Sometimes, in the mornings,
The morning crows don’t sing—
Perched and preaching by a loblolly.
Breathe in this metanoia,
We all live for it.
And if the morning crows never reverenced,
Sitting at my doorstep,
Waiting for my feet to touch pavement,
I might’ve deemed you worthy of abasement.
But the morning crows chant my indiscretions,
To the man in the moon,
Too far to touch, too distant to see—
So I cannot tell him
Of my worries.
Fill up this cup with your americano—
It’s been so long since I’ve tasted of it.
The morning crows fear I will be different
When the sun sets
And daybreak ends.
So I hide in my sleigh bed,
Too frightened to tell you
That I am revolutionizing myself.
The morning crows now mourn the loss of youth.
As I settle down to become holy,
They sing my death—
Heedlessness,
Widening your eyes,
Sharpening your grin.
When I wane once more,
The morning crows will say,
They told me so.
Perched and preaching by a loblolly,
I am reclaimed, rosy-eyed.
Breathe in this metanoia.
We all live for it—
What is love? Who can tell? Of what makes hearts beat and bosoms swell
It is like a dream strong and true that beckons with light and draws you through
It speaks with a whisper of a summer breeze
It is meant to be reverenced
Not laughed at or teased
It feels like soft rain falling in spring
Ah yes love is a wonderful thing!
Within a lush verdant meadow, meanders a lazy river
Where wildflowers bloom beneath the warm breath of the sun
They sway upon a gypsy wind on this early morning in June
Stems of purple heather rise above the carpeted earth,
Emerald green as any Irish hillside or garden near the shore
Their saccharine scented plumes attract the pollen seekers
Bursts of color can be seen in shades of scarlet and white
For growing on the river's bank is a plethora of anemone
Not the variety that resides in the depths of a sea
Yellow iris mingle with daisies in this alfresco arboretum
Untouched by the hand of man, it's an immaculate bouquet
Resplendent in perfumed glory and pristine perfection
There's the mellifluous sound of a cascading waterfall
singing a soft melody as it spills from crevices of granite rock
Nourishing the serpentine river flowing through the glade
This haven appears as an Elysian Field, as Eden must have been
A sanctuary to remain inviolate and reverenced by the gods
Perceived to be hallowed ground, too sublime for mortal man
September 29, 2021
Your Best Sijo Poetry Contest
Sponsored by William Kekaula
With many names, I'll reverence You in prayer.
Alpha and Omega, You've always been there.
The Word became flesh, and among us You dwelt.
Lamb of God, You bore each accusation dealt.
Holy Anointed One, Chief Cornerstone,
uniting believers, for sin You atone.
Great High Priest, we may access God through You
by confessing our sins; Your promise is true.
Emmanuel, "God is with us" in flesh.
Bright Morning Star, you forgive us afresh.
Messiah, Yeshua, Savior of the world,
by You ancient scrolls become unfurled.
Wonderful Counselor, you empathize,
tempted in all ways, proven sinless and wise.
Good Shepherd, you chasten those who go astray,
leaving ninety-nine for one runaway.
Lord, You are The Way, The Truth, and The Life,
The Prince of Peace in a world filled with strife.
King of Kings and Lord of Lords, above all,
before You all nations will one day fall.
Good teacher, You instruct us day by day
as we seek Your whole heart and humbly pray.
5-2-2021
Tell Me, Who Do You Say That I Am Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Mystic Rose Rose
Riches should be measured
Reverenced and treasured
Recognize there's more wealth
Redeemed in priceless health
Rubies, facet cut, and
Rings of gold are fine... but
Recall life's true values
April 15, 2021
Pleiades R Contest
Sponsor: Kim Merryman
Father and son in the same world, facing opposite directions
both consciences battle it out in the ring beneath the palace
if his father won’t be in hell, he will be five minutes late
a man of no honour, less reverenced than his own white horse
this young man hawks kindness to his people to see the difference
but they are ravaged by the fungal itch of his dad
his hands are open to ease them of their pain from blisters
they reject from the perceived smell of the palace’s butchery
the man sitting on the throne flunks his people’s welfare
to the son, without their love, there’s no freedom
what is the use of a conglomerate without loyal employees?
why should the affliction of a people be a mortal’s delicacy?
in his dad’s chapter of the kings’ chronicles
he forbids the nation’s historians to write down his name.
if he’ll be the next leader, his father’s portrait will be painted in red.
Some things are sacred
They shouldn’t be tarnished
With vulgarity or crudity
They deserve reverence
God is holy, above anything
He shines down His love
That should never be degraded
With rudeness or offensiveness
There are some things in this life
That is worth more than wealth
Nature with all it’s beautiful wonders
Alive with glimmers of creation’s air
The very air we breathe is a gift
A God given part of our lifeforce
We could never measure it’s worth
It is what keeps us from death’s hold
The trees, birds and brilliant colors
Of an earth that is covered in joys
So enlightening that they surround
With hues of tenderest acceptance
The sacred should be reverenced
With true adoration and respect
That flows from our hearts and souls
With a sense of what is God’s purpose
True wisdom will tell every reflection
That we are sent here with an intention
To give the parts of our own selves
That will acknowledge the spirit within
His spirit desires to guide us to the way
The truth, the life… Jesus is the answer
To teach us about sacred revelations
That whisper with gentle benevolence
Apathy can ease in unnoticed over time
as the world evolves in poorly reverenced predilections
by encompassed unearthliness of the unseen and divine
while in the shadows, hidden consternation holds restrictions
all humanity submerged beneath the loss of the wonder of creation
to find only hate and inner self condemnation
but love is slowly rising to restore hope and godly benediction.
7 words
7 lines
11-16-18
The giant of the east, a thorn in the most prosperous continent
possessing land so massive which is second to none
having each day measured in nine different scales
and twelve large waters in full interaction with its borders
Its pride feeds on most of European and global superlatives
is it from the stores of fresh water
or the preservation of the wild plant communities?
Is it its rich deposits piled beneath the Earth
or its sized capital of huge significance to Europe?
This historic nation prides in them all and even more
But then, the limbs of its diplomacy are incomplete
in such regard, important allies are difficult to come by
no room for adjustments- it must be what it wants
Georgia and Ukraine’s tears then becoming the pay
for its domineering spirit
Though not adequately reverenced by the inhabitants of the jungle
a hippo still remains more dangerous than the lion
well ranked among the frontiers of global authority
but a major 21st century bully even in this time of civilization
Unveiled, I stood before him with no modesty
Exposing the true splendor of my femininity
He stared at me as if, I were a flawless creation
Professed my utter beauty with no hesitation
He looked at me and captured my essence.
Compassion pierced so deep that my soul felt his presence
Gazed within my eyes and he saw my past
Treaded gently through my being, creating new paths
Carefully he navigated my intricacies
He weaved himself into my complexities
Finding secret passages, he unearth my buried treasures
And i offered him gifts of my endless pleasures
He reverenced my temple with sheer sensuality
As he knelt before the altar of my Ecstasy.
He sought solace in my sanctuary, and I allowed him rest
Willingly I welcomed him inside of my flesh.
------
We have a friend
Who has got a friend
In Jesus///
------
So far beyond reason
To good to be a rhyme
He is the Savior
He has been here
Since creation
He has been here
Since the beginning
Of time
------
The Reverenced One
Chosen by Thee
When Kingdom Come
He soon will be to
Represent Me
------
To counter-mend my thought
And to counter my sin
To bring me back to
The Loving arms'
Of God, again....
--------
With a just a simple prayer
And a counter' Amen
GF
autumns weary saint unceremoniously patterns out a few leaves.
stained fingers against drum rolling tobacco papers work quickly.
round about him perenially leaking wisdom.
square about him corners juxtapose against his skin.
once again staggering round september
twice again full of muddied puddles.
three times again he blends his footsteps to unravel.
now the pavement tends to keep an ambivalent expression
at this time of year.
not like the elegant industrial poppies who's sledder stalks are
messed into a woven chain link fence next to the seven-eleven
on barber blvd.
leaning against the fence he can see through the window a glowing
ganesha next to the register chain smoking, he wonders if he will
ever be able to quit.
but still he is reverenced about this time of year.
autumns forgotten pilgrim holy in his rainy cathedral
waters all mosaics on street corners as he hides his secret
of a cracked oval sun with shaky gray clouded hands.
Intergalactic travel reveals some kinks.
Man visited mars and left a sphinx.
Cydonia and Mesopotamia saw new futures borne.
The “Tower of Babel” and ancient technology…men mourn.
Was man’s “spirit world” formerly preserved on Mars?
Did “sons of God” once travel among the stars?
Egyptians learned to build sphinxes to provide for souls.
Their tradition, also, distantly reverenced afterlife’s goals.
The Tower of Babel…great technology…lost.
Travel through the heavens was stopped at great cost.
Many marvels, modern man cannot explain.
A sphinx on a distant planet, mysteries remain.
© Dane Smith-Johnsen
September 15, 2010
Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
Christ the King of Glory
Holy is his name
Reverenced by the Saints
I lluminated Holy Word
Savior of the lost, downtrodden, poor at heart
Treasured in the hearts of every believer
Mercy granted to the sinner
Almighty Lamb of God
Sin conquered and eternal life given
Christmas Spells Jesus In the Heart of Every Believer.