Best Glorying Poems
There is an antique writing desk
in my little study
handed-me-down
from generations of would-be
writers in my family
And there are ancient creatures
from days gone by
living in this old desk still
evil, larcenous little creatures
envious of literary skill
This explains much
Lately, I have caught them unawares
aghast, thought I imagined them
but they are really there
surly, sinister, repugnant creatures
in my writing desk
There's a putrid little jerk,
called Pernishicus who lurks
behind the piles on my desk
glorying in the mess
a malevolent, grimy-mauve gremlin
Who preys on newly created works
stealthily spraying them
with foul feculence
as soon as I commence
my writing-
...Sometimes missing slightly
and tagging my hand
making it hard to stand
myself (much less my writing)
for days on end
Then there's a creepy
mesmerizing fiend
they call Spelbadger
a translucent thing, quite obscene
who shifts in the shadows and purrs
With dark eyes deep- constantly changing
like stones from mood-rings
set in his skull
he psychically bullies,
intimidates and muddles
until my poor brain
is worn and dull
And perhaps worst of all
is that one, Grumblesleaze
with pale, glowering eyes diseased
a gray-green, mangy looking thing
whose famous quirk
is that he has the gall
to grouse about my work...
As he viciously shreds it
then glunshing and munching
greedily devours it all
leaving no note
or trace of remembrance
of my past brilliance
behind
Oh, out of spite
he might leave a few
of my ill-penned
unfortunate lines
I planned to cut anyway
or pull my worst attempts
from the waste-can
and lay them out
to remind me of my failures
Yes, this explains much
For there was only one before
our one lone ancestor
who was able to write
at this desk prolifically
tapping out volumes rather heroically
'Though tiresome and tedious
dry history and drivel
which, no doubt, shrank and shriveled
and lulled these creatures off
to sleep for years
Until we woke them up
broke their hibernation
with more interesting stories
and imagination, colorfully crafted
ingenious, piece after piece
Clicking and clacking away
on typewriters, keyboards
generation after generation
of irritatingly gifted writers
disturbing their peace
it had to cease...
the sun's a furnace...
or angels glorying god...
meaning or nonsense...
which 'isness' is truth...
if either then therefore both...
truth's not paradox...
truth's situation...
truth means separate problems...
science or poem...
truth means purpose...
a different circumstance...
responsible choice...
words degenerate...
over any and all reads...
so truth means context...
that's reality...
words are compliant plastic...
for you and for me...
to relate a now...
describe in part or total...
an experience...
stan sand
Dancing in an uninhibited way,
Glorying in her self-truth
She had no idea she was intimidating
Almost every girl her age,
Not caring a whit about the opinions
Of ones who are not magically in touch
With themselves.
Two teenagers attempted to bully her.
To taunt her, to make fun.
They were not well received.
Two of her good friends began to dance
With her.
Pretty soon the whole dance floor was
Full of uninhibited dancer.
She had unintentionally become a leader.
Unaware, she gave them happy smiles.
Her friends were dragging others onto the dance floor.
Pretty soon all of the girls except two were dancing.
The boys watched from the shadows. Amazed.
They had never realized what fun a dance could be.
None of them went out there.
Most were twelve and thirteen,
Not actualized yet.
The Storm
Black rimmed skies,
Clouds with no lining of silver,
Gusts of wind,
Trees protesting,
With a dance on the horizon.
Rumblings of thunder,
Flashes of lightening,
Animals and humans,
Caught up in the melee,
While scurrying to the shelter,
Of their de-roofed abodes.
A deluge of wetness,
Spattering on the pavement,
Cascading into drains,
Loaded with the debris,
From a disenchanted metropolis.
Steering-happy drivers,
Punishing crying jalopies,
Meandering through the gridlock,
They almost knock down children,
Glorying in the rain.
But the end, was also the beginning,
The damage done: great!
Before any got home,
The sun was up smiling,
In adulation for the rain,
For a job well done.
A worthless worm…writhing in wretchedness
Hell-bound creature because of iniquities
That was I: doomed to everlasting torment
Condemned to suffer forever…
Yet, God Almighty with His grace and compassion
Reached down to me wondrously…
…He lifted me up from sins’ quagmire
Transforming my life miraculously;
Now, like a butterfly, peaceably beauteous
I’m freely doing His entrusted role as His called steward...
Thankful to His blessings, spread like "every grain of sand."
With righteous deeds likened to filthy rags
Imprisoned was I to my hypocritical beliefs
Such was I: verily unprofitable according to Scriptures’ gauge
Midst my self-glorying domineering conceit…
Yet, the Saviour with His truth and mercy
Imparted to me His divine nature……
…He rescued me from corruption by His holiness
Unchaining my soul from the clasps of religious dogmatism;
Now, I’m justified… acquitted from transgressions’ punishment
Freed indeed*, clothed with virtues for Christ-driven service...
Appreciating His magnificence shown by "every grain of sand."
*John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
April 3, 2019
Edited on May 7, 2019
4th place, "Musical Inspiration" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May; judged on 6/6/2019.
She sneaks into town
In the middle of the night;
Sets up before daybreak.
Her colors blind the town square.
Her barkers have games set up before the crowd arrives.
Her fantastic rides take two tickets;
Most kids lament they only have ten.
Some get replenished by their parents.
Others do not.
She smiles as she hears the two-year olds
screeching with delight on her multi-painted ponies.
She gloats that the mommies and daddies are willing to
stay in line for an hour.
The joy she brings is unparalleled; her bosom swells
with the knowledge that her enthusiasm has turned yet
another small middle earth town upside down.
She knows the inhabitants all look forward to her hot,
salted pretzels and cotton candy and depend upon her every year.
There are bicycle parades, and floats to honor her arrival.
She lures them into her tents, where they see crazy, unexpected miracles.
These folk talk about her for a whole year, glorying in being
held upside down for what seemed like hours snapped tightly
in one of her two ha-ha terrifying roller coasters,
Expounding on tales gleaned from her bowels.
She sneaks out as quietly as she sneaked in.
Taking her joy and colors with her, hoping to
be back another year.
Written 12/02/2018 Contest: Early December 2018
Sponsor: Brian Strand
God
leads me
thru His grace…
lifting my soul
...toward victory
in serving with faith’s gear
against self-glorying lust...
while trusting His merciful heart
that desires redemption of mankind
with my willing diligent stewardship.
I
follow*
my Lord God,
the wise Leader
Who holds the future.
Forever King of kings
He directs with supreme might
along compassion’s gentleness…
for ascent to faithfulness’ triumph
beckoning creation’s joyous worship!
*1Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
July 31, 2018
Grievous battle with carnality
Sore spiritual vexation day and night
Beseeching victory’s finality
I yield to God* to reach righteousness' height!
Vanquishing self-glorying dominance
In arena of service-stewardship
Midst self-esteem’s prevailing arrogance
I cleave to the Lord’s zealous partnership.
Overcoming lustful provocations
I’m driven by prayed-braced holiness’ bout
Though fainting, to soar against temptations
Holding on to faith’s sword, conquering doubt.
Self as foe, I face, thru my great Fortress
Treading down flesh, anchored on grace-buttress!
*2Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
January 15, 2019
6th place, "Best Sonnet 2019" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Hamilton; judged on 7/10/2019.
God gives me second chances with His love, verily unconditional
Conquering my failures of grievous frustrations
Asserting me His truth; thus “I can rise again by His grace!”*
I thank Him for girding me along my faith…
Anchoring my steadfastness upon His truth
Against doubts and unbelief.
God grants me abounding second chances along His mercy, readily available
Upholding my heart against lamentable losses
Affirming to me that He is sovereign!
I honour Him for uplifting me in my submission…
Breaking my pride thru His holiness
Against haughtiness and self-glorying.
God assures me miraculous second chances thru His power, surely wondrous
Rebuking my pessimism that hinders me to move on
Ascertaining to me that He rules with supreme wisdom!
I praise Him for correcting me of my ignorance…
Guiding my decisions thru His precepts
Against deceit and skepticism.
God leads me toward triumphant second chances by His joy, truly cheering
Securing my salvation with His Word so immutable
Awaking me from regrets of no profit!
I esteem Him for propelling me to work thru my commitment…
Blessing my service-labor with His approval
Against fruitlessness and indolence.
*Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”
January 18, 2019
6th place, "Second Chances" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Chantelle Anne Cooke; judged on 1/22/2019.
Self ever stop to think
Though vague, yet rules
Beings answer to souls alone
That money, worth nothing to soul
The juice and the cream of that money
Love and life seem unending
While glorying in the midst of nothing
Empty the being lives on
Days after nights to days
That money the goal in mind
Many get grasped to lose
Days after nights to pursue
Nights praying for day
That money leaves no peace
The compromises worsen the insomnia
Truths undermined, brethren deceived
Hoping always ever for fulfillment
Tons of that money jeering at conqueror
Harvested in place of peace
What a glorious mirage
Peace, souls perpetually seek
Peace that money abhors
That money, unearned, a curse
That money, a torture to souls
DEATH IS A NOTHING WORD
for Death was once called
D'aarth in ancient of ancient
times, then translated to Death
to control and cause fear.
Death means nothing to the dead
but it sure means a lot to the living
because death is a nothing word
for the dead is glorying in their living
and the living is left to mourn the dead
Death means nothing to the dead
for the dead is now living a life free
free from worry, free from pain and body
the living finds the missing of those love ones
who have passed on from this earthly road
sometimes too terrible to bear
but the dream of the dead goes on instead
The door of death is there for all already awaiting
it's only those that are scared of that word of death
that makes it hard to go thro' that open door
for that open door leads to a world of dreams
the dream of walking in a dream
till the passing on is fully realized
that more the living is done on the other side
tho' without a body, you the "Spirit" is now free
So it is now very important to realize in truth
that You are You the Spirit in a body encased
and not the other way round that you are told to embrace
and so go on to knowing of your Immortality
and that makes the door of death easy to go through
to make the new living so much easier to propound.
If contests reveal great faith-work’s strength
battles show discipline-ventures
conquests expose character
trials test virtues’ might
values’ fortitude
skills’ expertise
talents’ worth
for God...
Win!
When contest rules do stifle your life
not bringing out your very best
but nurturing the beast’s guts
with self-glorying bouts
midst spiritual angst
burdening soul
breaking heart,
Trust God…
Win*!
I am in a bad and horrible mood
My scowl is deep and dark
I am sitting in my pajamas plotting someone's death
a variety of ways
I see myself running them down with a wheelbarrow,
and sticking a pitchfork in their arm. Maybe twisting it too
I am glorying in the craziness of this madness which is
something my placated self would never think
I certainly would not do it but for some strange reason
it gives me enormous satisfaction and I laugh
Betrayal is something I do not abide and lies
are the quickest way to get off my party list.
I am scowling and swearing, deep in the throes of it
When my friend Marge comes over to see what she can do
She can do nothing; I refuse to let her in
But she has a key which I had forgotten
She comes in, gives me my favorite dessert, gets out
my best lemonade glasses, and pours me a drink I love.
I am trying my best to hate her for it; trying unsuccessfully to glower.
Not quite ready to be nice
The cross changed history no doubt
there God dealt with sin and satan
nailing them there powerless to effect
so victory is ours for salvation to win
So only one thing should we glory in
Lord Jesus Christ on the cross
for there He died for all our sins
so at eternity we suffer no loss
For all glorying is fully vain
except in Christ's cross fully sure
as nothing else is worth a thought
the cross only to effectively endure
This world with all it's pleasures
we can say is to us crucified
on the cross of Christ's surrender
making our affections to have died
So we have likewise put to death
all belongs to this sin curse planet
living only and surely to Christ
who's paid all our sinful debt
Glory on in the cross
where Jesus paid it all
to deal with sin completely
freeing us from humanity's fall
(But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.)
Galatians ch. 6 v.14 (ESV)
Spiritual victory* in our fight against temptation…
…Shows God’s might to subdue lust, Satan, and world’s destruction!!!
Yielding to the Holy Ghost with willingness…
…Brings our faith to His control for victorious meekness!!!
Battling our own self-reliant, self-glorying motive...
Forces constant dependence to the Lord for His triumphant directive!!!
Meeting the Saviour on the altar of supplication-plight…
…Insures jubilant prayer-time with peace delight!!!
Seeking the Creator during praise-filled worship…
…Empowers sincere obedience toward faithful stewardship!!!
*2Samuel 23:12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it…and the LORD wrought a great victory.
May 19, 2019