Abiding breath convicts disciples, encouraging faith.
God’s Holy Spirit indwells all believers
revealing sin, righteousness and judgment.
"Vengeance is Mine," note what our Lord saith.
Grace, humility, integrity joy, kindness, love
expose the true nature within a trusting person’s
heart and mind who wants to please his Savior.
Jesus promised to return as King from heaven above.
Man’s natural obedience prods quickening resident Spirit
to comfort, forgive, guide, and dislose heaven’s secrets.
This should compel a Christian to share God’s truth
in sincerity, though some rebels refuse to hear it.
Truth unveils vitality with x-rays yielding zeal.
The Great Physician can read man's very soul
as does our all-knowing, all-powerful Father.
God recognizes which of His followers are real.
Categories:
prods, 11th grade, christian, god,
Form: Rhyme
A stranger lives beneath my skin,
A twisted thing, a grinning sin.
It pulls and prods, it makes me sick,
Another bite, another trick.
The porcelain mocks my face,
A painted lie, a shameful space.
I heave and choke, a bitter tide,
Trying to wash the hate inside.
Each inch I pinch, each bone I crave,
A hollow shell inside this grave.
Duct tape binds, a desperate plea,
To sculpt a ghost that isn't me.
This body aches, this body lies,
Reflecting back distorted eyes.
I hate the flesh, the curve, the bend,
A war I wage that has no end.
Categories:
prods, 10th grade, abuse, body,
Form: Rhyme
Light* that lights all lights continues to glow
triumphant midst woe toward jubilant today 'til tomorrow.
Blest light wakes soul up
perking with God's prop.
Divine light wafts hope
propels faith midst cope.
Sun light for work height
prods glad labour might.
Light to brighten time
sounds achievement chime.
Gentle light ends grief
ushers joy's relief.
Smiling light from face
defies angst; shows grace.
Pardon light we see
makes our spirits free.
Light against stress-hush
quiets heart's strong rush.
Light amidst love bliss
never should we miss.
Lord of light brings joys
cheers restive night’s poise.
Light that lights all lights smites evil darkness' blights
illumining humankind toward goodness' delights.
*John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
December 8, 2024
Categories:
prods, appreciation, blessing, cheer up,
Form: Couplet
The command is to write -
but every day you wake up
saying to yourself:
"I can't write, I was never taught,
my fingers are illiterate appendages
of a cheap Japanese laptop,
my mind is too oddly shaped
it has no dustcover
its pages have wormholes
holes that smaller worms fall through."
Every day the same old thing,
and a plasma screen mocks you,
mocks your open slack mouth,
your dull eyes,
the slow grinding inertia of every thought.
The command is insistent,
it prods the soft belly of your cringing ego,
demands a pound of flabby words
be made flesh,
and so, you tap random keys listlessly
until another string of consciousness
unwinds itself
into a last line,
that if not memorable,
yet at least will not live long enough
to disgrace you.
Categories:
prods, poetry,
Form: Free verse
They were lovely girls in the neighborhood
To their family, they stayed pretty good
Learning to trust God --- in faith and in creed
As they shared and cared, showing kindness’ deed.
As daughters of parents, serving as light
They respected Dad and Mom with delight
Regarding them as guardians by their side
Grateful for their protective loving guide.
They are sweet ladies, reared to grow up well
“By the grace of the Lord”* … that’s what they tell…
They are my aunts, beautifully blest
Their childhood photo prods us to do best.
*1Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
2nd place, "Nursery Rhymes" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Eve Roper; judged on 8/27/2024
Categories:
prods, appreciation, blessing, christian, encouraging,
Form: Quatrain
Inside fortress* that offers rest
my weary soul breathes out blest sigh
lulled to slumber midst noisy pest
while to the Saviour I draw nigh
My heart welcomes music of hope
inside fortress that offers rest
as misty eyes serenely cope
with guitar strums reaching love’s crest.
Etching my mind with winning zest
Word of God prods me to fight pain
inside fortress that offers rest
smiting doubt’s cajole --- by faith’s gain.
Now, I’ll soar for triumphant flight
since revived, warmed in prayer nest
as lilacs waft courageous plight
inside fortress that offers rest.
*Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
August 17, 2024
1st place, "Eight Words 2" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May; judged on 8/27/2024
Categories:
prods, appreciation, blessing, christian, faith,
Form: Quatern
A tiny, open face;
A smile so warm it melts my heart.
How could a child so small
Fill such a void, play such a part?
His laughter tinkles through my mind,
And sadness fades within his light.
He brings new meaning, new insight.
He shows me who and what I am,
And what I want to be.
He teaches me what I am not,
And what it will take for me to be free.
He prods me to make a better world;
To strive for peace, for hope, for light.
He brings new meaning, new insight.
He creates my joy, my pain, my fun.
I am not whole without my son.
Copyright Chula Fleming May 22, 1986
Categories:
prods, child, family, feelings, son,
Form: Free verse
To float on the sea
is a delight for me.
To be rocked by waves that
urges, surges and mummers
a welcome aboard from the sea,
is giddy gosh, gleeful to me.
The prods, prompts, jostles and
pulses of the waves that caress
my body or vessel's hull
is like masseur's touch -
comforting, warming, healing and relieving me.
For water is the matrix, mater
and milieu that comforts me
in its arms, supporting me
to float so effortlessly,
gracefully, weightlessly
in free-form bliss.
Categories:
prods, sea,
Form: Free verse
paring down
old age
called it in
I didn’t choose
this stage
of paring down
like or not
outgrown roles
are slipping off
like oiled coats
shed rain
it feels respectful
rehearsal
for what’s coming
when every earthly
trait is freed—
so I let posts go
and watch them
fall
to someone new
clearing a place
for what remains,
the work that prods
me now
this work
wants space,
breadth and depth
to dive—
I must comply
Categories:
prods, age, silence, space,
Form: Free verse
Parchment reach reap, continual column
Turns over huge too ripe drooping vegetables
Dirt encrusted, grit bitter varietal problem
Sown hammock slack jowls of expired eligible
Rows of sour seeds scatter, screen remote
Hits rock of dark past in cyber seclusion
Parsnips tumble imprudent from trenchcoat
Revelations conspire as a cosy delusion
Bedroom Belle picks weakness with a sickle
Amps up apathetic with chicken meal
Prods tired produce, hoary humour tickled
Caustic crop farmer fertile hands heal
Twenty Seventh of June
Twilight clients of Jezebel
Categories:
prods, age, allusion, character, funny,
Form: Rhyme
Elephant trunk palms column, canopy claps hands
Undergrowth glad heart shape leaves spiral
Navigator vines map branches, brace boa banyan
Utile duenna diary with my duties conspiring
Chaperone rope binds silent beside my grand plan
Helpmaster holsters my faltering stride, hips squared
Essential weapon for war against mediocrity
Netted fruit bag binds ideas, ripe inspiration shared
Collaboration binges exchanges evocatively
Oversees growth, buffers fumbles, humiliation spared
Unbias advisor straddles drama, miniscule mosquitos
Raised beyond current, stilts lift clear of silt
Above ravaging river, twig leg log cabin cosy kudos
Guileless sunrise server castrates lumpy guilt
Enmeshed mirror wishes bud symmetrical smiling rose
Mentor each moment monitor prods my furtive dreams
Enlivens rainblur haze, unravels twisted maze
Narrows channel between now and zany zone supreme
Twines possible to present, pours zesty praise
Strengthened, gender invalid, my meridian self esteem
9th June
Carbonised Agenda
Categories:
prods, angel, anniversary, blessing, friendship,
Form: Quintain (Sicilian)
Unpredictable
is the predictable crowd
It might
as a flash-mob
sing as one
or as one throng
it will cheer
Nothing is wrong
the herd is happy
but
then again
most predictable
are the horde
it may be bored
it may be
ever so mildly
irritated
by a passing cloud
Unrest prods
the mass and press
One may infect the many
a parasitic worm awakes
in the collective mind
in the multiheaded monster
The worm is rampant
it is insane
It will kill at will
it will scream and run
tear down a village
a town or a city
The worm devours
reason
a blood-lust
reddens every eye
The once human
becomes
a killing machine
suddenly
the mob subsides
sleeps and snores
the terror trickles away
One day
it comes to its senses
and makes a new law
It seeks out
just one person
just one or two
It will most righteously
lynch that one person
or two
The crowd will burst out
once more
as one
it will burst into
an inspiring song
and much uplifting
merry cheer
Once again
predictably
happy is the herd
as it sings along
Nothing is wrong
Categories:
prods, poetry,
Form: Free verse
Vast and wondrous with uncharted depths is the nature of the sea.
It ever spurs on, prods, and ignites a spark in man's curiosity.
Though cold with chilling darkness and unforgiving
runs hot with the blood of giants among the living.
Churning and thrashing against boundless shorelines,
it calls to some in its blazing glory with subtle signs.
It has swallowed great ships and become their watery grave.
It has been the pathway of both conquerors and slaves.
It has witnessed battles, triumphs, death, and defeat,
it feeds the multitudes from its ever-abundant mercy seat.
How awesome and powerful, the sound of ocean foam rising,
it gives much more than it takes without compromising.
Praise, glory, and reverence be to the creator of
the stars in heaven and to all life on earth, land, and sea.
May all souls find the truth, honesty, and integrity in his
wisdom, for in finding his kingdom, shall truly set one free.
Categories:
prods, africa, blessing, integrity, smile,
Form: Rhyme
My spirit is a fighter
determined, never-say-die
The devil tries to deter me
scoffs: Why even bother to try?
I see a mountain above me
towering over the clouds
A wee voice anxiously warns me
Only way to return -- in a shroud
But my spirit is a born climber
nothing if not courageous
Daring danger to defeat him
he maps out a climb for the ages...
I espy swirling waters below me
in which a young lad flails away
Can I swim? Does it matter? --
I've been selected to save the day
My spirit prods me to jump in
grab the boy and struggle to shore
Alive and happy, if exhausted
prepared for the coming encore...
Yes, my spirit is a fighter
determined, never-say-die
taking on every new challenge
looking it square in the eye
____________________________
Entry in 'The Human Spirit' contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
~ September 13, 2022 ~
Categories:
prods, character, courage, humanity, inspirational,
Form: Rhyme
"The wind is the pounding of my heart."
My scruples join the wind which hammering hard
can cause my pulse to race in constant onslaught
against the gales of greed and pride caught off guard.
My buckler, the Spirit, prods with pause for thought.
Foreknowledge of pending storms illumines doubt
preparing a path where my heart figures out
that I can add prayer's peace as further light
to clear the skulking shadow of jealous spite.
August 18, 2022
Author's Notes:
Constance LaFrance's sponsor
Writing Challenge - Let Your Muse Be Inspired - R Form Poetry Contest
I used the rispetto form, rhymed abab, ccdd, quote #3
Categories:
prods, 11th grade, emotions, light,
Form: Rispetto
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