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Best Poems Written by Lionel Ledbetter

Below are the all-time best Lionel Ledbetter poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

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The Fable of the Fox and Goose

There once was a fox, as wise as can be,
 He lived in the hollow of an old oak tree.
 Not so very far from an ol’ Farmer’s Farm;
 A farmer he knew would do him great harm.

 Also, on that farm lived a lively young goose,
 And he caused the fox’s dry mouth to juice.
 Without a care, the goose gandered about,
 Causing the fox great apprehension, no doubt.

 One day they met at the edge of the farm:
 The goose knew, for sure, the fox meant him harm.
 Mr. Fox, I know you can eat me, he said,
 But, I know a better way you can be fed.

 The farmer has many an egg you can eat,
 and they are more juicy than feathery meat.
 I’ll tell you just how to gain your supply;
 as quick as a wink, or the blink of an eye.

 The farmer is rich and he doesn’t have need
 for all of his wealth, and all of his greed.
 We poor of the earth, he cares not about:
 We should take eggs from the lecherous lout.

 Sure, he feeds us, and quite well in fact,
 But he profits from the sweat of our back.
 We animals are brothers, and should take heed
 About each others wants and each others need.

 You can sneak around by the ol’ mill gate,
 while I distract the hound, down by the lake.
 His threat to you I shall circumvent,
 and you can then eat to your hearts content.

 The sly ol’ fox, he surmised this odd tale:
 Hen’s eggs were delicious, he knew quite well.
 Oh, this we will do, he quickly agreed:
 Eggs, he knew, were quite delicious indeed.

 So, the goose set off, the hound to distract,
 And also the fox, to the mill gate out back.
 But, the goose had another plan in his mind;
 A problem solution of a far different kind.

 He enlisted the hound in his subversive trick,
 To solve the fox dilemma finally and quick.
 He sent the hound round to the ol’ mill gate,
 Leaving himself to just piddle and wait.

 Then suddenly upon him with claw and tooth
 Pounced the fox, ‘fore he could honk or hoot.
 In this moral lesson we all can deduce,
 Why no-one says: “he’s as sly as a goose”.

The SLY fox knew: “If the goose would betray 
 the farmer that feeds him, he will betray me too.”
Lionel

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Self-Righteousness

(Just who are the most self-righteous people on earth?)

When God created Adam and designed the fall,
 To reveal Christ's glorious salvation call.
 Self-righteousness, then came into play,
 To plague mankind in a wicked way.

 Sadly, by nature we tend to be,
 Righteous in our own works, you see.
 The christian struggles most every day,
 To keep his self-righteousness at bay.

 But, the most self-righteous man on earth;
 The one most permeated with its curse,
 Is the atheist in whom we find,
 Through the perversion of his mind,
 An evil heart that readily condemns
 All who dare disagree with him.

 The beam is there , yet he sees it not,
 But, 'oh the mote, it's in clear eyeshot.
 From his cocksure "pulpit" above,
 He promises to bring utopia and love.

 He delights in questioning God, too see,
 If he can set God at his knee,
 Even to replace Him on His throne,
 There to self-righteously rule alone.

 He's been this way since the day of Cain.
 The atheist, as God, will proclaim,
 To be the righteous judge for all,
 Obeisance to him is his clarion call.

 The tyrant appears in manmade splendor,
 Declaring there is no god but Caesar.
 And given a little time, he'll appear again,
 And we see the rise of Joseph Stalin.

 Don't be fooled by this false hope,
 That man in his own wisdom can cope,
 With the ills lifes struggle brings,
 Into our mortal transition scene.

 The "seeming" right way to man, at best,
 Becomes the wrong way leading to death.
 As the battle royal turns out to be,
 The war between my flesh and me.

 Because the great danger exists,
 In our deep-seated self-righteousness.
 Unlike the atheist, we pray every day,
 That God's Holy Word light our way.

 But, the atheist will have none of this;
 No matter how much "man made" pain exists,
 From his self-righteous attempt to be,
 The righteous judge for you and me.

 With this "revealed" knowledge we should find,
 Not hate, but love of a Godly kind,
 For our adversary the atheist, you see,
 But for God's grace, thats what we'd be.

 1Cor.2:14 "the natural man recieveth not"...
 Rom.8:7 " the carnal mind is enmity--neither can he know"....
 John 6:44 "no man can....
 John6:29 "this is the work of God, that ye believe"....

 Lionel

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An Appeal To Secular Reason


(A matter of reasoned understanding)

If life's complete term is this earthly sojourn,
What value is to be found in morality?
Why do we yearn for high knowledge to learn,
Or have need of reputation and fidelity?

Let's consume, every way, our limited stay
Not caring the consequence to others.
Let's ruthlessly flay those who get in our way'
And be selfish in the treatment of lovers.

Because if life, after all, is just nature's call,
From where comes these thoughts of virtue?
Better yet t'would be, never to live,
If no more than this life to attain to.

Penalty and reward have meaning no more,
If this be the end we're doomed to.
A short lapse in time, why not profit in crime?
--Restraint becomes a foolhardy menu.

Some men, of course, find reason to rejoice,
In embracing this odd philosophy.
While through it all, exemplifying Adam's fall,
They wax selfrighteous in its advocacy.

With honesty (of a sort) in their retort,
Of giving Godless reason its summation.
The logical end becomes the worship of man
And the denial of the laws of creation.

What a pitiful state to be found short of grace,
With the end rushing forward to greet you.
No meaning to life, its pleasures and strife,
Suicide becomes a desirable issue.

If I'm the duped one in worshipping God's son
No loss comes to me in my passing:
But, if right I reply, when my skeptic shall die,
The grief and remorse could be-- gnashing.
Psa.14:1

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Lost Soul

The Way Of Death



 Only God and Lucifer,

 comprehend this quiet place.

 Where evil and corruption rule, 

 for the lack of grace.



 Where night moves its shadow,

 like a stealthy sprite;

 and there is no thought,

 of the desirability of sight.



 Words, like leaves,

 flow softly across the ground,

 yet, never scratch the surface,

 of this hardened mound.



 The sun's warm rays,

 will not enter this domain.

 Nor shall seasons of virtue,

 its habitation gain.



 No light of wisdom,

 with its life giving air,

 can invade the solitude,

 of this depressing lair.



 No selfless acts,

 of love and kindness here.

 Deaths calmness rules,

 this God forsaken sphere.



 Time only brings increase,

 to this lamentable condition.

 The rotting corpse inside its tomb,

 showing no contrition.



 Lying still, without concern,

 for any ray of light.

 Sinking down to nothingness,

 lost from heavens sight.



 John 5:40 "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

 Rom.8:7 " The carnel mind is enmity against God...."

 1 Cor.2:14 "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God...."

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I Wonder

(What Should I Believe?)

I sit here wondering,
 About the sum of life, its delights, its strife,
 Its pleasures fleeting, its joys receeding,
 With grief impending, and my essence ending,
 I sit here pondering

 I do sit in wonder,
 Time passing quickly, health turning sickly,
 My youthfulness gone, my strength fading,
 I tend to endure a fearful waiting,
 And will soon be sewn asunder.

 Life, sadly, seems useless - but yet,
 There must be some purpose and meaning,
 To mankinds struggles and scheming.
 If truth did live with the stoic,
 Would man sometimes be heroic,
 And give to another his best,
 Take anothers pain to his chest,
 Can credit be claimed by blind fate?

 What manner would anyone show,
 But selfishness, greed and lust,
 Make mockery of faith, hope and trust,
 And with Sartre, debauchery claim,
 The highest ideal to attain,
 No kindness to ever bestow?

 I'm encouraged now that I see,
 A meaning to my life finally,
 Some courage and kindness in me,
 Surely, brought about supernaturally.
 Good purpose my life did fulfill,
 All bound up in my makers will.

 Isa.54:16 - "Behold, I have created the smith
 that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work;
 and I have created the waster to destroy."

Details | Lionel Ledbetter Poem

The Beloved Child

(Christ's nature pictured in a little child.)



Should Christ desire his nature known,

 His manner so meek and mild.

 Could he not take one of his own,

 Reveal himself in a child?



 Wide eyed in faith of things to come,

 Resides in that heart so new.

 A total trust in his Father,

 With unreserved reliance too.



 No doubt in motive concerning a friend,

 Enters that mind so sweet.

 In the child, you can depend,

 The mirror of Christ to see.



 Forgiving, always forgiving those,

 With whom they have to do.

 Loving everything around,

 And, with enthusiasm too.



 Esteeming no one really bad,

 Or requiring work to do.

 Children have hope and charity,

 And smiles of thanksgiving too.



 Could someone find a better way,

 For Christ's love to be shown,

 Except for Holy scripture, to say,

 No better way is known.



 In the child the effect of grace,

 Is so clearly manifested;

 While sinful human depravity,

 Can hardly be detected.



 Look in the world from end to end,

 Searching as you may:

 No surer picture can be found,

 No purer judgment made.



 Than in the beauty of the child,

 One ever so meek and mild;

 In whom love lies unconditionally,

 And where there is no guile.



 If this dear thought you don't believe,

 Or dare not pursue:

 Well, its no marvel at all to me,

 Christ was once a child too.



 Matt.18:3-6 "Verily, I say unto you, except you

 be converted and become as little children,

 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of

 heaven.. Whosoever therefore shall humble

 himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whosoever 
shall recieve one such little child in my name, recieveth me. But, who so shall offend one of 
these little ones which believeth in me, it were better for him if a millstone were tied 
around his neck and he were drowned in the bottom of the sea.

 (Poem inspired by Braydon Ledbetter at age

 of 1 Yr.)











Copyright © Lionel ... [2004-02-

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Some Men Claim


(A refuge of Lies)
Some men claim, to their own shame,
to know the American Constitution.
Then, oddly prefer, and wicked Judges concur,
in the innocent babies exclusion.

Yet, our inalienable right; the first one in sight,
is to life, that God has rendered.
Liberty, then happiness follow in process:
deny the first, and all are tendered.

Some men, of late, divide Church and State,
while religious humanism gains inclusion.
I fail to see, for the life of me,
how they can reach this conclusion.

The Constitutional intent was totally meant,
as a curb on Federal power taking.
And, lest we forget, all other power yet,
was reserved for states and people's making.

The pact don't mandate separation of Church and state:
that was culled from Jefferson's private letter.
So, don't claim, as some, that it came from,
the Constitution, - for we know better.

Pride - the father of sin, bade this evil come in,
and twisted the truth into a lie.
I pray God awaken some for the battle to come;
that America's promise will not die.

Forgive this wicked sin, bid us to come in,
to a most Holy reformation.
Lord, let us see thy work in that decree,
and turn us from national ruination.

See Constitution, Declaration of Independence,and
Bill of Rights.

Lionel

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The Light

(A Long Agonizing Conversion.

Out of the dark forbidding night,

I Struggle now to see the light.

I never felt this way before,

Loved the lair of darkness more.

Was careful in nothing, no good to see,

No miserable longing nagging me,

Then, out of the past in agonizing flight,

Out of the deep I search for sight.

What roused me in my dark domain,

And showed me that the light was gain?

Who made me desire this other way,

Through pain into the light of day?

With knowledge comes uneasy dread,

And regret 'bout the place I fled.

Things have gotten complicated now,

Rending my heart and furrowing my brow.

Self love is such a natural thing,

No concern for sin the heart to wring.

Grief for sin, I've come to know,

In this vile vale of tears below.

Might I find a way of relief,

From this unexpected pit of grief?

This struggle out is laid on me;

I had no thought the light to see.

Seems, like a bull, I am turned this way,

As a pull on the rein comes into play.

With my old will I would refuse,

This shaft of shining light to choose.

Why has God's power upset my way,

Remolding me as a piece of clay:

Turning about my heart and mind,

Into some calm and caring kind?

Is there a purpose in all of this,

A value to gain and a loss to miss?

Is good reason given to me at last,

A way of emergence from my past?

Finally my sight emerges clear,

And I begin to lose my fear,

Oh, what a gift; the gift of sight

With thankful heart, I embrace the light.

This change of heart was born in me,

A hope of Jesus the Christ to see.

I'll no longer covet a life of ease,

Some foolish way myself to please.

Because an eternal joy will come,

When this earthly life is gone.

Stay with the light whatever the cost,

Rejoice in God's saving of the lost.

For the sight of Christ upon the Cross,

Shows great gain comes at great cost.

So with the light, will come the pain,

But, oh the wonder of the gain.

"Light came into the world, but men loved

darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19

"But ye are a chose generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,

that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light." I Peter 2:9

Details | Lionel Ledbetter Poem

Evil Personified

Evil scourge of the earth so full of waste,
plotter of mankind's fast downward pace.
Breaker of peace and stiffler of song,
with wicked power and purpose upon,
the action of men in opposing always,
God's Holy word with shadows of grey.
Tempter of hearts, making men move;
in ways of hate to shed innocent blood.
Your hostile world in opposition to truth,
wreaks ruin and misery with little reproof.
Destruction of mankind is your design,
without relief or recourse to find.
The father of lies, you lustfully move,
denying the truth, falsehood to prove.
Taking advantage with all evil means,
Winning the battle without effort, it seems.
Sin, as a virtue, you proudly proclaim,
with beauty and pleasure and promise of fame.
With multitudes in your will, you conspire,
to consign, even God's people to the fire.
Seducing millions in false religion's glow,
with deceit, corruption, and murder in tow.
Oh, evil personified, how far from God,
do you so slyly wield your harsh rod.
Disguising yourself as an angel of light,
bringing confusion with all of your might.
Make haste, lay waste, as is your want to do,
God has prepared a proper place for you.

Prov.8:36 "those that hate me, love death."

Lionel

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Reasoned Conclusions


(Argument for the Biblical Account of Creation.)
I don't see why some people try,
without reason, to reach a conclusion.
They must haveconceived an end to be achieved,
through pre-supposition already chosen.

They accentuate the positive, ignore the negative,
and, apparently, find comfort in illusion;
to prove a connection they've already reckoned
will fit their pre-supposed delusion.

Yet, steadfast is truth, we find from our youth,
in solving the age old mysteries;
by following the evidence through reasoned inquest
of science, and accurate histories.

True science has shown aging to be known
affected by the rays of the sun.
Bible history attests longevity was best
Before Noah's Ark made its run.

We see man's age decline right in line
with the canopy deluge postulation.
Now, we can't see how fitting this must be
from the onset of creation.

The Bible also lists, a pre-flood morning mist
rising to water the earth each day..
Would this not lead to the conclusion indeed
of a water vapor canopy in play?

Then, the canopy fell as rain, quite well,
all the habitable land to cover:
"the deep" broke up making the oceans a cup;
can we logically conclude any other?

Urchins of the sea have been found to be
upon the highest of mountains.
Wouldn't this tend to show proof of a flood flow,
and its ebb into the fountains?

Don't ever pre-suppose a rose, a rose,
if it looks some what a carnation.
If you do, I must firmly assure you,
You will earn reason's indignation.

Reason can surely be a help for you and me,
if not corrupted by pre-supposition.
Think it all through, ignoring the Bible won't do
You'll be found in an untenable condition.
Lionel