Poetry

Finding Wells in the Wilderness

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Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19 NIV

Yesterday a post by Hope over at Patientlyhopeful struck a chord with me. As caregivers for an elderly friend whose home was lost 18 months ago in a storm, we find that our entire life is stretched. There is time for prayer, meals and church, but everything else is a great challenge. Not only writing, but any sort of spontaneous parts of our lives have been on hold for a long time. Yes, there are little windows of refreshing and opportunities. But life in general feels like a long wander in the wilderness. Thank God that the wilderness is exactly the spot where God often comes to meet us. Where we find hidden wells, and new directions. Hope’s post reminded me a bit of Hagar’s situation, and this poem came slowly came to me overnight.

Twice Rejected
 

Though she wandered in the wilderness
Cast out and left alone
Her cry was heard by One who sees
At her farthest place from home

For no green pastures grew in that place
And no quiet waters flowed
She could not see the hidden well
Till God called and came and showed

This Castaway now twice rejected
Without hope or plan or plea
Found that God who watches sparrows
Will in deserts set us free


Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. Genesis 21:19 NIV

Photo by Frans van Heerden on Pexels.com

Forever Alive

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As the watchman waits for sun’s first rays
And a bridegroom turns when the music plays
Hope stands outside our door

As before the flower a bud first swells
And the Robin comes as the snow still melts
Spring breathes and longs for more

At the sunset hour when the grave was sealed
In that silent night when no church bells pealed
Who knew what lay in store?

In grief Mary trudged to the tomb that day
Before the dawn turned black to gray
To that terrible place
Where her Lord had died
Till He came
Called her name
Now forever alive!



Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 NIV

Forever Alive
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026

The Owner’s Promise

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My store stands nearly empty
There is little on the shelf
Just an ounce or two of patience
Though there’s several pounds of self

The old ceiling paint is peeling
There are scratches on the floor
But hope still welcomes people
Just outside the open door

Though some say I should give up
Yet a hope within me burns
For I trust the owner’s promise
That tomorrow He returns


Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. Luke 12:37 ESV

The Owner’s Promise 
By Peter Caligiuri
Copyright © 2026
All rights reserved

"That time of year thou mayest in me behold
When yellow leaves, or few or none do hang"
William Shakespeare - Sonnet 73