Best Covenants Poems
Ekphrasis on Album Cover Art – 3-28-25
Jericho Road – Written, sung, recorded by poet
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Thinking About Jericho Road
A road with no name, where earth births stillborn stones,
Snakes through stillness
Into a fading perspective that neither winks nor smiles
Not touching impotent palms of bleached fronds,
Colored in the scent of cold ashes,
To whisper a chorus of mystery
To saints and sinner
In shades of hard steel
And colors of monotony on this threadbare path.
Blank road devoid of thought,
A monorhyme of barren greys and dust
Without imagination,
Makes no covenants with curses or blessings
Kings or pilgrims
Or with the fragile flower
Changeless except to remain
One moment held by time, that knows each name,
Without a star, only an invitation for resurrection.
Categories:
covenants, allegory, journey, life, music,
Form:
Free verse
A wounded sigh, an expression evincing the pain of hurt,
A bawl in solitude, turbulence of inner emptiness stirs,
When emotions clamor, simmering in angst of regrets,
When mute demeanor, of injured breath, wistfully frets.
Soul desperately aches for a special someone to talk to,
Someone who understands the language of quietude,
Someone who can soothe the trauma, of life gone askew,
Someone who brings to fore, hope of tomorrow anew.
Laments of past echo, moaning upon meadows of life,
Reverberating in heartbreak of grief, bereft of promise,
To rehabilitate devastation of savage emotional storms,
As covenants, deemed eternal, hesitate in broken vows.
Wounded hearts now trace moments of love, sadly lost,
When loneliness dwells in nightmares of past forlorn,
When the abandoned pledges of forever, callously mock,
As muffled wail recalls, life of joy and love, that once was.
Sorrows now seek solace, yearning compassionate voice
To soothe tides of heartbreak, agitating lonesome mind,
As hopes of morrow rekindle in womb of promising night,
When smile-endearing, subjugates cry of wounded sigh.
Categories:
covenants, angst, grief, lost love,
Form:
Verse
Quite far we have traversed, in pursuit of goals we chose,
Through troubles and trepidations of seasons in throes;
Sometimes reveling sunshine, sometime in glum of shadows,
Always together~ on barren terrains, or verdant meadows.
In albums of yore, we ruminate now, turning pages of life,
Banishing anguish of feelings-forlorn, fuming in strife;
Reminiscing in moments passionate, of love sublime,
Treasured in memories-beloved, accumulated over time.
Harboring wisdom, inlaid in life’s waning phase, as we age,
In realms of reflections, insights-sapient, now we engage;
Learning from knowledge gained, from choices we made,
Accepting with grace, laments of secrets, as yet unsaid.
Regrets unmitigated, voice remorse of unuttered sigh,
Seeking empathy from goodwill of repentant goodbye;
As life tallies good versus bad, that introspections confide,
Eying a tranquil state of mind, devoid of hate and pride.
It’s time to reflect, it’s time to mend, it’s time to befriend,
As journey of life, beaming content, approaches its end;
Living final days in covenants revered, humbly we penned,
Elevating self, in peace of bliss, to heavens we shall ascend.
Categories:
covenants, introspection, life, memory,
Form:
Rhyme
A genuine word bouquet~ the gift I give you today
Embroidered in chapters of benevolent language
Bound in book of life, memories fondly resonate,
Ornate in blossoms of passion heartbeats convey,
This gift I give you today, a genuine word bouquet,
Serenading our union says: I will love you always;
As candles of your affection within my heart glow
Worshipping life’s covenants we wrote long ago
Affirming those bonds still remain true and strong
Where bells of compassion in rhythms of love toll,
Wrapped in this uxorious gift are promises forever
Beaming glint of contentment in blessings eternal
Conferring everlasting upon goodness of evermore
Invoking feelings grandeur from halo of my soul
Strumming eloquence in oratory of requited love
Enamored in its presence, cajoling at its behest,
This gift I give you today, a genuine word bouquet,
Serenading our union says: I will love you always.
July 2, 2021
The gift that I give you poetry contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Categories:
covenants, feelings, love,
Form:
Verse
Peace and unity sing in harmony, echoing worldwide,
When acts of humility replace revenge-infused pride,
When narrowness of mind, naked ambitions subside,
When nations of goodwill, stand together side-by-side.
No inconsolable tears, flooding grief in mothers’ eyes,
No gloomy dawns rise, in smoke of war on sunny skies,
Clamors of hungry, displaced souls, no longer agonize;
No more shattered dreams, buried alive, to eulogize.
Nothingness ceases to vacate sanctity of self-esteem,
Children now rejoice, reminiscing in Cinderella-dream,
Vying bliss of tranquil, endearments of amity redeem,
Discarding ill will, shrieking from yore of vicious regime.
Hiroshima, Nagasaki—echoes of sad, remorseful past,
Resonate horror and shock, from memories aghast;
A world without war, a wish too far, yet close to heart,
Achievable when covenants of life don’t keep us apart.
Dignity of humanity ranks supreme, as priorities change,
Nations engage in educational and cultural exchange,
Farms and factories hum, ensuring hunger is eliminated
As peace and unity toll, from hearts and minds elated.
Categories:
covenants, peace, war,
Form:
Rhyme
How can one man find
More faith in a crevasse of Siula Grande,
Than most will ever know,
Sitting beneath a pulpit on Sunday?
Dulling the truth to grow the census,
Merchants and cowards comfort the carnal ear.
Marketing Christ’s love without his conviction,
Left willful in sin with nothing to fear.
In half doctrines and custom alter calls,
Prostituting the truth with all forms of prosperity.
Akin to seeding hookers in the chambers of Heaven.
Deceived to death twice by hand and blasphemy.
Feeding wolves from among your own flocks.
In the banquets of ancient mystics and bride Blavatsky,
Word of Faith gorging on their mammon,
Left choking in an insatiable eternity.
A culture’s blue concessions are gone,
Giving more choices leaving Paul’s letters unread.
No church discipline or discernment left,
Testaments of burning flesh that once bled.
Refusing to submit to be broken.
Fading old blessings from past obedience.
Confusing favor with common grace,
Hypocrisy’s retribution birthed decadence.
Millions claiming the found life of the few,
In every eulogy and requiem,
Lukewarm afterthoughts of the Son,
Losing everything by never knowing him.
Despising the light of the living truth,
Lobotomizing guilt with the scalpel of ignorance.
Finding solace in the darkness of mystery.
Death marches infectious rainbows of tolerance.
Redefining roles and covenants in hemorrhaging lies
Under the pretense of the modern states,
Illusions of enlightenment killing somatic slaves.
Relativism’s heart courting the things he hates.
Enticed by the delusions of utopias,
Bound in the fables of autonomy.
Throats upon The two-edged sword,
In this American tragedy
-------------------------------------------------------
12.04.14
This poem attempts to capture the Fundamentalist view on certain issues with other movements within Christianity. Also, the man in the crevasse, chose a different kind of faith than you may have assumed.
Categories:
covenants, bible, christian, dark, death,
Form:
Didactic
Hard To Recognize
America's face, battered ...
Freedom's image, shattered.
Feeding Frenzy Fodder
Foundations of Democracy,
Shredded with hypocrisy.
Party Over People
Lady Liberty's fears,
Weeping rusty tears.
Truth Will Out
Veracity's tempest blows ...
Treachery's warmth, expose.
Martin Luther King, Jr
Simply shaking hands ...
Shook humanity's lands.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Pauper's sole directive ...
Brotherly love's perspective.
Jesus Of Nazareth
Red phrases spoken,
Old covenants broken.
Jesus, Gandhi, MLK, Jr
Simple doctrines - LOVE ...
Humanity's grace, thereof.
Still, Hope Remains
Trustworthy faith's unshakable,
Love, steadfast ... unbreakable.
Our Lasting Legacy
Humanity must embrace,
Single ... HUMAN race.
FACE The Truth
The answer's clearer,
In ... that ... MIRROR.
(I Must Apologize
Forgive me, critically,
I strayed ... politically).
~ 4th Place ~ in the "Six-Word Couplet Series" Poetry Contest
Mark Toney, Judge & Sponsor.
Categories:
covenants, america, appreciation, corruption, humanity,
Form:
Couplet
You’re our Creator, and we’re Your creation
Thanks for reaching down to us for our salvation
To offer us Your relationship of sweet heaven’s jubilation…
Now, we’re heading toward Your set glorious transformation.
You’re our Potter, and we’re Your clay*
Thanks for designing us according to Your way
To shape us up by Your fellowship we can experience everyday…
Now, we’re living as vessels that honor You while in Your plan we stay.
You’re our Master, and we’re Your servants
Thanks for calling us by Your immutable covenants
To include us for Your partnership beyond reward-grants…
Now, we’re laboring with contentment against worldliness and vanity-wants.
You’re our Head, and we’re Your body**
Thanks for cleansing us from sinfulness’ malady
To perfect us in Your workmanship with Your truth so sturdy…
Now, we’re striving to be holy as we wait for Your coming, ever ready.
You’re our Leader, and we’re Your followers
Thanks for enabling us to obey You and Your orders
To teach us along Your discipleship upward maturity towers…
Now, we’re living by faith with the conviction to be biblical defenders.
You’re our Vine and we’re Your branches
Thanks for upholding us midst stormy glitches
To nurture us with Your stewardship that spiritually enriches…
Now, we’re bearing fruits by Your love, grace and mercy’s touches.
You’re our Shepherd and we’re Your sheep***
Thanks for delivering us out from death-valley’s deep
To carry us to Your friendship where our hearts You safely keep…
Now, we’re dwelling in Your pasture, verily blessed, till we do sleep.
*Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
**Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
***John 10:14 I (Jesus Christ) am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
May 7, 2020
1st place, "Regal Royal Relationships" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Chantelle Anne Cooke; judged on 5/15/2020.
Categories:
covenants, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form:
Rhyme
Bowing head she begins, petitioning assistance, pleading earnestly:
“Forgive me lord, these feelings you inspire have long eluded me,
A stranger in your throne of divinity, I am distressed as can be
Regretful of bygones, replete in misery of blight-ridden streets
Where remnants of my foolish deeds lie dismantled and deplete
Near a battered graveyard, where in repose lies my father’s body,
Sorrowed I stood there, stilled as stone, grieving night all alone
Longing for his forgiveness for things I should have said and done
Choosing instead to be wild and undone, not caring for anyone,
In company of clueless friends where covenants of life I misread
Pretending to celebrate happiness in bonfires of souls wretched;
Sitting on this pew now, guided by invisible hand, I feel glow of light
Going back to my youth, recalling your halo on candles of delight
As feeble beats of my unborn child echo solemn words of prayer
Heartened by your revelations, while unconditional love I declare,
In repentance of contrite past, paying homage to a sanguine start
Gratified you blessed my child, donning enlightenment I’ll depart
In atonement you impart, humming your song in my grateful heart.”
And she steps out into the night crooning lullaby to her beloved child,
A single mother pledging to revise pages of fate in epistle of destiny
Promising to unshroud yesteryear’s dawns in tomorrow’s sunshine,
Vowing to guard her unborn from flawed paradigms, vagaries of time
Poised to defy malevolence in sacred pact with benevolence of life.
October 25, 2021
Placed 1st: Pick-A-Title, Vol 26 – Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
Title chosen: Invocation
Categories:
covenants, faith, introspection, prayer,
Form:
Free verse
Easter
Anointed Eternity
Rises up above the paschal dawn
Heaven’s wounded Prince returns to outshine glory
As the sun blushes – witness to His splendor –
Waters from His wounded side christen crystal springs
With flowing purity
And bloodstained rocks harmonize
With angelic “Alleluia!”
Sung at the top of their lungs like an angelic whisper
Next to the return of his voice.
Light explodes the unclean corpse of darkness
Remembering the lyrics to “Gloria!”
Floral trumpets blare sweet incense
Only a wispy scent in the aromatic frankincense
Of Resurrection’s perfume
As skeletons of the impotent offspring
Hatched by the insomniac serpent
Leave lifeless trails of petrified tears in wastelands
Blooming now from shattered halos.
Emmanuel and mortality
Savor manna’s wriggling ecstasy -
The wine of risen victory -
More abundant than nascent radiance
Life consummated through covenants perfected
In pierced sacrifice,
Echoing like whispers of bridal rejoicing,
Earth’s revelry but a shadow in His footsteps
Of triumphal glee –
Glee only a sigh next to His touch
Felt again,
Embraced as heralds open
Eden’s gates and Heaven’s portals
In forever without time.
Categories:
covenants, easter, jesus, joy, life,
Form:
Free verse
The Greatest of These…
A portrait of the perfect tenderness eternal,
Painted from the rising mists of a broken promise -
Finished on a Friday afternoon – complete the promise
Of the everlasting word in worldly wastelands and in realms of glory
Daily molding vessels born of earthly clay
To take the shape of living covenants
Spoken in deserts and on flood tides - on mountaintops in bare feet
And temples built on lofty mounts
Where a king danced naked before the word -
Leading every dawn of life away from bitter tears indifferent,
Whole – redeemed – refreshed – not strutting,
No more teardrops lost within a sea of sand,
A shining lantern through shadowed valleys
Lifting hearts to heights unimagined
Where angels walk above the fallen stars –
Pure essence of the eternal and all knowing
Spoken, whispered, to orphans of a garden still seeking mystery;
Cherished companion of the pilgrim throughout every season
Embracing the perfection of the amazing, abiding eternal.
Categories:
covenants, angel, faith, love, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
P S IT’S POETRY WRITE ON WRITE ON CONGRATS TO MY FELLOW POETRY SOUPERS PART 9
Many thanks to you selected poets; Of sharing your whispers from God, tho you didn’t know it; Each letters and each word; Reads so very dear and well; Joys of your souls cheers; Covenants of choice, reading your voice; Blessing peace be still; Please keep writing your skills; Rhyming verses blessings of course it’s… P.S. Congrats and thank-U my fellow Soupers
• Gary Radice 170, 253, 260
• Gary Smith 167, 419
• Geoffrey Brewer 132, 340, 98
• George Schaefer 310
• George William Clever 446, 140
• Georgette Johnson 292
• Georgia Kereopa 117, 134
• Gerald Tanjang 456
• Giti Tyagi 346
• Gloria Shell Mitchell 447
• Gordon S. Wolf 17, 21, 237
• Graham Alexander Devenish 410
• Graham John Howes 332
• Greg Evans 321
• Greg Gaul 176, 311
• Gregory Joseph Firlotte 395, 447
• Gry W Christensen 170
• Hannington Mumo 386
• Hans-Christian AleXander Melschau 182, 228
• Hariom Sharma 272
• Harry Biosah 411
• Hara Chaudhary 347
• Heather Green 356
• Heather Rodwell 453
• Heidi Sands 150, 156 36
12/13/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2020©
Categories:
covenants, analogy, community, poets, words,
Form:
Free verse
Herded on to reservations.
Their chiefs humiliated.
International witnesses killed and abused.
Geneva conventions are ignored.
Oslo agreements are trashed.
United Nation covenants and agreements denied.
Numbers were written on their foreheads.
Their homes and olive trees are destroyed.
They are killed at a rate of four to one.
There seems to be only one solution
for a people whose capacity for survival is so great.
Even their women sacrificed themselves
to get your attention to the depth of their grief.
They have already had their Trail of Tears and
there is no where for them to go.
Extermination, genocide are
the traditional methods
for getting rid of peoples in the way.
So, who will start the ovens for Palestinians?
I know that Exxon will supply the gas.
Categories:
covenants, political
Form:
Free verse
I mourn the worst sorrows.
The shifty deception of
gullible children and
senile elders.
The blindness to reality
injected into many unlucky
fetuses, the worlds of
wonder they are born into,
smiling and ready to
accept these evil lies.
Like the wise men and women
they were, they rejected
their own teachings and
trampled upon the covenants
of their fathers, replacing
them with the tyrannical
anarchy of natural man,
forever a beacon in the vacuum,
a warning to those who dare
dance at the edge of the forest,
and dip their feet in the water
of unclouded streams.
Categories:
covenants, freedom, innocence, slavery,
Form:
Free verse
THE WILLOW AND THE RIVER
Along the river the willows approach the stream
It's cool invitation calls them to come closer
Inching ever nearer as in a dream
The subtle seduction slowly taking over
'Til roots dip in to draw life giving sustenance
And they bow in honour and grace for this gift imparted
The union now is sealed with pastoral covenants
Henceforth the two are never to be parted
As water seeps beneath the tree's foundation
The willow leans even closer to its love
And bowing low to take its final libation
Kisses the surface to nevermore rise above
Then in one climactic plunge does the tree succumb
To unite, dissolve and flow evermore as one
Categories:
covenants, beauty, desire, love,
Form:
Sonnet