In The News

Have you seen how poison gas peels

the flesh off a baby?    

Everything melts away except

for skin under the diaper.

Have you noticed how

a bullet pulls destruction through

all the layers of a child?

These children, our world’s hope,

were too small to know

how full of God they were, 

the pure crystal shimmer,

precious and holy.

J. Pratt-Walter, © 2019

Just Now

If I could just hold this moment,

swallow it, nothing less, nothing more,

I will have lived well.


Opening the door,

rain has teased the grass back to life.

The dog lies quiet on the porch.

The horse is cropping the lawn.


The last gold crowns of calendula

flame up at me.  There is fresh

strong coffee in my cup.

The night granted me good sleep.


The air is so soft it embraces.

I see my life just now as a

precious glass butterfly in my open palm.

I pick her up with love.



J. Pratt-Walter

©  2019

Circle of Caring

We have drawn a warm circle

of caring in close

and placed you in the center.

We have all worn those troubles.

They are so heavy.

Here, hand me some before they

eclipse your soul.

Troubles loom wild and far.

But Dear Heart, you are not alone.

J. Pratt-Walter, © 2019