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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
The butcher came for the sheep
the cow did not moo, she wasn't a sheep
The butcher came for the goats
the cow did not moo, she wasn't a goat
The butcher came for the pigs
The cow did not moo, she wasn't a pig
Then the butcher came for the cow
her bull and her calves,
The rest of the farm was eerily silent
Remembering the poem of Martin Niemöller
"First they came …" a post-war 1946 poem written in prose by Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller, who was a German (1892–1984). In it he speaks of cowardice which German intellectuals as well as some of the clergy felt in the hellish nightmare of the Jewish people. In this poem, by his own admission, a coward, looking away during Hitler's rise to power. In my own rendition of a farm, compared to his, is rather ridiculous. I just want to acknowledge his poem at this time in history. Please pray that God give our leaders insight, and clarity on what must be accomplished. Please pray for the people of Ukraine, and, please look the poem up.
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2022
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
I wondered how that I could be a child of the King.
A long lost soul, I had no goal, but to maybe act and sing.
I believed in Jesus, a man of love,
But scared to death of God above.
Why would Jesus die for me, and why would His Father let Him?
It broke my heart, tore me apart, I walked toward shadows dim.
I believed Jesus as a man who once had roamed the earth,
A lover, not a hater, yet I questioned Virgin's birth.
I memorized William Shakespeare, I Juliet became,
I barely glimpsed the big black book, translated by King James.
I slipped into a lot of pews, barely hearing the Good News,
Until I pushed it all away, one cold and lonely winter day.
In anger I told a block of wood the sorrows of my heart,
And complimented it's patient stance, and let it play it's part.
Empty! Oh so Empty! Angered. Sorrowed..... pained.
I walked away completely, in uttermost disdain.
I was at a crucial moment as I cried and cursed my lot,
Believing my life was in vain and all of it just rot.
Why THEN did You come forth to me, in my shear pain and misery?
I was readying to throw Your book, whose words I could not see!
Why would those words upon that page not form a bit of sense?
Those ancient English word forms that I'd abandoned hence.
When quick the thought arose in me, William Shakespeare's...I could see,
In fact they were so clearly wrought, I memorized and ner forgot.
I took Your book upon my lap, with that provoking thunderclap.
I asked if You were really God, and Jesus Christ Your Son,
With that I sensed You near to me, my pondering had begun.
I saw the opaque scales fall that were once upon my eyes,
I read sentences, and chapters, no longer to despise.
Skipping to the end, as I was wont to do,
I read the Revelation, revealing to me, You...
In terror did I read those words of that...the end of all,
I skipped the book of Genesis, I'd heard about the fall.
Suddenly very tiny seemed the horrors of my day.
I lifted up my shaking Heart, I know You heard me pray.
Though terror struck I did not fall back into my old rages,
"How do I Lord, escape these things I've read upon these pages?"
For this was more than literary fancy writ of art,
No longer was I acting, I'd never played this part.
"30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all of thy heart..."
"But God! I do not know You, and God I dare not lie,
When within my very heart You see!" (I had this alibi)
"Do I love You as much as my parents or sis? or even Spot my pet?
I don't love You, I don't know You, I cannot love You yet."
I knew somehow I had right then an audience of Him,
Within my mind I felt Him near, when all my life was dim.
"Help me to know You, so I may, escape the horrors of judgement day" Somehow I knew He heard me, He heard each thought I prayed.
I could not present myself to Him a Child of the King,
I'd felt the crushing doubts of life and it's cruel and vicious sting.
But what He then presented was all so new to me,
It was easier than imagined, simple as ABC.
Admit I was a sinner? Oh yes, with surety.
Believe Jesus is the Savior? I did, He helped me see.
Confess He was my Savior: Yes, He is the Lord.
As easy as the ABC"s, I read, believed His Word.
I wondered once how I could be a child of the King.
A long lost soul, I had no goal, but to maybe act and sing.
Then I believed in Jesus, Son of God come to the earth,
He is God within the flesh of man, and that through The Virgin's birth.
He there upon a cross of pain, nails in His feet and hands,
Jesus died, was buried, on the third day rose again,
He loves, He cares He understands. I know...from whence I've been.
I was a long lost soul, who had no goal, but to maybe act and sing.
Was saved by grace through Jesus Christ, who is my God and King.
His pleasure was to save me, a lost and dying soul,
Now eyes on Him, my Savior, I finally have a goal.
Note from author: When I asked "How can I escape these things?" I opened the Bible to this verse. The Bible is a big book, and I know it was no coincidence that I found this verse immediately:
Mark 12:30-31
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." KJV
I couldn't love God, because I didn't know Him. I asked Him to help me to know Him, and He did, I found a wonderful church and a lot of new friends who helped me to get know God so much better. It took nothing on my part, to ask Him to forgive me of my sins, to be my Lord, my savior. Once I knew what He had done for me, I truly did love the Lord and wanted to follow Him! As I read the Bible, His words directed me on how to live my life and to follow Him. I could not change myself, I'm still on that road, He helps me in my walk in life in a personal relationship with Him.
I know the miracle of God's intervention saved me from a terrible fate. I know and fear where I would be now if not for His incredible love reaching out to me in that desperate time.
My new beginning in a walk with the Lord began with trusting Him, and getting to know Him through His word, the Bible.
I love the verse "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." ~Proverbs 3:5-6 I know this is true.
As well as "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” ~Acts 4:12 KJV
I learned that through my experience. I pray that others will find the joy and hope that I found in Him as well :)
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2020
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Was it really you dad? Not merely just a dream,
Your wisdom pouring forth to me,
Oh dad, how real it seemed.
You always knew so much dad,
I so respected you. When they
Said that you had cancer,
I thought it was untrue.
You were too strong to die dad,
You fought with all your might,
But Papa, how I long to dream
Again, of you tonight.
Tell me daddy, that it's true,
That dream I had of me and you,
Again, like old days, sitting there,
Those silver strands within your hair.
A crown of wisdom round your head
And wisdom's spoke, those words you said.
I know some dreams are only dreams,
But dad, that seemed so real.
A gift from heaven's angels,
For my broken heart to heal.
You were loved too much to die dad,
And oh, I miss you so!
So, visit me in dreams, Papa,
Until my turn to go.
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2023
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Happy Valentine's Day
Dear martyr in heaven's
Wonderous Glow
There's a holiday named
after you,
I wonder, do you know?
There are chocolate
candies filling hearts
Cupid's arrows aimed
like darts
Couples sharing kisses
A million reminisces
And
Lonely people crying tears
Wishing for love
that lasts for years
Happy Valentine's Day
Precious dear Saint
How do we celebrate?
With palpitations
Of loves heart rate
Remembering not
Your death
Gorgeous bouquets
and roses
With a bit of babies' breath
We celebrate love's
Kindness
The bright eyes healed
Of blindness
We hold the lover's
Creed
That love is good indeed
We celebrate your reason
In goodness of a season
Rebel gainst' emperor
Of war
You proved love was
Worth dying for
I think you'd smile in
happiness
From heaven's glow above
For the punishment
And crime you did?
Uniting hearts
in love
Though the emperor
Forbade the young
To marry, it was true
So in secret came the
Lover's
their vows spoken before you
The sweetness carried
in your heart
Was a love given
from God
You knew that love
would not depart
No matter where
you trod
Your path lead you
to prison
Where a maiden
Blind was
brought
Through prayer
To Jesus risen
Answer given to
Prayer sought
You taught her how
Christ's healing
Could make her
blind eyes see
You taught your
Student quickly
You taught her
How to read
You taught her
God's enormous
love, was all she'd
Truly need.
Then your loving
Life was taken
And your precious
Blossom left
Her love was never
Shaken
As she stood within
The cleft
She knew that
You were taken
To Heaven's Home
Divine
To heaven's shore
Ever her glance
Where you were
Valentine
Happy Valentine's Day
Dear brother
in heaven's
Lovely Glow
There's a holiday
named after you,
I've wondered
if you know?
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2022
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Mother, sometimes memories are fraught
with tears or pain
Relationship was difficult, and held a heavy
strain
I know your life was busy, you had a lot to do
With all of your commitments, and only one of you
I know with all your children, there was bound to be
A special golden child or two, and though that was not me
I understand the conflicts of our personalities
Could present some problems,
and prove difficulties
When it comes to Mother's Day,
Those cards don't quite seem right
And often I would forfeit those,
And set my heart to write
I know if there was 'Child's Day'
What, if you wrote, you'd probably say
And would I want to truly read
That I was lacking much indeed
Or would you pen some flowery word
When case in point, I'd know absurd?
But all these years now, past life's end
I've truly wished we had been friends
Those plays, I'd played
You'd never seen
The concerts, choirs, in which I'd been
You held your stance, and wouldn't budge
I'd sought your glance, and held a grudge
You were sad I wasn't Joe.....
You told me this, so 'Betty "Jo"
Was not the Prize this infant brought
You made sure, I'd not forgot
Nor was I a flowery girl, who'd set a mother's
heart to whirl
For tomboy, I? A thing or two
I was a girl, but a strong one too
Helping daddy build that shed
And lifting weights?! Oh dear, what dread.
But Mother, now as I look back
Relationship, and to the lack
That I must have myself presented
And with that, you, my mom resented
Remembering now sweet things you did
When I was just a little kid
You packed my lunch each day for school
Our home was tidy, clean by rule
You loved my daddy dear and so
You gave my name, that gift of 'Jo'
I'm sending thoughts, up heaven's way
I pray my prayers,
that some gold day...
When the dead are raised anew
My Mother, that, one day with you
You'll find in me the truest joy
Though girl I be, and not your boy
And somehow all the pain and dread
And all those golden words unsaid
Of the pain, all ills and strife
Swallowed, passed...
To onward Life
Thank you for sweet things you did
Now, Mother, beg I, plead and bid
That Father God would grant thee pay
And wish you "Happy Mother's Day"
To you in heaven
From one of seven
(For Johnny was your baby too
Not from your womb...
Thought 'Mom'
of you...)
By the way, please tell him "hi'
Love,
Betty Jo
From Earth... to sky
All my love and prayers
Your
Betty Jo
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2023
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Out in the desert, late at night
The stars and moon are shining bright
The coyotes sing,
While crickets keep beat
Cool night's joy, replaces heat
The owl sets out on nightly quest
"Who, whoo's my meal?"
ever his jest
The man in the moon
witnessed escapes
Wild dashes
for thorn bush drapes
The merry stars
with twinkling eyes
Laughed at the hoot owl's
great surprise
Kangaroo rat leaps in delight
Out in the desert late at night
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2022
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Emily: Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?
– every, every minute?
Stage Manager: No. The saints and poets, maybe they do some...
~Quotes from the play Our Town, by Thornton Wilder~
Moments passed
The cameras flashed
Photographed moments, I've amassed.
Now in my album pages stashed.
I've the photos in a book, I see them now,
A shadowed look
A thousand years ago it seems,
We spoke of life and future dreams
Lulled by the notes of speakers blast
Tunes of a present flying fast
Did I see you? Did I notice?
You, sinking like a precious Lotus
.
Always in hope, our song's refrain
Throughout life's ills, you rose again
Now, turning every album page
deeper I look, a precious ponder,
You had ever been my sage
You're now past this earthly wander
Flown beyond this sphere and stage
Had I really noticed you, and did you notice me?
The moments fled too quickly,
Into eternity.
Moments passed, the cameras flashed
Of photographed moments, I've amassed.
Now in aging albums
On shelves of walnut stashed.
Oh life, you are too wonderful, and earth, so beautiful.
And, time, you are deceitful, dead moments, sorrowful!
Years are passing quickly into long eternity.
The faces near and dear to us, oh, do we really see?
Each day a precious closing gift, like petals of the lotus
How many smiles came our way, please tell me, did we notice?
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2023
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Summer 1967
None of us ready for heaven
We headed down that old highway
A fun road trip, a summer day
Little sis, eight-year-old me
Played in the back contentedly
Our teenage sibs in the middle seat
Up front our parents sang songs so sweet
Heading toward the Salton Sea
Pulling a blue trailer, dad built in '63
The long road toward our destination,
A yearly trip was without hesitation
Loved by all, but bittersweet
No AC through Death Valley's heat
When suddenly an awful jolt shook us of revery
A pick-up truck pulling a boat, sped past us speedily
His boat had clipped our trailer's side
That summer day we almost died
The trailer swayed to left, then right
We children all screaming in fright
For all of us were terrified
We'd go over the canyon side
To correct the veering car's jack-knife
Dad fought hard to save our lives
He fought to break the hitch that held
That death trap from us, but the weld
Was strong and held the hitch in place
Horror glared on every face
Across both lanes, and violently
That trailer rocked so angrily
If our car went off that cliff
We'd surely die, there was no if
My tiny three-year-old sister
tossed back and forth, almost a blur
Her big blue eyes were wide in fear
Like all of us, felt death was near
I still remember the grating sound
As the car's front side dipped down
Mother's scream, I hear today
"Dear God! Don't let us die this way!"
There is no question, not a doubt
God heard her, and He pulled us out
When all seemed lost, and sealed, our fate
We were of sudden driving straight
Not one of us forgot that day
That God above heard mama pray
We all know, there's not a question
God saved us through His Intervention
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2021
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
You were my least liked teacher,
ball of fire
Your red tresses bouncing,
your flaming ire
When misspelled words
in ash
dust white
That blackboard smoked,
your burning might
Of lazy penned words written
lame
Though, you never shared the
names
It was so often clear to see
The guilty squirm in misery
You calculated with your eyes
Guilt verdict
with no alibies.
And, oh! so often
it was me
I'd hide if I
could ever be
Small as tissue, in the trash
With burning cheeks, on face
of ash
OH! You made me very mad
The toughest teach I ever had
But then you introduced to class
A golden gift to this young lass
You spoke, "Now we'll do poetry!"
A subject that was dear to me
I looked for beauty in the place
I'd always felt was
a disgrace
I missed the green hills and the bay
I missed the joys
of San Jose
But look, I must,
for beauty there
The desert land that felt so bare
'Out in the desert, late at night'
My little hand began to write
' The coyotes sing,
crickets keep beat
Cool night's joy, replaces heat
The owl sets out on nightly quest
"Who, whoo's my meal?"
ever his jest
The man in the moon
witnessed escapes
Wild dashes
for thorn bush drapes
The merry stars
with twinkling eyes
Laughed at the hoot owl's
great surprise
Kangaroo rat leaps in delight
Out in the desert late at night'
Teacher, the warmth
that I found
in your eyes
When you wrote
my poem
to my utter surprise
In a gentle running script,
a hush
Fell on our class,
as I started to blush
Dear teacher kept me
after class
"Well done!"
said she
to this young lass
Oh, Teacher!
Your sweet gift I hold
Your refiner's fire,
refining our gold
I held your gift,
and, in my heart,
I let it burn,
and play its part
I promised
and studied,
all that summer
You taught me to be
an overcomer
For in the fall
With summer past
I was top speller
in my class
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2022
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Bj Legros Kelley Poem
Softly breathe on weary soul
Your breath, my King, Who paid our toll
Rest now, Your Hand, on weary head
Renewed, in hope, You'll raise the dead
Speak, I pray Thee, Father God,
A dream of Heaven, of where You Trod
Hold the broken, dry the tear,
To those who cry, oh meet us here!
Softly Jesus, over each head,
Your gifts, sweet dreams, upon each bed.
Oh, Lord, please lift the gaze to You
And gently light the pathway through
I pray You lift the broken heart,
Of peace, love hope, You would impart.
Be with my friends in dark of night,
Please hold them Abba, let shine Your Light.
Amen
Copyright © Bj Legros Kelley | Year Posted 2023
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