fewer …
stars there are
in the heart of heaven
than the myriad ripples of brine that
gently placed me here -
tender tongues of tide that tossed me
and polished my bark away
shaped me smooth from jagged -
turned from beast, to beauty …
courses ago -
I was loosed from a tree
and lost to the sevens in a gale -
sundered from all I’d known
yet …
my journey was ordered
as all things are
made divine not by substance
but by ministration
and singularity …
for the universe, entire,
holds no other creation like me
the countless moments
and patient, boundless energy
that my trek required
would never have been wasted
on the unremarkable …
and though one sojourn has ended
something awaits
that is more infinite, even
than waves …
OR suns …
possibility.
Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, August 12, 2023
( photo taken 8/1/23 by Gregory R Barden, Ferry Beach, Scarborough, ME )
Everyone is intelligent
Of this, histories are reminiscent
You know something I don't
And I too have something to front
Then comes the flowery ideal of the idealist
To be straight-faced by the reality of the realist
And you wonder as you watch in mime
Whether you were born before or after your time
Some assert their point across
And soft spoken reason suffers loss
Some claim to be a voice for the voiceless
Claiming to air the point of the pointless
Some know how, others know what
Some have the world round and others flat
Some reside in the serenity of thought and deed
Others on the podiums of herald and creed
All these are the plenitude of God's Grace
Our striving comprehension is His Master ace
As we behold Him doing a new thing
One time a lifting shout, another a jingling ring
The greatest of a time may become a hazy memory
Or a legend commanding some unfaded glory
But all in all be not he that the enemy mildly sifts
When you hold back your ministration by your gifts.
K. Muitherero.
Before He was born in this earth,
Angel announced Christ Jesus' birth;
When He was born, a tiny boy,
Angels declared it - Oh! What joy!
He grew up, not with much élan,
But in favour with God and man;
After fasting, came temptation,
Then came angels' ministration;
Three and a half years of preaching,
With His Love to people reaching;
Then He went to Gethsamane,
Praying there in deep agony,
An angel came down from heaven,
Just, in order, Him to strengthen;
He hung on the cross sinister,
No angels came to minister;
An eternity of silence
Followed His affliction intense;
On the third day morning, they came,
Christ's resurrection to proclaim;
On the mount after forty days,
He ascended 'midst angels' praise;
Right from birth till His ascension,
In Christ's life, they had a mention.
Ev'n today, angels are singing,
With His praise, heavens are ringing
He sends them down to protect us,
When we choose to serve Lord Jesus.
08/08/18
(At the tomb)
I had some relationships outside marriage,
So I knew that the temple very religious,
Didn’t represent truth and love’s carriage,
Which seemed independent with impetus.
Love was within you, inside your heart,
And you were free to give it, your choice,
But that to make it into a law to impart,
Would only give you far louder of voice.
So I knew Jesus’ way was so much better,
Than life at the moment, rich edification,
Which quietly between me and my brother,
Got me down, made me need ministration.
So I gave the baton to Jesus partner, mum,
Determined society’s mind for Jesus’ right,
To live on in minds and in the hearts, tum,
To accentuate the poor as needy of height.
There are only so many poems you can read
Then your heart just starts to bleed
Because you still have that burning need
You're trying so hard your soul to feed
Your husband is so far away
Your night is longer than your day
You wonder if God can hear you pray
Or if always alone you’re meant to stay
The words just do not come out right
You dread the long and lonely night
The joy in your life has turned to blight
Your choice? To die or to take flight
Then healing words appear on your screen…
That wash your heart and make you clean
You feel like to heaven you have been
A angel's ministration you have seen
That’s the charm of gifted poetry
Makes you live sheer ecstasy
Wipes from your heart the drudgery
Makes you taste eternity!
Eileen Manassian Ghali
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