Dear Daniel, your judgment's swift and keen,
Too quick a glance, a surface scene.
Sit down, I pray, and linger near,
Meet the authentic me, cast off all fear.
I'm nothing close, I swear it's true,
To the image that resides in you.
A stranger sketched in shades of doubt,
A surface seen, the depths left out.
Don't be afraid, there's nothing to dread,
Just a heart that longs to be read.
So stay awhile, and let me be,
The truest version, wild and free.
Shed the assumptions, preconceived,
And the real me, you'll perceive.
No monster hides, no shadows creep,
Just a soul that's buried deep.
Daniel is a "different" child
The doctors said he might just be a slow starter
Daniel had something unfamiliar and different facial features
He ate poorly and was fed through a tube
There were many worries and hospital visits
Six months passed before he received his diagnosis
Daniel had Williams syndrome
A rare, congenital condition characterized by
a characteristic appearance,
developmental defects in the cardiovascular system,
reduced growth and developmental disabilities
As parents we had many questions
It was a roller coaster for a long time
Today Daniel is eleven years, a joyful boy
who loves to draw, dance and listen to music
Our son is a loving and cheerful boy
- let the "different" children shine
They are good enough – more than good enough
Daniel followed God wholeheartedly
He is a foreigner in Babylon
Many are jealous about his stand
For the king believe and admire him
He became the Governor of Babylon
For he is young, handsome and intelligent
The enemy made a foolish trapped on him
By a pagan religious law that succumb him
For Daniel is a Jew who believe the God of Israel
Later, the King's decree was subtle and final
Daniel was thrown to the den of lions
To all surprise, Daniel was justified by God
Nothing happen to him, nothing at all
To King's decree was given the one who trapped him
Are the one who have been thrown into the den
Death was given to evil men, Daniel was justified.
In the end, God is the justice of all.
Visiting his pages is a grand exploration,
I read such monumental poetry,
words and verse as if chiseled into
ageless everlasting granite.
A beauty of awe,
sparkling of the calling of creativity.
He pens with his soul in the flight
of a dove's freedom,
of humanity, nature, God.
Artistic brushstrokes of a painting
colorful in the literary.
Gifted beyond the stratosphere's arc,
as he brings seasons to life,
and I pause to feast again,
of the sustenance of loving
another poet's genius. ~
Fall flourishes with flighty flair,
a silent song upon the air.
Melody of fading ember,
all in spirit, rhythm, and timbre.
In Her heart, a tenuous tune
flirting with a bold maroon moon.
She has not sung this song before,
an unearthly, uplifting score.
Morendo a niente, fades out,
catching Her breath in subtle shout.
Crescendo of color escapes
in multidimensional shapes.
Catching currents Her breath has blown,
paves the path with scattered seeds sown.
Her name is carved on every tree
She has conceived her legacy.
Dulcet, the voice of Autumn sways,
Presto agitato, She plays,
Leaves flutter in a rustling dance,
taking part in russet romance.
What sweet music tingles the trees!
Baring bold birches, blows the breeze,
Arias aired in harmony
with woods akin bleeding honey.
Enjoy Fall's vibrant banjo beats,
as she raps with hued leafy sheets,
whispering soft kisses and dreams,
Refrains released in umber streams.
Foliage tanned and tinted brown
tango with harvest's golden gown,
Autumnal chorus slow tingles,
Join in with Her joyful jingles.
English journalist, Daniel Defoe,
was most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe.
The whole idea of novels it’s said that he conceived,
and he wasn’t afraid to write on anything he believed.
“The Fountain of Living Waters flows,
Ready to quench our thirst,
Why do ye hew out broken cisterns?
Broken cisterns that burst;
Drink from the Fount and be satisfied,
It will become a well,
Water springing to eternal life
From your being will swell.”
Here’s my soul seeking for contentment
From the ultimate Source
I come to God Who suffices best
Blessing with downpour force.
Here’s my heart needing fulfillment gain
Christ alone grants so free
From divine wealth of grace, love and peace
Surpassing wants midst glee.
Here’s my spirit thanking the Saviour
For Living Waters* gain
Refreshing faith with triumphant glow
Along service-terrain.**
*John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
**Last three stanzas are added to Jo Daniel’s first two stanzas.
April 11, 2023
2nd place, "Collab with Jo" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Joanna Daniel; judged on 5/2/2023.
In the turmoil of troubling thoughts
I hear your voice calling to Me.
Listen! Your sick heart is screaming
as it seeks out comforting spots.
Listen! You must feel contrition
in the turmoil of troubling thoughts.
Turn eyes to Me for forgiveness
and ask for Divine redemption.
Listen! Your soul churns within you
and you need My kind, healing touch,
In the turmoil of troubling thoughts,
I can transform your life anew.
Listen! Let Me untie those knots
that tangles your heart in worries.
Let Me fill you with Godly peace
in the turmoil of troubling thoughts.
Heaven-sent on dove’s whitest wings,
unique beauty of nature sings
with cottony clouds and harp strings
gushing out crystal sparkling springs.
Its magic an enchanting tease
as music floats down with the breeze.
Subtle nostalgic melodies
whisper God’s clear cathartic pleas.
Life bursts forth with a childlike glee
in earth, in sky, and on the sea.
My heart and soul cavorting free,
playful caresses cover me.
Divine musings flow from my soul,
when in the woods, I take a stroll
to purge me, cleanse me and console,
heaven-sent blessings make me whole.
Pretend we're on a poet's honeymoon
Let's dance atop the Massifs on the moon
We'll get our fill of Milky Way's champagne
Behind a chariot of stars, the twain
Each star a stepping stone of Heaven's rune
That lead down to a luminous lagoon
And when Andromeda begins to wane
We'll take our muses to another plane
Riding on the shooting star, we will croon
Rhapsodying together, hearts in tune
Lost in love, our muses will not complain
As we set foot in Sombrero's domain
Each planet, we'll decorate with festoon,
And get drenched in Saturn's diamond monsoon,
Once heights of passion with words, we attain,
Back to earth, where we can pretend again.
Form: Rhyme (10 syllables)
26th March 2023
When Spring’s first touch is gently set
with Winter now scarcely a threat,
implore the ocean breezes spray
all cares and troubles far away.
With sweet caress of warmer days
and softness in the sunny haze,
carry me to pastoral thoughts
of my favorite nature spots.
Where flowers kiss the breeze that blows
and young ones run, too spry to pose,
transport me to refreshing moods,
where nature's calm, no one intrudes.
Such peace brushes my soul out here!
I lie still as Tender Hands steer
my notions to emotions pleased
and comfort me, turmoils are eased.
Hi Winter, how we feel your icy touch!
The earth remains under your freezing clutch.
The trees stand huddled in the numbing cold.
And the sun has lost its bright sheen of gold.
From nowhere comes the song of any bird.
On slopes, one cannot sight the grazing herd.
Piles of snow lie heaped on the barren ground.
Whole of Earth lies in a sea of ice drowned!
Snow swirls down in flurries of soft whispers.
The winter wind wails, whistles and whimpers.
All creatures for warmer climes are yearning.
In our houses, fires are warmly burning.
Skiing and sledding and building snowmen,
Winter's time to become children again.
Thank you for reminding us with hue white,
Sometimes we too need, from work, a respite.
March 28.2023
~ Placed Third~
Collaborate with Me Poetry Contest
Sponsor- Joanna Daniel
Rhyme Scheme- aabb and ccdd
Syllable Count 10 syllables per line. (HMS)
I bow to you with a rose in my hand
and hope you press it between love's pages
I will not assume nor will I demand
I'll promise to love you through the ages
hear my heartbeat when it speaks to you, love
it will give you all of your heart's desire
with love no more than what we can dream of
through all the days and nights that we acquire
Look into my eyes and you'll see passion
the kind that stays faithful and burns always
our love will never go out of fashion
for it's built on trust and respect's slow blaze
accept this rose and pin it on your dress
let its sweet fragrance tantalize your dreams
holding hands together, let us progress
to a future filled with love's bright sunbeams
3/23/23
contest Collaborate With Me "Romantic"
syllable count 10...ABAB
He left us and chased after rainbow and dove
And found his soul mate in the hills up above
Did we know the real Daniel
Our beloved cocker spaniel?
Farewell, our dear heart, adieu our true love
2/27/23
The political storm is gathering
Election fever is at its highest pitch
As Nigerians head to the polls
To exercise their franchise
In the mother of all elections
The most crucial ever
Since the birthing of uninterrupted
Democracy in our dear father land
This would be an election like no other
Coming at a time Nigerians
Have their backs to the walls
Victims of unmitigated misery
Kidnapping, banditry and general insecurity
Victims of multi-dimensional poverty
In the midst of affluence
Proverbially living near the river
But washing their hands daily with spittle
The time of reckoning is here
Chickens have finally come home to roost
A Daniel has come to judgment
This is the time for Nigerians
To speak with one voice
That would echo and re-echo
For a long time to come
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