An outward sign, instituted by Christ to give us grace.
A gift from God to show His love for all the human race.
And in return, He asks but that we follow and believe,
So, open up your hearts and lives, that grace you might receive.
You want to get to heaven but need help along the way
To keep you on the narrow path as you live day to day.
These seven sacraments that give us sanctifying grace
That we might win the race, and look upon our Savior’s face…
Yes, seven sacraments to place divine life in our souls
That we might live in holiness with heaven as our goal.
And we receive the love and life of Jesus Christ, our Lord
That we might be restored to God’s good graces evermore!
In Baptism we are reborn as Children of the Father.
In Confirmation He gives strength to be His sons and daughters.
In the Holy Eucharist Christ gives Himself as food
Through Penance we’re forgiven for not living as we should.
Anointing of the Sick can heal us at the end of life.
Through Matrimony man and woman become husband and wife.
Finally, through Holy Orders men can become priests
That Jesus’ holy work on earth might never, ever cease…
In the beginning, there was salt.
It hung in the air like unfinished scripture,
gathered in the throat of the sea,
waited for a mouth dumb enough
to mistake thirst for an invitation.
Then butter,
smeared on the void like gossip,
greased the dark’s knuckles
like an understudy,
taught the abyss to melt.
The first sound was not speech—
it was a swallow,
a hush,
a crack of cartilage between molars.
We spoke in reductions.
Grammar dripped from the bones.
On the second day, teeth—
tiny altars lined with nerve—
ground memory into ashable pulp.
Pomegranates burst like promises.
Figs cloaked their apples in lace.
By the third, we named what softened.
We named what burned.
Built ziggurats from rind to rind.
Wrote psalms in onion skin.
The fourth hung hunger in the firmament—
a constellation shaped like mouths
mid-ask.
On the fifth, we forgot the recipe
and mourned it like a god.
By the sixth, we’d tongued every fruit
that offered a rumor of sugar.
We learned:
the mouth is a beast with no leash
and excellent taste.
And on the seventh, we lay full and feral,
belly to sky,
licking
the holy oil from our fingers.
The manifold stars that blanket the sky
draw our eyes up in awe of the depths within sight
while turning us inward
to reflect upon God and His heavenly might.
As I gaze out at this starry expanse
and imagine all the work that it comprised
I realize that it could never have been just chance
that created the wonder now filling my eyes.
How amazing that God could create
this vast creation within our sight
and yet with that same mighty hand
gently opens our hearts to His heavenly light.
03/05/14
I was seven when we departed for East Africa
and what a journey lay ahead of us. First the
Suez canal which felt like you could touch the
opposite bank as we sailed through them.
We saw plenty of crocs and native people
hard at work planting and growing crops
dressed in very colourful long robes
Then out into the red sea on our way
to crossing the meridian date line
Back then in 1958 Neptune board
the ship and a ding dong party
took place welcoming him aboard.
On we went to Zanzibar and The
trade people looked pirates
These natives ware the first dark
skinned people we had met and
many of them bore horrific scars
with ears and limbs missing we
stuck close to our mum while
she reassured us they meant
us no harm we weighed anchor
and set off on the last leg of
our journey and docked in
Dar-es-Salaam on my eight
Birthday and to ten years of
pure bliss what a place to
grow up in I often wish
I was still there
The outward action received
as red cardinals emerges
singing on top of the bird bath
releasing heavenly tunes
while the four of clock
flowers began to open
as the church bell chime
just in time for mass
the holy spirit lands
deep inside my heart
my spirit soars opening
the church doors only
God knows why these
flowers opened and closed
the holy trinity's now exposed
If a man is blessed with outward beauty but lacks the beauty of the soul
Never he, true happiness would find!
However,
If a man lacks outward beauty but is blessed with the fairness of the soul
Never he, unhappiness would know!
© Demetrios Trifiatis
28 February 2023
_
As always, I would like to share the honor of the POTW with all of you my friends that stood by me all these years. I also thank the officials of PoetrySoup. Blessings.
-
So
you want
peace now in
your hearts of hearts
then now it starts up
first from the soul
then it sprouts
outward
calm
6/8/20
written words by James Edward Lee Sr. ©2020
Tattoos, tattered tongues ragged clothing ridden hairs undone smelly odor
in disarray dis-alarming did I say uninviting
People judge by outward appearance,
skin color reddish brown, tan red black brown pinkish
language comes out of mouth you can't pronounce
What is it they are speaking out
People judge by outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart.
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
man looks at the clothes on your back
man looks at what you'll got
man discriminates and that's not right
humanity comes in different colors
but the spiritual part is are true self
so when you look at me again, try to remember
it's not about the outside but what comes out of me
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
2/5/20
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2020 ©
1 Samuel 16:7
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
So young but strong is my identity
Iam a Lion that never retreat
My outward appearance can be fragile but Iam not weak
I roar in thirsty for my destiny
People belittle me due to the atrocities I go through
They judge my abilities by mirroring at my past
Yet, my past can't define me
Just like mother Earth Iam in motion
Iam not the saliva that is enclosed
I always think beyond my comfort zone
My visions, dreams and goals are unshaken
They are the Pyramids of Egypt
My success began the time I got delivered from my mother's womb
My mother taught me how to endure pain
She was in chronic pain when delivering me but she never gave up
She is my Heroine I will never disappoint
Her image may get lost in oblivion but her great actions are everlasting
My strength is born from her
Even if mount Everest thorns pierce me so strongly
I will make sure my hands crumble them before dawn.
Inwardly mostly content
Outwardly not quite to that extent
Inwardly I don't have to interact with those not like minded
Outwardly I have to see, hear, and feel those the world has blinded.
Inwardly I can assess all that I consume
Outwardly life does t allow that much time or room.
Inwardly I know how I feel and adjust accordingly
Outwardly the emotions hit me so fast almost as if assaulting me.
A child should be held with care
Like the elderly who wish to share
When examined layer by layer
Both are similar when compared.
Young or old they're extremely dear
And they're both extreme in year
You'll see their hope in their glare
And their sadness when they stare.
Both reach out too and risk to dare
Although they often show their fear
The reason why they're very fair
Is that they both are very clear.
Not speaking here or there
Please get closer or get near
This is what I want to share
It's their Love that makes them rare!
Brenda Elizabeth Rose
sparkling two
diamond stones
dazzling dark sapphires
shines within
those eyes
dragging wild horses
in every breath
will not stop me
walking desires path
falling into
your soul
wings of an eagle
flying in spirit
soaring upon the wind
folding them around
holding within grasp
to lay with you
on red petals
of passion
on a bed
covered in roses
emotion sleeps
sharing deep within
this heart
holds a treasure
love so beautiful
a gem held
is within you
shines out
in a souls beauty
with love
Jesus said, "Love, love
your neighbor as self".
How can I love self?
Only through knowledge
That Jesus loves me
He loves me, He
really loves me.
He loves even
me, He loves me.
Love trickles
Outward, love
Trickles out
Love comes
Back too
Love
Sponsor: Dana Smith
Contest: Form Diminished Hexaverse. Topic Love Yourself
Outward impressions speaks none
Their silence hurts true
Kill me now
Russell Sivey
OUTWARD BOUND
marry and set course with me where we will,
wed and we will share one boat:
our rudder will be love.
…………………………………………………………………..
KIMO for Dr. Ram’s contest
“Wedding is one of the Special Events in Marriage”
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