Best Crossing Over Poems
It took the Israelites forty years
to finally reach the promised land.
I could well take double that time
till my long journey comes to an end.
Having trekked for endless nights and days,
faced many storms and hurdles on the way,
I would at last come to my destination.
Stopping at the bank of the river of fire,
an angel guides me, ferrying me across
to the other side, where resolutely
I walk through a shroud of thick mist.
Then, to the sound of heavenly song,
I step into the realm of Elysian Fields.
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A ‘Cross’ themed contest
Sponsored by Carolyn Devonshire
Placed 2nd
Awarded POTD ~ 1st March 2019
© 27th February 2019
Crossing Over
Dry your tears and pray for me
As I cross the bridge to eternity
Life is but a single breath
On the journey that we know as death
A brief pause…like a gentle sigh
For we are born, only to die
I do not fear this great unknown
For I do not travel this path alone
There is no reason for you to grieve
Or be sad for me when I leave
I am not lonely… because…you see
Christ our Savior walks with me
Crossing over is fast to last for all eternity.
Let me linger a while longer by the sea of tranquillity,
until I collect my bio, written in the water.
© Jun 4 2010 For Rick’s Sijo contest
Foreword: This is one of the first poems I put to paper.
A golden pristine morning,
breaks across an endless sea of night,
And drifting through the burning haze
of breathlessness
I see a stranded man mirrored in the waters of time
Searching for, and to find his heavens shores
In the midst of this hellish sea
A battle rages tween sanity and sea as the sun blisters the day
But alas as the mirror meets the horizon
His heaven becomes a reality
And he is born into his spirituality
Never to thirst again.
He awoke
to the sound of pouring rain,
the wind whistling
around the windmill tower,
the aroma of homemade toasted bread
and coffee brewing on the paraffin stove…
In a daze, eyelids heavy,
he heard distant voices.
“He breathes like a sparrow.
The time is near.”
A tear fell on his frail hand.
In the shadows
the ferryman patiently waited…
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A BRIAN STRAND 1097 Poetry Contest
crossing over…
her chilled breath
caressed my cheeks
no reddening here
just a darker ebony hue
the color collage
of foliage
canvassed my eyes
falling rainbow tears
dripping to nourish
mother earth
matting
her joseph’s coat
reflected by scattered rays
peeping through shuttered skies
the bridge over the river of change
is indeed a delightful crossing
The world unseen has now been unveiled
Now that your time has come to make that
Long tunnel journey and as you go Crossing
Over into the light I know you will spread
Your wings and fly straight back to where
You came from there where there's nothing
But sweet peace in radiant glory...tho I hope
You remember me as you let go of my hand
And this crazy thing called life well I will cry
Many tears but I know we will soon meet
Again as I go Crossing Over into the light
'Cuz it's a journey we're all gonna have to
Someday make so get ready for you never
Know when the next breath you take will be
The last one you take, sooner or later we will
All find ourselves Crossing Over into the
Light...God knows we lived our lives fast and
Hard like some kind of roller coaster ride but
As we go Crossing Over into the light we
Know instinctively death cannot kill what
Never dies oh as we go, as we go Crossing
Over to the other side!
Crossing Over The River
If emotional cruel define gravity shelter for the weather would be not the house but the wood knocks
Pain and jealousy some time take the nail from the pavement what is it to know words that pin gambles of tales
Haste virtue counterpart agrees was every word of a phrase taking out of tempo
How routes lack appease to love or look to what to be
just be - - - -
Through the eye of the needle,
Not to the left or the right
Dodging both on the comets tail
I streak into the light
My last wish out in front
As words melt in a fiery contrail
And with only one question
To weaken my heart
With only one thing to know
The seasons entwine
All beanstalks are felled
With the exit signs all aglow
I crash through the doubt
Releasing new hope
My affirmation now to reign
And look ever further
Beyond my scope
As my senses become untrained
I feel the loose pieces
Start to come off
A new lightness now abounds
The last burden has lifted
Burning bright in my wake
Crossing over—turned around
(Villanova Pennsylvania: November, 2016)
"Today I am a joyous soul for across that bridge I will stroll." ~ poet
seraphs serenade the skies
strains unheard by mortal ears
chilling the darkness with notes
of ethereal richness
solo arias announce
the soulful songs of shadows
crossing the bridge to glory
extolling the most faithful
morning follows the lilting
cadence of aural tenors
singing of godly brilliance
with sweet angelic chorus
home at once, at once at home
soft as silken ribbons of
diaphanous tatted lace
comfortable and soothing
Spirits are all around us
Fine tuned in sensitivity
Temperature changes from hot to cold
Past history of mysteries told
Death follows in shadows coming out of nowhere
Faces seen in hidden corners of the mind
Bright lights shine then disappear without a trace
Anticipation mixed with fear apparitions suddenly appear
Messages from beyond with ghostly images invisibly drawn
Reaching out for comfort with energy strong
Scents and music fills the air lingering on in memory
Sleepless nights with twists and turns stuck in limbo
Between two worlds living in another time and place
Never alone travelling from the other side
Searching for home
I've crossed over life's next great divide
Joining others from near as well as far and wide
A new world where memories are king
And one knows not what each day may bring
Seems only yesterday that I was young
Strong of heart and quick of tongue
Now I move more slowly down life's path
Stopping only now and then to look back and laugh
Eyes are dimmer now and view a different world
One that moves much too fast as events unfurl
Yesterdays are many, tomorrows are far too few
I don't rise each day and shout "there is work to do"
Where once there was energy now only fatigue remains
And I dream of a place blessed with soft summer rains
Life is full of pain and beauty beyond belief
Moments of extreme joy and overwhelming grief
To wonder "why" is to find that silence always prevails
Hidden deep in the heavens are the secrets of life's intricate details
So we find that we have no choice but to wonder and to wait
And hope that the next major "crossing over" will set the record straight
In this life upon the earth
so much troubles we travel through
such is the divine plan for us
that our faith can feel so blue
But we must always remind ourselves
the Lord is continually at our side
walking with us holding our hand
helping us over every high tide
He knows the way that we take
for His eyes see far further on
giving His grace for each step
preparation for before the dawn
When we see the day approach
looking across the eternal shore
Jordan beckons looks so near
have faith Jesus opens heavens door
Then we look back with gladness
for all that our God has done
bringing us home to glory
eternal thanks to Jesus His son
So until that day does come
keep our eyes on Jesus our friend
the one who redeemed our soul
He is faithful for ever to the end
Prompts
Through the eye of the needle
Not to the left or the right
Dodging both on the comets tail
I streak into the light
My last wish out in front
As words melt in a fiery contrail
And with only one question
To weaken my heart
With only one thing to know
The seasons entwine
All beanstalks are felled
With the exit signs all aglow
I crash through the doubt
Releasing new hope
My affirmation now to reign
And look ever further
Beyond my scope
As my senses become untrained
I feel the loose pieces
Start to come off
A new lightness now abounds
The last burden has lifted
Burning bright in my wake
Crossing over—turned around
(Villanova Pennsylvania: November, 2016)
some say the dead are lost souls without vessels ~ life on a doomed dinghy