She couldn't live as a verse anymore,
She needed to be more than perfume on a pen,
more than a lovely dream for a hungry man,
to be touched beyond the torch
of twilight cool inspiration,
the Poet must give Her a body to behold,
to rescue Her from the curse
of a ghost feathered quill,
born of a bold blooded Angel
She will become Muse made warm woman real,
elegant as rose petal feel,
Her ancient thirst,
no longer slaked with ink of stellar burst,
the art of love will live
within the skin that She has suffered to win,
to parade through paradise
with a victor's pulse to survive,
Poet and Muse fused to sharpen
flame to flesh as lovers kiss the forbidden -
J.A.B.
,So shall this be it is written from land to the great sea
From you to me to see the rebirth from coast to coast.
The works of his mighty hands revealed
Blessed shall you be like a tree planted by the rivers of water
growing in grace in this world of unforseen people
places and things know this!
Blessed is the man that continue to walk not in the counsel of the ungodly nor
standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful but
his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doeth he meditates day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit
in his season his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in judgment nor sinners in the congregation
of the righteous.For the Lord continue to know the way of righteous
But the way of the ungodly shall perish! It is written so be it.
My witness
KJV
PSALMS1
Imprisoned yet freed
in God’s serene grace*
heart throbs with love’s creed
amidst prayer pace
triumphant indeed
while winning life’s race.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
March 23, 2026
3rd place, "TRAPPED IN A TABLEAU" Verse Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 4/8/2026
Fehu bestoweth golden hope
Uruz doth endure battles through strength
Thurisaz provoketh strife and guardeth my rose
Whilst Anuz communicates with divine length
Raidho pursueth journeys of measured rhythm
Kenaz illuminates creative spiritual knowledge
Gebo granteth gifts as infinitum
As Wunjo doth harness harmony in a college
Hagalaz transformeth with tempests and chaos
Nauthiz, by resistance, takes constraint
Isa blossoms in stillness, as iciness plays on
Yet, Jera rewardeth cycles of harvest in haste
Eihwaz endureth death, resilience, and rebirth
Perthro revealeth mystery and knowledge
Algiz defendeth with steadfast and mighty girth
So, Sowilo shineth in sunny sparks of voltage
Tiwaz upholdeth justice, making a leader
Berkano bringeth fertility with new beginnings
Ehwaz uniteth partners and team seekers
For Mannaz exalteth communal incentives
Laguz floweth as a stream to raise intuition
Ingwaz concealeth fertile power and energy
Dagaz breaketh visions from night imprisoned
Whilst Othala preserveth heritage in memories
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
-
Matthew 12: 34-40
Sweet scented thoughts of yesterday
Revive hearts with nostalgic chime
Echoing hopes while triumphs sway
In the dusting of the Springtime.
With vibrant spirit, faith prevails
Conquering gloom that once caused pain
As home fellowship never fails
Since family* love and care reign.
Scheduled reunions during Springs
Keep on binding partnership zeal
Though death comes with parting it brings
We stay close around kinship seal.
Let's cherish togetherness flight
Meeting midst God’s gracious delight.
Psalm 68:6 *God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains…
June 15, 2023
8th place, "In The Dusting Of The Springtime Sweet Scented Thoughts Of Yesterday" Sonnet Poetry Writing Premiere Contest; Sponsored by Mystic Rose Rose; judged on 6/19/2023.
Hate, hateful hate, how doth thy poison spread
A venomous fang within the human heart
That doth darken all thoughts of light instead
And tears friends and lovers far apart.
Thou art a curse, a bane upon our race
A devilish spawn that doth thrive on spite
Thou bringeth sorrow to our mortal place
And turneth hearts from warmth to bitter might.
When hate doth rear its head, all love doth flee
And reason's voice doth falter and grow weak
Our eyes are blinded, and we cannot see
The havoc wrought, the peace that we bespeak.
So let us shun this foe, this deadly lure,
And seeketh love, that doth make our hearts pure.
Cometh the end of each and every
December
January so to with it as well bringeth a
new year to start a fresh once all over
again
And though the time and date and
solar winds may change
The seasons somehow however never seemingly do
The sky is still just as blue as the sun
is red grass is green as is the night
tinged in black
Just as like when spring and summer
eventually return and dawn
Denote it's time to pack away our
winter warming clothes into the
back of our closets and cupboard
draws
That unless we truly feel within and
inside our head and heart's
A certain individual kind of love
and caring does reside that warms
us dearly
Then matter's not the time or season
place or age
Tomorrow they will be no more richer or
poorer
If nothing changes and everything remains
Lingering marvels in life do prevail
Ironies along paradoxes reign
Fears midst love, pain with bliss while tears assail
Expressing faith above logic for truth gain.
Surprise attack, suspense shock, skeptic doubt
Magnify mysteries’ enigma-sense…
Yonder realities in their known route
Seek settlement upon strong truth defense.
Trials with triumph, turmoil against hope
Ephemeral versus eternal clash
Reasoning by proof of experience-scope
Invites heart and mind accord without crash…
Exposed to myriad wonders, I’m so blest
Safe in God*, fathoming best from the rest.
*Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
December 15, 2020
Hybrid sonnet in acrostic form
Rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
2nd Place, "Life's Mysteries in Hybrid Sonnet in Acrostic" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by John Hamilton; judged on 12/31/2020.
buds
shoot out
new birth hope
while nature glows
springing from the Lord
sustained by grace*
grows further
midst life
blooms
*Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
July 31, 2020
edited on August 21, 2023
2nd place, "A Natural Ninette" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Kim Merryman; judged on 8/19/2023.
rains clear
the moon shines bright
facing west
thoughts take flight
with a crumpled pack of cigarettes
judgments muse minor regrets
torrential showers dry my eyes
me and myself judge a shallow I
the past has passed
no future set
judgments squandered with some regret
a new day’s dawn bringeth light
lumination transcends plight
obligations shorn of debt
rationalized sans regret
hand me a key to unlock the sky
I seek the stars in the halo you ply
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.” Isiah 52:7
Like voyagers on high seas scanning the horizon, restless souls
seeking deliverance from hunger, death, and disease,
heralding fresh vigor from the dawn,
however hope does infuse with flesh, like
oars on the waves,
a semblance of life, a murmur or breath caught
by bright cadence of Spring, the master plan!
His name is Griffin. Folks though call him “Griff”
He hails from universities of stone
Debate with him is as a smoken spliff
It leaves one’s mental faculties undone
For high o’er land and sea and distant isles
The eye of Griff doth wander wide and free
All he beholds, his intellect defiles
Dreaming disaster from the rings of trees
The seas do rise – we’re told – to drown our coasts
Though photos of past bays show nary a change
Griff terrifies the kids with tales of ghosts
That steal the frost from every mountain range
Beholding life, he see-eth only death
In forms of beauty, veiled catastrophe
That morbid gas in every human breath
Damns sinners to a lost eternity
But that dread gas – O Griff! How see-est thou not
Bringeth not death but life, that springeth green
The photosynthesis thou hast forgot
Is nourished by the thing thou call’st unclean
And so adieu, my ode to Griff is done
To that sly master of the shifting files
Of numbers spelling our Armeggedon
And yet behind that mask of doom – he smiles!
Make me that tree planted* by the waters
To bear fruits in my season with Your grace
Leaves not withering while beauty scatters…
My God, prosper me along Your might’s brace.
Standing along waters for nourishment
I pray to be a tree offering shade
Refuge to ease away discouragement…
My God, uphold me with Your goodness-glade.
Like a tree welcoming birds to nestle
My life I devote to serve, reaching out
With great love showing Scripture’s epistle…
My God, keep me in Your water’s blest route.
*Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
March 4, 2020
1st place, "GIF With Your Best Anything" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by William Kekaula; judged on 3/14/2020.
For the Lord’s honour
steward feet
securely shod*
with divine strength
trek upward faith-driven pursuits
to prevail midst grace
steadfast over trials' rigour
keep on reaching-out
serenely triumphant
waiting for heaven's trumpet sound.
By Christ’s might
I'm propelled to march forward
then to rest awhile
in His green pastures
basking with contentment
from labor’s pressures
rejuvenated to thank the Saviour
for enabling servant’s heart
toward ministering steward feet
of joyous compassion.
*Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
July 19, 2019
Edited on March 8, 2022
1st place, "A BRIAN STRAND Libre Vers" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 3/11/2022.
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