In the patio as I sat looking at the blue sky,
I saw dark clouds gathering.
A wind passed whispering through leaves.
Sunlight got dimmed by a dark veil.
Lightning snaked zig zag through the sky,
Giving a vague feel that something,
So sudden was about to happen.
I guessed a summer rain long overdue,
Coming as a blessing to the parched earth,
To douse the heat and scrub away the dust.
I heard raindrops flop and break
On the roof top in ones and twos.
Soon came down a torrential downpour,
Raising the scent of roasted earth,
Titillating the nose and reviving my spirits.
How the starved earth sucked them in!
How quickly they disappeared out of sight
I heard the roar of wind, saw trees casting leaves,
Specters of green and yellow spiraling down.
Watched the race of truant clouds along the sky,
Being driven away by the sweeping wind.
As teenage love comes drenching the heart,
Then slips away leaving rainbow memories,
As swift as the rain came, swiftly it returned
Making the sky cerulean with a rainbow arching in it.
The thing about frozen iguana,
It isn't like some kinda manna.
Both fall from the sky,
But one from less high,
And eat it, I really don't wanna.
The Word is food for humans
Manna from the Creator above
Perfect in every form
Nutritious enough to nourish
The heart to warmth
Substance for the soul
Eternal life is the Word's goal
Streams of living water supply its roots.
Bring your sin and the ugliness within
It’s all we bring: our part of the equation
But He quickens us to Christ
This Desire of every nation
The ingredients found in the preparation
Is the recipe for God’s vindication
It’s more than a metaphor
It’s an intimate union prepared by the Lord
And as we doubt and fall, sinking as did Peter
Let us cry out to our Overcomer and Leader
(And daily we need our Savior because of our behavior)
“Mein Körper und mein Blut” says Martin Luther
But it’s more than just elements
But we have faith (and sin we exchange)
For our development
(It’s a spiritual imbibing of Jesus Christ
Needed for the Christians ambling through this life)
Myriads and myriads of angels
Descending and ascending on Jacob’s Ladder
For periods and periods in eternal life
We will live this faith (with each other), and for our Master
(In closing hear the pastor’s call, to all)
The Law and The Gospel, they work in tandem
As the Old Testament handed the brush, the New Testament paints
This is our faith that’s not contrary to reason
And the reason for reason is The King of the saints
As my limbs grow feeble and now wobble,
My old wish every new year, a manna,
Easily reached by my legs that hobble.
Brought to me like in the sacks of Santa.
Though, no work deserves no pay as they say,
But my muscles are just too weak to toil,
Many more years, I wish my mind to stay.
Let not hunger turn my soul to its spoil.
So, destiny helpers from north and south,
Also, from west to east, my house they find,
So that just songs of praise will fill my mouth.
To all my weakness, let their eyes be blind.
If my needs, again you can still provide,
Then my special thanks will be to your name,
In your ways, my legs shall always abide,
Your holiness I shall ever acclaim.
A soloist Java Sparrow flits,
A cathedral canopy of arched branched leaves,
The sparkling daylight dances the vast green space,
Moss glut rock form protrudes aground sits,
Pews of raw design entertain flocks trade eaves,
Sparrows respect prompts to spring cascading grace,
Heaven gifted natural blessings flow,
Dove coos the flock of Sparrow's faithful pace,
A breath of peace on Earth nature receives,
Bestilled feathers as the sun sets aglow,
~God's Face ...
like retching up food poison
until there's nothing left to
take or give
you want rid of the destruction
that never should have been
and thirst for what was
meant to be
but it's all poison now
you have no immunity to anything
not even a memory
emptiness is not tenable
but it is necessary for a time
and maybe the memory of
what should have been
isn't exactly what should be
not this far down the road
follow it out of the wilderness
but stop listening like you already know
(that's presumptuous)
let it guide you
you really really need to be
careful
especially about where you are
and what you hunger for
it's not all manna from heaven
As often as I pen my thoughts
from head to hand
to what is wrought
and arrive surprised
at words once sought, fortuitously
stained glass ideas appear
like falling manna,
between these ears,
doing whatever it is
thoughts do best…
letter by letter,
each welcomed guest.
And often as I pen to please
ideas that stir like winter leaves,
urging, surging like the sea
in hidden forces like gravity
and starry peaks I crawl to climb,
towards moving targets in my mind,
like eagle wings that lift and soar…
penning down thoughts
is a mind bending,
never ending,
beauty lending,
walk along the shore.
Granted, the Bread of Life's discourse
in John 6 is mysteriously vague...
Yet, joyfully accepting Him at His Word,
with open hands-- I still beg! :)
Tommy’s battle is in the bulge.
So much marmite in his pantry.
Celebrating, he does indulge.
Souper Choir laments in chantry.
What is this edible cement?
I’ve not the wherewithal to find.
Is it a sin not to try? Hell-bent?
To Tommy, I better be kind.
I opened the black jar with the
bright yellow lid for marmite cause
and Tommy all I saw was thee
reflected in the jar - your jaws.
I think I’ll skip the marmite here.
I need to chew on edibles
of real nutrition without fear.
Cost of marmite’s incredible.
1/7/2022
I always have to utter
words that pulse emotions
for hearts
loose in the air...
I always have to write
verses that transform
stone in bread,
dried in water,all
falling to the ground,
how manna from heaven...
I have to release
all stuck silences,
to release
all views
poetic... !
I come to you hungry so I just look up and ask for manna?
11/4/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2020©
The Rustic Crusts of Manna
Davie J Walker
I am the one who stripped the
Sponsor from my jersey
And the number meaning nothing
But an identity recorded in a dry book
Making me invisible to the
Odd gods of your reality
You speak my own language
In ways that defy life or death
Or the direction of the Sun's path
In the aftermath of its
Examination with the
Illusions of reality strewn in the
Branches of Stone Pine on the
Appian Way to Rome
Here we may pick our own
Venders of the streets
And eat the sweet ideal on
The rustic crusts of manna
It is here that we should speak freely
For who will interpret our intentions
From separate graves
Thrice better is the cowardly creeper
Than a passionless lion laxing tame,
Who toothless lies as lesser beasts
Plot and paw jungle's sleeker game.
More inspiring than any genius wit
Is the dim-footed guesser ever out
For new surprises both foul and fit,
Taxing dumb Luck's diamond pout.
Let swifter-going synanthrope felines
Feast on cowering polar bears' meal;
And such fast ever-trying wing upset
Any slow-flying eagle's choicest deal.
Of what merit are manes and paws
That hang and whirl lame in the air;
Or agile-dashing limbs and fit claws,
If neither thus proportionately dare?
Uncork average vineity's cellars now,
I'll pardon their middler-vintner's skill;
To mañana-enchanted wantwits vow
Crispier sips that patient palate thrill.
manna from heaven
cloudburst after a long drought...
earth quenches its thirst
Submitted for...
HI-KU(2) Poetry Contest (Winner: 2nd Place)
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
Date: 12/15/2020
Date written: 08/04/2020
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.