I kneel down in solitude,
in an empty room all alone,
I try my best to communicate with God.
So difficult to focus inward,
more so to focus outwards to my Lord,
trying to accomplish my journey
of joy, discovery and growth.
Doubts linger in my memories:
have I a true and just heart?
My Father who art in heaven,
teach me to appreciate your gift,
a gift of faith, even if it's weak.
Give me strength that it might grow,
help me understand its value,
for I am blind even if I have sight.
Let your forgiving grace
envelop my hardened heart,
make it malleable to appreciate
your merciful stance.
Let that important gift of faith
guide me in my ways in life,
for without it I am not justified.
Out of the depths, I cry to you, O Lord;
hear my voice. Let your ears
be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Psalm 130)
Close the door on yesterday
Make a new start today
Don’t fret about tomorrow
It's neither lent nor borrowed
A return to yesterday, painstakingly,
empties creativity
Anticipating tomorrow’s result
Today does insult
If life’s a loan lent in good faith and trust,
Ye pay the debt with frivolous trinkets
Or wait till you are one with graveyard dust.
Destiny’s not one to forget the debts,
Help therefore distressed souls as if ye must,
Love those that lost out on their lifelong bets.
Share with those in wants with hope at your door,
Whenever pass by have-nots’ laid-bare huts,
You may not cross again this needy shore,
Remember, true help’s rendered, ifs nor buts,
To those stuck up at their life’s lower floor,
So, pay in one swell shot, no cautious putts.
Life’s lent gratuitous not, make good God’s trust
Here and now, ere done art thou to grave’s dust.
__________________________
Sonnet | 09.12.2004 | debt, life, loan, philosophy, trust
The earth feels different on these Sundays
Softened by footsteps seeking mercy
By whispered prayers that rise unseen
Curling like incense towards the sky
Clothed in the days of reflection
Stripping my soul of what was worn
And barefoot I walk where silence calls
Here in this violet-cloaked season
Where time feels hushed and holy
Peeling away the weight of the days
Sacrifice
Letting go, letting God
A surrender that births new life
Lent
Lent can be a time to give up:
chocolate
alcohol
cell phones
television
computers
cursing
smoking
While they are all good
What if we did:
pray more
serve at a homeless shelter
spend more time with family
go to church
read the Bible
call a sick friend
help a single mother
Lent is more than giving up something.
It is about loving and serving God
and loving and serving others
as Jesus did for us.
At Golgotha, His arms stretched wide,
Our loving Lord was crucified.
No greater love to give a friend
Than a life’s end.
That morning, it was nine AM
When they took nails and pierced His skin.
And on the cross they hung Him high
So He would die.
The people watched as they stood by,
The ones who cried out, “Crucify!”
They jeered and sneered and shook their heads
At all He’d said.
A thief was there at either side.
One mocked Him out of fear and pride.
The other said that he believed,
“Remember me.”
From noon ‘til three the sky grew dark
And people feared within their hearts.
The sun was gone, day disappeared,
The end was near.
“This your mother. This your son.”
He said to John and the Blessed One.
“It is done.” Aloud He cried.
And then He died.
Ending
Of lentern endeAvour
Cross Shaped suffering
The resurrected breath of ChrisT
So Everyone is saved by the
Returning
This poem is not meant to offend anyone or belittle their beliefs. This is only my attempt at humor.
~Things I’ll Give Up for Lent~
Liver and onions,
Minced meat pie.
Drinking beer from a can,
Celebrating the 5th of July.
I’ll do away with Haggis,
Kiviak and Sheepshead Smalahoue.
Rocky Mountain Oysters,
Escargot and Fuhu.
Escamoles and fried Tarantula,
Jellied Moose and Airag.
Gaeng Kai Mot Daeng,
and baked polliwog.
Chocolate-covered bacon,
Candy corn or a root beer float
Goodbye Goober burgers,
and pickled ear of goat.
Koolickles, popsicles,
Hominy grits and Spam.
Frog’s eye salad and Turducken,
Tapioca and jellied Ham.
But on this Valentine's Day my dear,
know that there is one thing that's very true.
I'd rather give up my chance to go to Heaven,
then spend a single minute without you.
Lent is teaching me to re-order my loves.
In the stillness of morning, with the early birdsong, I realise that in the absence of that which I gravitate to, the absence of the thing that brings physical comfort, there is a deeper desire, a deeper love that wants to surface in my attentions. Beyond the aching of the familiar; there is a deeper longing that I can only truly meet in these present moments.
You are sent
Your universal love
Our Father made us present of
Inside his inner chamber
You led us there to remember
Opened the door
We knocked you sent more
A rise of energy
Flows out within me
Our presence is real
People do feel
Created our steps
For our energies were met
Frequency returned
For the love we have given and earned
Thank you my Eminency
For embracing our hearts so delicately
As the Heavens had wished
We felt God kiss
These words do show
We are among the ones you know
Divine truth protects
Why we have spoken and met
A woman who could touch her toes
Always knew which way the wind blows
For when she bent over
A great Dane named Rover
Proved farting is best wearing clothes
Neither worth the breath
of one muted bard…
Nor worth the time
of a chance denial
(Dreamsleep: February, 2022)
freeze
left all
plant lifeless
two weeks later
healthier new growth
blue and crimson
sign of life
over
death
4/16/2021
Etymology and Ancient Beliefs :
Before the 14th century, spring was called Lent in Old English.
In this season of Lent
before God we repent
of our sins and relent.
Let us therefore lament
all suffering and torment
which was not our intent,
but we failed to prevent
or it never was meant.
On our knees which are bent
with our garments all rent
our petitions are sent
for our Lord to assent
that our sorrow is spent
with all parties content.
An alleluia event.
What will I give up
This year for Lent
To honour my Saviour
Heaven sent
For mine has been
A life of ease
With little conflict
Or disease
Despite these blessings
I’m still prone to sin
And my devotion’s
Paper thin
Due to my pride
I’m greatly flawed
I rely on myself
Instead of God
And so this heart
Is hard to reach
Instead of learning
I try to teach
So I give up my pride
This year for Lent
Letting my heart open
To the One God sent
Stillness a choice
aware of the breeze
Praying God reveals
The things He sees
My desire grows
For He comforts my soul
Without our union
I can never be whole.
Sub Categories
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.