Best Testimony Poems
*NOTE: Jack and I wonder how many of you have heard of the Zona Shue case –
an American murder victim who had revenge in Virginia in the late 1800s.
Zona was killed by her husband, Edward Shue, who then took elaborate steps to
cover his crime. In an attempt to disguise Zona’s broken neck, Edward dressed her
corpse in a scarf and high necked dress, stuffed her coffin with pillows (to support
her vertebrae) and refused to allow even the doctor near the body.
However, Zona appeared to her mother and revealed the truth. Following
exhumation and an autopsy, Edward was found guilty of murder. It was the only
case in American history where information provided by a ghostly apparition was
admitted as evidence for consideration by jurors.
Jack and I are co-sponsoring a contest on ghost poems. Our co-write "A Ghost's
Testimony" below will give you an idea what we're seeking in entries.
"A Ghost's Testimony"
"She must have fallen down the stairs:
A tragic accident," he said.
"I've washed her body, laid her out -
Oh, Doctor Knapp, my Zona's dead!"
"No accident! Shue broke my neck.
Mother, please hear my ghostly plea.
Take him to court and make him pay;
It's murder in the first degree."
“I’ve dressed her in her high necked frock…
Thought pillows by her neck looked fine…
She’d want to wear this scarf,” he wept.
“But no one touch the corpse - she’s mine!”
"Thanks, Mom, for bringing this to court.
The autopsy was not done right!
With malice Shue cut my life short.
Exhume my body; shed some light."
“Her mother wants to see me hang,
But she can’t prove my guilt,” he fumed.
“She claims the body sheet turned red,
And wants to have my wife exhumed.”
"The judge disagreed and allowed
My spirit world testimony.
Shue, my killer, was not so proud;
A death in jail for this phony!"
They
hung him
on a tree-
this day set me
free
Crucifixion by Mathew Grunewald Isenheim Altar piece
http://www.bible-archaeology.info/crucifixion.htm
Exuding purity, while honour bestowing
“Sampaguita” I am, my country’s national flower
Jasminum sambac --- such is my scientific name
beautifully functional with my fragrance
oozing through a branded perfume.
With my God-endowed economic potential
I’m sought to provide livelihood opportunities
since leis and garlands produced out of my being
help build-up entrepreneurs in our community
as well as growers, showing resilience and patience.
Modesty aside, I’m an inspiration to many artists:
poets exalt my sublime scent and accolade-granting petals
sculptors have me accentuated, like in my ceremonial torch feature
singers express serenade-lyrics, comparing me to a virgin
painters exhibit my adornment impact.
Symbolizing graceful simplicity and sacredness
my optimization is offered to the Almighty
Who blesses fully my sweet existence beyond survival bliss
as I yield to Him my all, while worshipping Him
with my biblical fellow flowers, rose of Sharon, and lily of the valleys.*
*Song of Solomon 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
February 2, 2021
Chosen image: "If I were a flower..."
1st place, "If I Were A (Flower)? Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Mystic Rose Rose; judged on 2/4/2021.
Lord, thank You for saving…
…my condemned life that was bound to hell
By Your grace, excelling compassionately well
With Your redemption* so that in heaven I can surely dwell
Transforming me from rebelliousness thru the Gospel!
Lord, thank You for rescuing…
…my sinful soul from the lake of fire
By Your love, fulfilling the perfect sacrifice You did require
With Your pardon acquitting me from penalty of sin’s mire
Making me Your child, tamed by Your kindness that doesn’t expire!
Lord, thank You for winning…
…my arrogant nature from filthiness
By Your mercy, vanquishing evil and wickedness
With Your justification for my righteousness
Enabling me to strive for holiness!
Lord, thank You for prevailing over…
…my vain faith in false religion
By Your Scriptures, rebuking every idolatrous region
With Your truths to free me from abomination’s dungeon
Snatching me from the devil’s deceiving legion!
Lord, thank You for converting…
…my deceitful heart midst pride’s deadly cost
By Your humility, reaching out to the lost
With Your power and might of the Holy Ghost
Leading me to submit to You, serving with my best and utmost!
Lord, thank You for cleansing…
…my self-willed personality from carnality’s impurity
By Your sanctification, purging every worldliness, and vanity
With Your purification from any iniquity
Blessing me in obeying Your authority!
Lord, thank You for driving…
…my uncertain future to Your direction from terrible disaster
By Your omniscience, controlling all events as the Master
With Your victory against tribulation's setter
Guiding me to aspire for Christ-like character!
*1Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
August 7, 2018
5th place, "Feral" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Anthony Slausin; judged on 8/10/2018.
I came to faith
at forty-eight
a mid-life crisis
within my mind
step-by-step
a staircase I climbed
'til I left
my old life behind
off the fence I slithered down
upon my brow
doubt bears no frown
each question
answered verified
no blind faith
with no place to hide
reasoned studied &
empirical
a life-style relevant &optical
by revelation
face to face
I stand here still
..saved by grace.
this proof of election is mine
In Christ too
...it can be thine.
My love is strong.
I use you though the many things you've done wrong.
The road was long but the past is gone and now you have a new song.
A new page to flip;
A new chapter to write;
A new part on this big script.
Satan may try to tempt you as tainted but don't you listen to his games because
your life
will be my testimony too.
And now the new words you'll speak and the lives you'll renew will bring glory to
me and
my son who was slew.
Though I warn you, in this new page your company will be few
People may not get you but they'll run later coming to you with their issues
They'll see how you've overcame and then you'll tell 'em bout me and your life will
then
be shown my testimony. . .
You live my testimony.
It was real
No one knows what I've been through
A testimony, a cry for help
Jesus steps in and picked me up
Going through all kinds of tests
Not just one, Multiple at it's best
God, will this ever end?
My Faith, Angels was sent
On bended knees, I plead
The tests were back to back
All in one large sack
God gives me Grace
Making all type of ways
Not only then, until this day
I Praise God, for the many Blessings receive
I continued in Prayer on Bended Knees
The, not true stories the rumors too
Oh God now what do I do?
Keeping the Faith as I shall always
God fought my battles in those deep dark days
My trust stands stronger than ever before
I'm still here with wisdom, wiser, stronger
The tests and trials seemed so much longer
Looking back at it all I made it through
Grace and Mercy God gave me to
Thank you Thank you
A Testimony is so true, A test to be your best
A brand new you.
I'd like to bear my testimony
I know god's love is true.
I know He will forgive me,
No matter what I do.
I know that if I try to give
To others who are in need,
He will bless me in the life I live
Where others cannot see.
I know that He will help me
When I'm feeling blue
And when I'm facing choices
And don't know what to do.
I know that if I try, to do what is right
He will always be with me
And I will always have his light.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Distressed, I attest,
Like not blessed,
A voice in my head,
Said out of bed,
So I was led to
A quiet church,
As owls sang out,
Midnight gone tombs,
And my tears appeared,
Death beckoned long
finger nails of distraction,
And so I gazed upon an open Abbey, with folk awake that caused a shake, God botherers with likely guitars, a melange of niceness where only grief was sat. So I drifted in, hiding behind tissues
of my own life lies, and sat prepared to run, quite prepared and scared, from that worse than death, the well meaning Christian. Then as I sank into the pews, staring up from rotten shoes, my woes, my blues, I saw floating in midair, a man, with dark blooded hair, and I knew then I was crazy within my distress, not blessed. But as that thought, which came to nought, crossed my elitist demeanour, I shared everything he felt, and at that moment, beyond compare, exquisite agony my problems became less than my being, now seeing Christ. Never one to take miraculous moments without scepticism, I stood disbelieving, a rescued Thomas who had seen, unseeing, still unbelieving.
So I walked with much chagrin
towards the font my eyes had
seen, to find rational reasons,
A reflection, some explanation,
for why of all people this soul
of mine, might be saved by
one whose face I had denied
for so long, that no song could
ever write my wrongs, and there
in a Pentecostal moment, I
gained insight into the wind
that came at night, where no
delight was held for me,
an agnostic changed now for
all eternity. A man unworthy
of that name, came to faith,
kicking, screaming at how
unfair, it was to find that God
was really there, and worse,
so much worse, he knew my
name, and despite my attempts,
cared enough to save my day.
@Andrew Carnegie, Bessay Lighthouse, 28th December 2016. A true story.
If you would like to know a bit about me and my poetry please click this link below:
https://youtu.be/Ic_V7aX4xbk
(Oppressor say's)Old *****, don't you run no more;
(***** says I already forgave you)
(Oppressor say's)
Old *****, pick up da shovel and stone; (***** says it's up to you)
Move da dirt wit yo hands; (***** says one day b free)
Then that might make U a man; (***** says God says I am )
Old *****, bare the weight; (***** says I shall not hate)
Old *****, you sure ain't;
Gonna rise and shine with the sun; (***** says God made the sun)
Cause can't ya see ya all mine; (***** says NO man owns no one)
Now them bodies in that hole;
Them too had a place to go;
And there's somethin you should know;
Freedman, freedom comes and freedom goes;
Best now slave bettar behave;
Or there them bones of your be in that grave;
(Old ***** say's )I'm dependent on God;
I don't hate them there master's at all
Cause WE ALL gotta see God;
So when I'm done suffering,
Still on my knee's praying;
I must continue on believing and forgiving;
Cause master too got a judgement day awaiting , juzzin like me;
Yes, I'm free but can't go to where I ain't been, U see;
Guess I'm just mosey on down this old road here;
And if our paths shall cross this here land again;
I'm entitled to call you friend;
See I have no heaven nor hell to place you in;
Can't punish you for what you did;
All I know is that I must forgive;
If I want the Lord to forgive me;
by and by, we all gonna go
Old *****, they call you back
Old *****, free at last
Old *****, they call you black;
so mister don't git too relaxed;
I've been beat on, yet I'm strong;
Been caged up, yet I rome;
Can't read yo words, but I remember mine;
You mistreated me, now I'm free;
Alas! in awe all I can do is not hate but forgive you;
You and no devil gonna git me to choose;
In closing my words I choose God have mercy on the oppressors, masters, And evil rulers for I will forever be in prayer, always...
In Jesus, in God shall I be this I say, I pray;
This of the testimony of an old ***** slave;
Who praised the Lord
Written by James Edward Lee Sr.
July 30 2017(c)
My bones are strong, my mind is clear,
The path is wrong of that I fear.
But I dare not to see my rear,
The flames are hot, the danger near.
And now you ask of whom this face,
Of whom this wretched choice to bear,
I’m mortal son of deathless race,
The poorest one with mal de mer.
Of what I dream it nightmares you,
My gold not stocked but eaten rare,
My only right is to pursue,
A life of slave without health care.
Of all the things I could be called,
The ones of shame and those of glory,
I heard of one that is installed,
They call me simply; perfect story.
Thus very soon we will have met,
By stormy morning over tea,
I will be dead and you’ll be sad,
For hundred people in the sea.
A Cancer Survivor's Testimony
If you believe in the Word of God,
You know that trials only make us strong,
With Christ along anywhere you are in life,
Is just where you belong,
Take the time to read the Book of Job,
As you will plainly see,
God never left Job, He'll never leave you,
He has always been here for me,
It's not what you are going through friend,
It's how you stand the test,
Just put your trust in the almighty God,
Just let Him do His best,
As I go through life with my made up mind,
As I know God has my back,
I'm not the one for a pity party,
As I pray to continue on the right track,
I am a living testimony,
So all the world to see,
And I want the whole wide world to know,
I beat cancer…..cancer doesn't have me.
Rev, Samuel Mack, OMS, DD
Copyright 2015
Yes, friends songs have been sung about salvation, poems wrote, declarations of
freedom declared, but it is my testimony I now wish to share.
Entangled in Satan’s snare I had no doubt why I ended up there!
Only half listening, laying my best laid plans for Jesus I’d take my stand,
on my terms of course ,he would understand!
I was on the right path of that I had no doubt
Satan could not touch me I was too smart to take sins route.
What I didn’t count on was now obvious to see…
He had me dead in his sights my soul no longer free!
That’s what happens when you decide to live your own way!
Yes, too late I realized he had me and he was insisting I stay!
Sin truly cost me more than I could ever pay!
To my knees I fell and begin to pray.
Jesus heard my cry and there He was right by my side.
He picked me up and dusted the sin from my soul, and said
“Child this is not the way to go!”
Back on the straight and narrow I will walk with
great care.………but what is that over there?
See it is easy to go astray so be diligent , watch
and pray for what’s over there may be your undoing someday!
I brooded and pondered upon the matter pensively
A revengeful delight as SATAN'S might burnt to embers
While damning others lives, the vixen's tongue slithered smoothly
Her FUTURE plans poisonously clouded our family
Fire, blood, scissored clothes found their way in horrendously
Had read about the protective rings from our saviours
Faith in unchanging destiny made me pray fervently
And trust in the self testified against voodoo destroyers
The SAPPHIRE rock that our family treasures guardingly
Fortified the BLOODLINE from evil eye of beguilers
Bouncing back on the covetous even more ruthlessly
CREATIVE efforts of prayers obliterated connivers
Satan's, Future, Sapphire, Bloodline, Creative
14 syllables per line
June 2, 2016)
Timothy Hicks
Up to Calvary Jesus went;
died and rose again for me.
Now that he lives forever,
I'm sure to live hereafter.
Thus, the day he smiled at me,
I thrilled, realizing I'm his.
So, when the killer cancer
barged in to cancel my life,
on his face, a victor's sneer,
I looked past his threatening,
and saw Jesus' face beaming;
a sign that death was lying.
I braced up by faith and stared
flush on his murderous face.
Cowered by the doomful glare,
he jiggled, fizzled, and fled.
I reeled with hearty laughter
at Satan's shameful slaughter.
In Christ lies the victory;
He's the answer to cancer.
© 2014