the topic of conversation
always ends up the same
it seems we've become
the experts on
ailments, aches and pains
which type of treatment
works for what
which drugs work best
for this or that
which ones leaves
us constipated
which ones will make
us splat
the when, where and what
of pooping
some say it's a science
some say an art
which foods
give us gas
and how bad
it makes us fart
the one subject
that is guaranteed
of this there is no doubt
the person
not at the gathering
is the one the gossip
will be about
now that I’ve reached a certain age
I worry that every bill
I get in the mail
could be the one
that tips the scale
that drops my accounts
below nil.
Even though
I’ve cut all the corners until
it’s now just a straight line
to the poor house
sliced the potatoes so thin
you can read the past due
notices through them
and still don’t have enough
left over to pay
attention or buy that
lottery ticket to salvation
Now that I’ve reached
a certain age
I’m afraid
every ring of the phone
every knock on the door,
Might be telling me
someone ain’t on this earth
no more.
Dropped stone cold dead
while lying on the couch
watching reruns of NCIS.
Cops rummaging through,
the mess. Looking for clues,
of who did what and,
who knew who.
But a bit excited too
that maybe one of the kids
or the neighbor or
a stranger selling bibles,
Dropped by
just to say hi
and I end up
having an hour-long
talk
About how
my warranty has expired
or why I’m always
so tired anymore
The crew waved their goodbyes
assumed their positions
their space-ship was cleared to go
the countdown reached zero
there could be a new hero ~
Would the media let people know
Don't want to put a hex on things
But this winter is feeling more like spring
The grass in the park across the way
Is popping up thinking it's a warm spring day
No no lie down you silly grass
Winter's still here you're making me laugh
Everyone and everything is so confused
The weather gods must be quite amused
If only this winter was done and over
We could run and skip and roll in the clover
Now silly me, Canada's where I roam
It ain't spring yet, can't you hear me moan
It's just wishful thinking, more snow on the way
But it'd sure be great if it was here to stay
I'd run around naked picking pretty flowers
Maybe I should go put on some trousers!
Sorry my friends, I was lost in a dream
Wake up Jack, you're delusional it seems
I had overeaten.
So I reached inside myself
And pulled up whatever could be pulled up
From strength that I could muster up
I labored long and hard
And eventually brought forth
Snow capped mountains
And sky scrapers dignified by the rays of the sun
And the tallest pines with cones intact
And stars draped with clouds, silver lined
And song birds with half-sung melodies resting on their beaks
And butterflies with awe-inspiring wings, extended and poised for flight
And rainbows that captured the very essence of past promises.
Exhilarated and exhausted, I wept
Not due to any emptiness or lack
But due to the incredible, unspeakable beauty of the lone rose
That remained anchored to my innermost parts.
I was spent but at peace
When Mark reached heaven
He expected to be interrogated.
He was used to this.
No one asked him anything.
He thought he would be judged.
This was his go-to-position.
No one judged him.
He thought death meant dead.
Not realizing he had a soul.
Mark had gotten it all wrong.
Walking, walking, walking!
Impossibly long stretches of walk,
Miles and miles of uncertain journey,
In blazing sun, in sweltering heat,
Tranquil villages with shady trees,
Home, the destination!
Thirsty, hungry, bleeding, exhausted!
With fatigued wives and starving barefoot children they trudge,
Little babies hanging like sandbags from their shoulders, they stumble,
Tears dry on children’s cheeks!
Men and women…they walk, walk, walk
Until their feet can not move an inch further,
Leaving the cities, where they toiled in exchange for a few rupees…
Day after day, months after months,
Hunched under shanties, with empty rumbling stomachs,
Cruelty is the only language they faced!
Trudge beside railroads, follow tracks,
No buses, no trains, no vehicles,
Only two weary feet to carry them to the destination,
Human bodies plodding with all their might!
It’s the darkest of moonless nights…
A few stars glinting in the somber sky to guide them to destiny!!!!
Universe seemed calm, and uncaring!
Come Rest, Come Sleep,
Come Death…blood-stained tracks,
Home eluded them for ever!
??Isaiah? ?59:1?-?2? ?NIV??
[1] Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. [2] But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Oh, God that I would question your reach
For it was the foolishness of me
That had kept me in bondage of darkness
My arm not reaching to learn your ways
Blinded by the world teachings
And traditions of man
That loves praise of man than you God
For this is where Jesus came to save us from
Oh, God your hand reached down
Unto the depths of my soul
Circumcising the old man to the grave
When I threw up my hands to know you
How abundant is your love, mercy and grace.
For greater is the Spirit sent from Jesus death
Than is in the darkness of mankind ruled by the evil one.
Your hand reaches down to snatch One from death.
To resurrect one unto a Living Child of God
his twilight was near
Henry is no longer here
we always did fear
no one did offend
to heaven we had to send
when he reached an end
merry with much mirth
he was merry with much mirth
departed this earth
away soul scurried
when around he had hurried
body we buried
always was well fed
no longer here and is dead
he has gone to bed
what we must admit
no longer in bed does sit
his heart would quit
i
discovered something
wonderful
a reality
wrapped neatly
in a
tango
of
words
and
sentences
At first dark clouds
then a droplet fell.
Gathering strength,
small puddles
appeared
and began to swell.
It's raining! It's raining!
My neighbor joined
in my cries.
Is it the rain,
or tears in my eyes.
I reached out
my hand
as if to grasp
the heavenly spigot
to make it last.
Wrapped in white burial shrouds and only seven
This little girl is now making her way to heaven
The Myanmar junta forces battered her door
Made their way inside all in the name of war
Gun shots were fired and screams were heard
Killing this child is simply downright absurd
What had this child done for them to shoot ?
Killed for certain by an evil callous brute
Imagine the grief of her family left behind
War doesn't solve anything it's time to remind
Rest in peace little lady you died needlessly
Doesn't make any sense that's according to me
By God’s route
I’m reached out
marked with love
from above…
Feeling blest
heart with zest
thanks His grace
of faith brace…
Bliss-filled soul
fulfills role
shines as light
with peace might…
My mind prays
with truth rays
for wisdom
midst boredom…
Propped with hope
joyous scope
my spirit
trusts Christ’s writ…
Gladly freed
from vain greed
hands do share
wondrous care…
Revived now
I do vow
live* for Him
from self’s whim.
*Galatians 2:20 … The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
September 16, 2020
1st place, "Threes, Please" Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Beth Evans; judged on 9/19/2020.
They are walking! Walking, walking, walking!
Long stretches of walk - hundreds of miles of impossible uncertainty,
in blazing sun, in sweltering, muggy, heat - running away from an Inferno.
Home, sweet home! Villages with shady trees!
Destination!
Thirst, hunger, bleeding.
They trudge, fatigued babies hanging on their shoulders like sandbags,
starving infants clutching hands, tears dry on their cheeks.
Men and women - walk, walk, walk!
Leave cities where cruelty is the only language,
Villages with shady trees -
Home, sweet home, far away.
Burning sun, sweating bodies, dry throat, growling tummies.
Slog beside railroads - follow tracks,
no trains, no buses, no trucks, no vehicles,
only two weary feet to carry them to their destination,
plodding with all their might until the body can not move a step further.
Lie on the tracks - it’s hard, it’s cold, it’s comforting!
Come rest, come sleep, come death -
Blood-stained tracks-
Destination never came.
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