star, the faith shining, the signal of refuge. I’m trying elfchens also.
Tall
steeple beckons
sturdy walls calm
long since its founding
prayer
draft, Karen Eastlund
Karen, I love the last word prayer. It makes me reread your poem with more reverence. Beautiful. I also love “sturdy walls calm”
Your poem makes me want to find out how old this church is. I like how prayer grounds the poem.
I also like ending with “prayer.”
Karen, this poem ends up being shaped somewhat like the church itself. The word “calm” surprised me, and was a beautiful lead into the final 2 lines
Sturdy walls calm …that is the line I love most, and with the words long since it gives a feeling of a safe place that will always stand.
Carpenter
selfless, kind
doing the work
readying Church like Jesus
Saint
Margaret, thanks for the invitation to write. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I loved how you shared about Saint, so my poem was inspired by him and your words.
“sky of cirrus fields” is gorgeous. It reminds me of naming the sky.
Ooh, I want to share this poem with him. Thanks!
Lovely tribute, Denise.
I read and reread this, Denise. It’s beautiful with many layers.
I love how you saw the likeness of Jesus in Saint.
Little church in the country
Meeting place for families today
Resting place for generations past
Spreading the gospel message from your pulpit
Sharing love for your community through service
Little church in the country
Songs and sermons echo through the years
Steeple reaches to the sky lifting prayers of the faithful
Little church in the country
(Turned out longer than expected… I love to see small churches that keep going to faithfully serve their congregation and community)
So well said, Diane, capturing past, present, and future.
Diane, I love the repetition of “Little church in the country” and the echoes from past to present faith.
Good Morning, I popped in on Poetry Friday — and your Wednesday post is up. I’m fortunate to be enjoy my daughter’s birthday as a snow day today. I love your noticing of this person and their contribution to life. They may never know you…but they are the beneficiary of your kind noticing. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were all like that carpenter? That’s what I aim to be. Thank you for the sweetness in this post.