We stand holding hands
steadfast in our persistence—
time moves ever on,
yet always, leaves its echoes,
rippling through what yet remains.
The river flows on
without shape, frame, form or cause
spreading down and out,
yet, always its form returns
to drifting, meandering.
Despite the bad breaks
the past's worth holding on to—
a memento thread
to the ebb of resistance
refusing full surrender.
Truth softens in doubt,
in what is yet to be said,
hardens in silence,
gathering weight while alone,
gelling its soft resin core.
A crack opens flaws
yet, it always finds a way
for light to enter
shattering the perfect form
revealed as mere deception.
I loosen my bounds
while constraining the fracture,
as promises pull—
in multiple ways at once
yet always comes to being.
As yet, still unmade,
leans into what it dissolves—
time loosens its hold,
to let quiet undoing
cure resistance, yet again.
Oh! Omnipresent, bless us with eternal dance,
Restoring serenity with a mere glance,
As a stream of purity flows through your head,
Containing impurities as the journey moves ahead.
Echoes of ending vibrate the expansion,
Await a new beginning, a new dimension,
As light of consciousness illuminates the vastness,
Constraining chaos, acting as harness.
Oh!timelessness, bless us with realization,
Breaking the loop, the ultimate transformation,
Restoring oneness, establishing totality,
Please free us from the delusion of duality.
I am, that I am.
I am, I exist.
I know, that I know, I exist.
I am self-aware of me.
Born free without constraints,
With no bounds or boundaries
Constraining what I am.
My 'am' intentional existence
Lies in being, conscious, aware and present,
Here and now,
That is,
What I am
There's a connection, not to be severed,
By any knife or blade one might yield.
With hidden strength that's only measured,
From the tight knit to remain concealed.
Materially, it's enduring, as well as flexible,
While constraining polarities on each end.
Much like a web, it may have many attachments,
As it holds firmly, with continuity to suspend.
It's very nature adds to the mystery, as any
Vision through time or space remains unseen.
Yet the journey is observed throughout the cosmos,
Its attraction, dare I say love...just going about a routine.
Memory Disturbances
Written: by Miracle Man
6/1/2024
It’s a very sad day,
when memory starts to fade.
We live feeling helpless,
to change or persuade.
It’s harder on the one,
who must watch it occur.
One insists nothing’s wrong,
but both lives become a blur.
Most days they disagree,
about trivial things.
Just struggling along,
absorbing life’s new dings.
Most all days resemble,
the day that just passed.
One recalls good times,
from years both amassed.
Each place the two go,
they’re always pushed for time.
And one doesn’t grasp,
the meaning of bedtime.
The most debilitating loss,
is the ability to think.
When dementia claims one,
minds no more interlink.
Every conversation now,
needs in depth explaining.
It’s certain to now make,
two lives more constraining.
"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. The word is love."
Sophocles, Greek Poet
Radiating joyous thanksgiving glow
Love from the heart shows heaven’s blessing-flow
Triumphant in surmounting pain and woe
Sharing goodness to heal wounds of sorrow
Reaching-out, allowing kindness to grow
Midst care, igniting hope of tomorrow.
Gladly constraining forgiveness delight
Love divine offers haven from guilt’s blight
Vanquishing grief toward faith-soaring flight
That warms fellowship around prayer plight
Toward service height and worship aright
Inspiring trust to bloom, devoid of fright.
Thankful for love of God* brought to my soul
I’m cheerfully spreading it---that’s my goal.
*I John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
May 6, 2024
2nd place, "Sonnet - Untraditional" Sonnet Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 5/11/2024
Dissolution emptiness;
Translates into rainy life;
Constraining
Transit passion
Dire embracement
Desolation life constraining
Transients
Passion Embrace desire
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr 2020
Joy* midst Scriptures’ meditation
Communing with God during moments of devotion
Listening to His voice for divine instruction
While drawing nigh to Him plight’s intention
Cognizant that He hearkens to sincere supplication
Geared toward worshipful dedication…
Oh, strengthening gladness of the Lord in action
Empowers my faith for work fruition
Along His gracious constraining motion
Subduing slothfulness’ perdition.
*Nehemiah 8:10 … the joy of the LORD is your strength.
August 4, 2019
Christ’s constraining love* sublime
Frees my heart from guilt’s fetters
Enclosing me with His grace
To enjoy His peace.
Around my Lord’s divine care
My soul seeks great revival
Toward fiery service-bliss
Against sin’s venom.
*Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.
July 5, 2019
Honorable Mention, "1400 Brian Strand" Poetry Writing Contest
Judged on 8/4/2025
Christ’s constraining love*
…verily the cause
…of ministry joy
…serving others well
…by God’s grace and might…
Faith in the Lord
…does move our hearts
…in reaching out
…triumphantly….
Saviour’s truth
…must be shared
…with gladness…
Midst care…
…we do…
…love…!
*2Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.
July 1, 2019
With God’s enabling, I can do His assigned gracious mission
To bring the lost to the Savior Who can transform them from sinning
To fulfil my part to share the Gospel*, with His compassionate constraining
And help build lives for His glory along His great commission.
I thank God for His heavenly and divine enabling
Despite my weakness, He works for my character-development
Amidst troubles, He comforts me with His tranquil merriment
In my struggles’ wounds, He fights for me, granting triumphant healing.
*1Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
June 14, 2019
I’m determined to fulfill what I’ve begun
By God’s grace that enabled me to run.
Knowing that Christ started a good work* in me in His omniscience
I’m assured that He will finish it, constraining my obedience.
In this race of life which my Lord has me enlisted
His strength I constantly need since that day His heart I trusted.
Conscious that what I do for my Master in the flesh is vain
I seek His help, allowing me to gain against carnal loss-pain.
Though I admit that what I can do for my Saviour has a limit
His might that works in me is infinite as to Him I submit.
With my King’s wisdom, I keep on pursuing for His glory
Serving Him, ministering to others by His bliss-filled victory.
Thus, grateful am I to my heavenly Father above
Who unceasingly showers me His unconditional love.
*Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
April 3, 2019
My Purpose
Written: by Tom Wright
4/25/2018
A reason exists, known to God, for my remaining,
Facing health issues, that lifestyle, is so constraining.
Since the “widow maker” failed in doing its thing,
God has allowed me to experience another spring.
My return to doing things has become my obsession,
And because of inability I now deal with depression.
While I now realize, things won’t be found as before,
I’ve a sense of confinement to a space with no door.
My exercise of Faith, I exhibit, in my extreme trust,
Through prayer, God allows me, too bad days adjust.
God has moved me to see my need to become adept,
Doing things within confines, and the balance to accept;
(His will)
Can you fault him for his lapse?
Can you chastise for her loss?
It is theirs to wish if they wish it,
it is theirs to handle as dross.
So strange that in small part we prize,
constraining the needs of our burning eyes:
or else we are faulted for desire -
gluttony, lust, avarice, fire!
But can't we journey to their root,
and tearing out that filthy plant,
find that need for all is gone,
and lose the will e'en to recant?
So what is better? Keep the need in check for time,
or surrender need itself ... which leads to the sublime?
19 September 2018
Overlooking our Identity
This is the activity
in which each of us
engage..
Overlooking our Identity
as expanse and expanding
confining it to a
constraining cluster of
perceptions and thoughts..
Until!:
we notice the caging
and the confinement
sounding freedom's call...
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