Blest birthday blossoms burst out bliss…
…breeding midst life-building best
glows with gracious generosity…
…God-governed that greatly grows
toward triumphant, jubilant, vibrant, radiant, abundant…
…gratitude fueled by praise-altitude upon faith-fortitude---
kindling loving kindness, igniting caring inspiration
as thanksgiving warms friendship and worthy worship
for festive existence of peaceful persistence
signified by a single white rose.
In the midst of the night
I might hear the refrain
Of the thoughts that disturb
Oozing out from my brain.
And then once they take hold,
I can’t get back to sleep,
As reflections begin
That will pull me down deep.
Scenarios beckon
Beyond my control
While anxiety threatens
To swallow me whole.
As I struggle to sink
Into slumber again,
I write rhymes in my head
Without paper or pen.
In the morning, they’re gone,
Yet I’m left with the curse
Of remembered emotions,
But none of the verse.
Love* reigns
as home does bloom
with care parents do tend
breeding well on hearts of kindness
midst hope.
Peace rules
while Dad and Mom
set family delights
for triumphant togetherness
with grace.
Joy bursts
with sibling bond
vanquishing selfishness
letting growth's nurture to flourish
freely.
Hope glows
in partnership
weaving friends in the Lord
around blest prayer fellowship
faith-filled.
Loved ones
beautify life
prevailing yon goodness
endowed with legacy, birthing
blest days.
*1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
July 1, 2026
7th place, "1487" Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 7/13/2026
There’s a whole world alive
midst the mud, the dust and the dirt
All sorts of bugs a-creepin’ and a-crawlin’
ants, beetles, roly-polys, spiders, worms --
They just make me writhe and squirm
I prefer to ponder the skies
~ leave my kid brother to all those germs
There is a grosser I often chat with, on my way from work,
a veteran with tales of the long war, and his own heroics of ferrying food to the front and
carrying the wounded on the stretcher, drenched in blood, until a nerve bomb knocked him unconscious for months.
But when the American and Israeli bombs started turning our city block into an inferno,
he rushed to a hiding but kept the store open with a sign that read, take what you like, pay later. War discount ten percent.
This is a city of courage,
a haven from fear,
a warrior city,
unreconciled to humiliation and defeat,
a sanctuary of faith,
a mosaic of independent wills to resist.
There feeling wet and gloomy
sitting on the bench feels wet
why does rain do this to us?
love to be dry, but wet is all I get
Across the road sits that bus
folks sit inside there happy and glad
they sit there dry and protected
not going my way, that makes me sad
The water glazes across the road
it can be slippery, so watch your feet
a fall now would make me worse
even more so than this wet seat
Maybe I should just walk home
an hour or so would get me there
but the prospect of an empty house
leaves me to utter a prayer
God, please look down on me
what should I do at this time?
send me someone along my way
to lift me up with a rhyme
Look back at the street light
there it shines for all to see
I had forgotten it was there
just as God provided Calvary's tree
He reminds me of His love
where His son did die for me
so one day will take me home
to abide with Him, I will see!
{This is based on a painting by Edward Hopper.)
This is such a glorious picture
full of the glowing, amazing light
it stops you in your forward track
grips you by its stunning sight
Here is Africa, so magnificent
its views just speak not in word
but full of glory so abundantly
one's heart is forever stirred
Behind the animals so splendid
the sunset shines in full glow
its light is so piercing, like a needle
holds you like forever, so very slow
The land where you stand upon
such dryness with little life
full of hope and anticipation
seeks to overcome all the strife
Let's look again at every inch
from the bottom to the top
there we have the Great Savanna
our view, we just don't want to stop
(This is based on the painting 'African Sunset over the Savanna contest' )
(“Creation Myth Merit Badge”, 2016, original oil)
Death Cult In Our Midst
There is a death cult in our midst
Some you can tell, many you can’t
Until they open their mouths
And out comes the hate for Life
And cheering on of Death.
Everywhere you look you can see the cult
Online, on TV, in movies and games
Where death and destruction
Is glorified and normalized
And you score points and win
When you kill.
The line between fantasy and reality
Thus blurred and/or erased
Leaves US where we are today
Broken and divided
Fearful and emboldened.
What does tomorrow bring?
More death
The cult dreams, whispers, chants and sings.
More death
Until only the pure remain.
(9/15/25)
A gentle breeze midst stormy seasons
soothing words of reason
No matter the winds blow fierce
calm the soul ~ frenzies pierce
Here in the midst of summer
surrounded by the lakeland feels
what glory to look out upon
makes one cry out to tell
There's a stillness in the air
so silent, one can hardly hear
the sun shines through the clouds
warms the air, listen in your ear
Often you feel like wandering
taking in all that's freshly new
this is a beautiful creation, you see
divinely born, you see right on cue
This is indeed a wonder of wonders
one has to be still to take it in
on the first day, when Adam fell
what God had made is marred by sin
Pray to be taken to that original
that first moment so real in time
when all was just perfectly sublime
dream on and feel it in its prime
(Just some thoughts spending in the English Lake District a few weeks ago.)
.
'tween herz and
i
'tiz all nature
Flesh
'twixt hern and
i
'tiz all numinous
Think
*numinous: google
"surpassing comprehension or understanding;
mysterious, that element in artistic expression
that remains numinous, arousing one's elevated
feelings of duty, honor, loyalty, etc.." ')
Calmness bids me as grief strives to cease
Enabling sincere thanksgiving-prevalence
Midst gloom, hiding serenely still while
Exemplifying grace under pressure... yet
Tears cannot anymore control their fall
Exposing prayer of my heart for closure
Recognizing heaven's victory over death* since
Yon the grave is eternal bliss with the Source of life.
*1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May 29, 2025
3rd place, "Cemetery" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 6/2/2025
In the midst of my loneliness
I find myself plagued by my fears
Altered to seek for love
In places where my soul be dead
In the midst of my loneliness
I am a slave to my thoughts
In a dream I am dragged
by a rope to drink from dirty water
In the midst of my loneliness
I feel the roots
Underneath my feet
Tangling me while I seek answers
I wait patiently for a light to glimmer at my corner
With glimpse of hope as tears run in my chicks
And heavy is the heart as I drown in my sorrows
When will this dawn break?
Beloved I warn you of habbits
That may seem elegant at first
That flow slowly like water to disturb
The tranquility of our life's
I also confer to you the secret of life
Concealed in the blood of the lamb
Be of good cheer* midst radiant glow
Smiting gloom along vibrant delight
Optimizing moments with glad zest
Marked by hearty laughter: ha-ha-ha…
With exuberance of gratitude
Share God’s blessings such as peace and joy
Lifting others in prayer of hope
Then rest at night with beautiful smile.
*John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
March 27, 2025
2nd place, "Write Eight Beautiful Lines" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 3/30/2025
miracles move mysteriously
midst faith's momentum...
my life of mirth against misery
molded by God* so mighty
marked with His wondrous mercy
magnifies such marvel
*Psalm 77:14 - Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
February 17, 2025
8th place, "YOUR CHOICE O" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 4/15/2025
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