Jolene Speaks

I am working my way through Jolene's things and came across a journal of her poems and essays. Please accept these mid-week offerings as a celebration of Jolene's life, not as an expression of grief.

The first group of poems comes from a journal titled "For the Birds." The cover features a colored pencil drawing of pink bird sitting atop an orange tabby cat's head. Vickie Baker, author of Reflections of Joy and my faithful writing companion for years before her death, gave it to Jolene at Christmas 2000. She taped a carnation in the front of the journal, a flower that had a special meaning for her. (We'll revisit that when we get to her God's Carnation story.) She made good use of the journal in expressing her thoughts. The following is her first poem after the Christmas season (I'll save those for next December).

Open on the canvas his works of art that he so brilliantly strokes.

He's painting a picture of you and me until our life ends.

Brilliantly strokes do shine working to paint

brilliant sun and sky to you and me.

On canvas he shall never cease.

By Jolene Franklin

12/23/00

Jolene Speaks

Oh God I love thee.

I have praised you since the day I was born.

Rejoice, rejoice, God Almighty reigns.

You are my King. I will always rejoice

in your almighty person.

Oh thy God how you plan my life

and created who I am at the beginning of life.

I worship thee God day and night.

I worship thee God day and night.

Praise you from dawn to dust.

I will sing a great song to thee.

I will praise Thy name for all his good deads.

Praise, praise to the Lamb.

The times I worship because of what he did.

I worship thee Oh God forevermore.

Amen.

By Jolene Franklin

1-5-2001

Probation

I’ll keep it short tonight. Today was tough for my son Jaran; he learned about Jolene’s death on the morning of the 18th. But yesterday was the watershed day for me; I have passed that first difficult anniversary, and today was much easier.

My writer friend, poet Connie Peters, encouraged me to write poetry throughout this experience, because poetry expresses our emotions. The following attempts to capture the feeling of relief that came today.

Probation

Sentenced to life without Jolene
Jailed by grief
30 days sentence served
Sun shines
Sad glances
Commendation
World unchanged
I, transformed
On probation