securely sheltering it in her shell
nurturing while within
heeding to each gentle whisper
to each tap from tiny feet
in time She curls it in her embrace
caresses it in her hug
fondles it with boundless care
cuddles it with sweetish love-
when fully fledged, sailing the high sea
will it care for the cowry shell, its first home!
Let me run to You, O Lord, in times of trouble
Hold me securely in Your loving arms
For You are my shelter against those who hate me
Remind me that You are stronger than my enemies.
Keep me from harm, help me to trust in You alone
I lift up my cries to You in the night, O God
When fear surrounds me, I will call upon Your Name
Guard me from terrors, and let them not consume me.
May Your angels always guide me in Your ways
Let me desire to follow You all the days of my life
I will remember Your faithfulness to me, O Lord
Your promises are light and life to my soul.
Back then I had no gift but this precious love,
fashioned deep in the fierceness of my mind,
kept bright by you through every failing light.
Now, through each falling day and dying sound,
what's left is more than any time I've lost:
you outlive memory, vision, and desire.
Time itself has grown vast, unsearchable;
the world has multiplied your absence
into unlikely consolations for my soul.
To this very day, my heart remembers
and goes on beating out the faithful chords,
played steadily through all silence and noise.
You remain within me, securely sealed,
wider than memory, deeper than longing:
the persistent music of my dreaming life.
Christopher M. Swan, “Song of Susan,” 2008
Born into a culture
Geared toward work
Any slack
Got a smack and a smirk
Money coming in
Went to household bills
No sense dreamin'
When the children needed meals
The longer one traveled
Down the road of duty
The more removed
The heart disconnected from life's beauty
By the time independence came
The chains were securely in place
More of the illusion practiced
To prevent public disgrace
Bound to work that demands
A heart to numb and survive
The TRUTH of LOVE
Invites surrender to be fully alive
To leave the familiar
And walk in the unknown
Requires a surrendered trust
To grow, until fully grown
...not useful, but LOVED and KNOWN
Written by Trudy Schrader on 01-28-2026
"The Bogeyman in Carnage"
Upon the darkened streets of Haddenfield,
A specter stalks a prey, cloaked in shadow's fold.
No mortal eye can pierce his mask's shield,
Nor fathom depths where sanity is lost.
His stride unwavering, relentless, cruel,
Each footfall echoing death's grim approach.
Victims fall screaming, lives cut short, souls defiled, shortened of breath.
Yet expressionless face betrays no emotion.
Beneath the harvest moon's sickly glow,
Blood splatter patterns stain his mask.
Through windows locked and doors securely barred,
Sleep eludes the living in fearful flight.
For none know when the boogeyman may arrive,
To claim them in the dead of endless night.
A Story of Santosh that was entangled in grief
It was just another day, he thought
He stepped out of the house with his family to return
Unaware of the danger awaiting at the accident spot
He and his wife, children went out jolly, talking about
They got onto the bike and went for a ride as usual
Oh, Santosh, if at all you knew
Your day ends in a dreadful growl
You are broken and bleeding, growling on the side of the road
Wounded, wondered who would save his loving family lying a distance away
His wife watches from afar helplessly, two kids and her husband mourning uncontrolled
Oh, that dreadful day, will they ever forget the misery life has thrown
The death of his only budding toddler, struggling to breathe and left the world reeling
If at all, he knows the danger ahead.
His family would be living safely and securely
Santosh had to pass this day and face the pain as long as he is alive
God allowed this, and they have to let go; their sorrows and pain
Which seems to be healed but remains fresh in life, displeased
Life gives joy and sorrows; smile in your good days and cry when no one sees
Sometimes they may appear,
As though they have thick skin,
But little do we really know,
All the demons they fight within.
They constantly try so hard,
Not to let their family down,
So they hide away their truth,
And try straighten up their crown.
When it never rains only pours,
The days are long and cold,
No matter what may happen,
They don't give in and fold.
Persistently trying to provide,
Weighing them down with stress,
Doing what they can to protect,
Even when life feels like a mess.
Just a fraction of the worries,
Tormenting them through until sunrise,
Hidden and securely locked away,
Deep behind a man's eyes.
Only One, Knows A Secret
Miracle Man
2/20/2025
Reputation building, can quite often, take years.
But by one rattling tongue it is often destroyed.
Seemingly, reputations are most often ruined,
by the very person that you thought trustworthy.
So be extra careful in whom you place your trust,
when another person knows, secrets don't exist.
So the closet where your skeletons hang today,
should be securely locked, you having the key.
God has done a great work
when He provided my identity
this identity is God-given freely
making my position so heavenly
This identity is firmly in Christ
having the presence indeed of God
securely feeling so very fixed
showing traits of a godly chord
Jesus Christ is my true identity
having purchased my salvation
on Calvary's cross this He did
so this accomplished my redemption
Having received this Jesus as my Lord
He having saved me from the threat of hell
gives me a blessed assurance deep within
so I give my life to Lord Jesus with a capital L
Blessed be my Lord Jesus, I dearly love
for He has loved me with love eternal
this love never ends even to my final day
thanks be to this Christ I daily pray
The incubator of my life
Who shines more than the twinkling stars and blazing moon
In the Africa twilight;
And glitters more than precious gold's and diamond's of Africa
I see you!
Mama,
Whose dimples, from where I scoop animation;
Are deeper than the sweet well of Gerar;
The seasoned yellow corn that fills the mouth
I see you!
Shine shine Mama,
My reliable and relentless life support
On whose impenetrable wings I sailed securely in my youth,
Regardless of the distance, traversing life
I see you!
Mama,
Whose unquenching love encompasses all;
The non defaulting mechanism of my locomotive,
Wiser than oracle's of Africa;
I see you!
Mama,
Whose heart is larger than Olumo Rock;
Hands taller and larger than sacred idanre hills;
Who traverses and watches over Africa like a Colossus
Mama of all mothers,
I greet you!
My year of birth : DOG
Loyal - For me, loyalty is everything
Sociable - A big shipwreck in my own esteem
Courageous - I am strong and truly believe in miracles
Diligent - As a fountain that always flows
Steady - Standing securely by my own strength
Lively - Some people call me calm and some lively
Adaptable - Assess situations rationally
Smart - IQ test is a poor measure of intelligence
My associated element: EARTH
Kindness - Yes
Tolerant - Yes
Honest - 100%
Leader - No
*
the
star's gone
from the top
of the Christmas
tree, the lights down too
tinsel packed securely
will winter bring on the blues
remember the joy of the gifts
the delight in each of the children's eyes
so, the tree must be packed up this cold day
memories stored away, a few snapshots, too
t i m e
passes
fa d e d
a w a y
g o n e
Dear Father
As I slip my heart softly into your broken body I take hold of my soul. Pressing it securely against the presence of your cedar cross. Putting all my faith in your Sacred pierced hands I stand in awe of you and all you sacrificed for me.
All I ask of you is that you place your Holy Will in me. That through you and in you, I may be released from all afflictions both mental and physical. Honoring you in me I can finally settle into that long awaited peace. Journeying with you, to that long awaited place we often elude to as heaven.
Dear Daughter
You have lit the path of communion in me and clothed me with your prayers of love and Union- Grace. It is here that I offer you the linen cloth of my great love. Live abundantly in me as I live abundantly in you.
In the presence of my Spirit you have journeyed forth. Bearing on forgiveness and compassion, you have harvested my Blessed Crops and yielded good wheat. I love you daughter for you are my heart and I am yours. Forever and until the end of time.
Your Mystic Rose
A single raindrop
kissed my cheek,
and you tucked me beneath
your jacket canopy
before the message reached my sensors.
You sought to be my guard from harm
and elements alike,
shielding me like precious, carried cargo.
Stars spun from my eyes
and danced like twinkling fairies,
and I thought this must be
love.
Safe, in the bubble you kept me,
where it was easy-
until it wasn't.
My backward shotgun ride,
securely hinged to your pickup.
Your shield of well-intended,
false protection,
weighing me down.
And I'll die trying
to rise again, to walk away
from rain.
S kiing on this snowy peak over the icy stretches is a real tes T,
K eeping legs on the skis securely firm and standing hig H.
I tching to experience the adventure of my endeavou R,
I go down hills in rising vigor, never losing grip, shouting ‘h I’
N ot shaken by the steep landing with wind giving me a chilling fee L,
G aily I speed down the icy slopes in triumphant thril L.
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