"He will progress toward retrogression..."
Mother's heart defied such prognosis
yet it reverberated, haunting soul
thus, faith cleaved to divine pillar
toward hope fueling functionality
surmounting spastic bouts
conquering seizures
then beholding miracles.
Now, milestones radiate
as special child drives himself
midst freedom bliss
maneuvering wheelchair
likewise taking steps with walker's brace
vanquishing mother's fear
toward triumph of impossibilities
enabled by the divine anchor.
Categories:
surmounting, appreciation, blessing, christian, faith,
Form: Free verse
Selfish aims in kindness-guise… I dare to confront
As my soul welcomes challenges with hope
Triumphantly while thankful spirit does cope
Surmounting trials of grievous affront.
Targets midst secret deals… I strive to check
As my heart submits to divine truth’s worth
Exposing transgressions against fake mirth
Repenting for pardon that conquers wreck.
Carnal goals with their deceit… I ought to face
As my mind is illumined by God’s light
With assured vision for heavenly flight
Toward courage to walk tall, blest with grace.
Motives reflecting shame… I need to see
As my faith learns to perceive genuine glow
Against hypocrisy, pride of false show
Living in wondrous love with freedom glee.
Intents lurking as ghosts… I must not fear
As my Lord assures His presence of peace*
Governed by great wisdom that cannot cease
Securing me while others gladly cheer.
*Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
July 8, 2025
Honorable Mention, "1404" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand; judged on 8/20/2025
Categories:
surmounting, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form: Enclosed Rhyme
Driving by faith*, heart looks
to God midst life's road trips
of triumph's twist and turns
surmounting trial-bumps
then refreshed as pitstops
whisper, “welcome, dear soul.”
*Hebrews 11:6 ...Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
May 8, 2025
3rd place, "INTO THE HEXALINE GROOVE" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Nette Onclaud; judged on 5/9/2025
Categories:
surmounting, appreciation, blessing, christian, faith,
Form: Verse
Blitheness bears itself boldly by day,
Surmounting the summit of separative sufferance.
Ridges and ranges below bow in adoring array,
Where homage is payed to the uprising utterance.
Blitheness bears itself blandly by night,
Mollifying the wounds of the worried and the wronged.
Rills and rivulets ripple rosy in sight,
Where brutality is isolated and humanity thronged.
Categories:
surmounting, emotions, encouraging,
Form: Rhyme
Rejoicing to vanquish attacking woe
My heart now radiates with hopeful glow
Ready to face challenging day midst grace
Trusting the Lord Who holds each tomorrow.
Stepping gladly along triumphant pace
I breathe victory in running life’s race
Surmounting downfalls with prayerful plight
Bouncing upon optimism’s strong brace.
Jubilant toward blest reaching-out flight
Though struggling with angst of selfishness-blight
My faith claims trophy in championship bout
Conquering arrogance with truth’s delight.
Directed toward caring kindness-route
Winning against skepticism and doubt
I strive to ascend, breathing victor’s zest
Joyously grateful against losses’ pout
Cheered to keep on going, doing the best
Never wallowing in frustration’s pest
My spirit breathes victory* of love-flow
Such I share with the rest to the fullest.
*1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
November 19, 2024
4th place, "I breathe" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Ink Empress; judged on 11/29/2024
Categories:
surmounting, blessing, christian, faith, god,
Form: Rubaiyat
"Autumn knows a mother's heart.
It gives and then lets go."~ Angie Weiland-Crosby
How proudly she stood, surmounting the tallest hill,
a blazing maple tree whose limbs spread far and wide.
In Summer, her green leaves swayed upon soft breezes,
but Autumn painted them shades of crimson and rust.
A burnished canopy, gilded by golden rays of the sun.
Ruffled by an errant wind, each leaf danced like a flame
before her limbs were barren, left in a state of malaise.
The stinging of the season's first frost caused her to weep.
Gnarled were her empty branches, as she stood weeping.
She was bereft and grieving as if she'd lost her children.
Maple held deep loathing for the changes of this season,
when leaves withered and the world was gloomy brown.
She endured Fall and Winter's snow by dreaming of Spring
when again she would glow on the summit of the tallest hill.
Pleased with her budding foliage and a newborn sapling,
she'd be dressed in green finery, where songbirds would nest.
Categories:
surmounting, autumn,
Form: Imagism
My eyes are open
My mind is pacing
My heart is racing
So I close my eyes
And sit in quietude
I was told it fabricates a different attitude
Looking for the child
who needs to escape
While I listen to the echoes
Of the bowls reverberate
As I look into my Minor eyes
I begin to catechize
As I analyze
I begin to realize
My younger mind has been traumatized
Now I see my inhibitions with great lucidity
So I begin to question their validity
As we confabulated
Liberation is what eventuates
I open my eyes to a new feeling
Once a caged mind
Now unfettered
Once vacillated
Now resolute
Now I embark on an odyssey
With consecrated determination
Surmounting impediments without hesitation
Oh how my life has changed
Since I’ve been acquainted with meditation.
Categories:
surmounting, allegory, anxiety, art, beauty,
Form: Free verse
Championing freedom and liberty
Lady of courage midst tenacity
Stands along truth while defying deceit
Upholding virtues with serenity.
Transformed through love’s might from failure’s defeat
Peace-filled lady stays grounded at her feet
Joyously caring, sharing, reaching-out
Showing miraculous conversion treat.
Determined to win over carnal bout
Valiant lady faces attacking doubt
To conquer with prayer afflicting pain
Extricating self from unbelief’s clout.
Seeking forgiveness for soul’s guilty stain
Repentant lady confesses heart-strain
Since pardon drives her faith to do what’s best
Ready in distributing blessings’ gain.
That's my partner midst my spiritual quest
Hope-propelled lady of stewardship zest
Modelling divine nature by God's grace
Smiting evil blight, surmounting sin‘s pest
She's our mother in our orphanage days
Helping us perform best in unique ways
Triumphant midst pain showing her beauty
Now, I am trained to take her wondrous place.
Edited on June 29, 2025 for the contest, "How well do you know your partner (With a twist)" sponsored by Poet Destroyer A.
Categories:
surmounting, appreciation, christian, faith, god,
Form: Rubaiyat
"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. The word is love."
Sophocles, Greek Poet
Radiating joyous thanksgiving glow
Love from the heart shows heaven’s blessing-flow
Triumphant in surmounting pain and woe
Sharing goodness to heal wounds of sorrow
Reaching-out, allowing kindness to grow
Midst care, igniting hope of tomorrow.
Gladly constraining forgiveness delight
Love divine offers haven from guilt’s blight
Vanquishing grief toward faith-soaring flight
That warms fellowship around prayer plight
Toward service height and worship aright
Inspiring trust to bloom, devoid of fright.
Thankful for love of God* brought to my soul
I’m cheerfully spreading it---that’s my goal.
*I John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
May 6, 2024
2nd place, "Sonnet - Untraditional" Sonnet Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 5/11/2024
Categories:
surmounting, christian, faith, forgiveness, god,
Form: Sonnet
When dawn drifts into enchanted meadows…
…I’m awakened by triumphant morning shows
radiating divine Artist’s pose
supremely perfect nature can’t oppose
along firmament’s celestial glows.
When dawn drifts into enchanted meadows…
…my soul delights in haven of fellowship that does expose
gracious goodness of God* which I chose
basking under vibrant hope, surmounting woes
while communing with Him, intimately close.
When dawn drifts into enchanted meadows…
…I see myself midst floral terraces of rose and aloes
enjoying paradise-wellness where liberty goes
yon serenity and bliss can enclose
grateful to the Creator that His omnipotence my faith knows.
When dawn drifts into enchanted meadows…
…my spirit clamors for revival, arose
from rest of comforting night’s repose
to exalt the Lord with sincere praise, never verbose
inspired by His jubilant love, sans dark shadows.
*Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
April 29, 2024
1st place, "Line Inspiration" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May; judged on 5/4/2024
Categories:
surmounting, appreciation, blessing, christian, faith,
Form: Monorhyme
enigma of growth wonders
challenges perspective setting to ascend
propelling mindset
toward heavenly ventures
stretching existence upward
progresses
surmounting perils
grounded on steadfast anchor
seed of love's faith progresses
unwavering against tempests and trials
basking under God's goodness
while yielding to sovereign divine miracles
triumphantly bearing fruits
yon growth* mysteries
*2Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
December 5, 2023
6th place, "Metaphorical Realism in Suzette Prime" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Suzette Richards; judged on 12/6/2023
Categories:
surmounting, christian, faith, god, growth,
Form: Suzette Prime
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13
I do keep You, and Your Word, Lord with all my heart
Being Your child whom You redeemed by wondrous grace
Since You declared Your love for me right from the start
Keeping my soul around Your compassion’s embrace.
As recipient of Your everlasting life seal
I keep You, and Your commands, Lord with all my heart
Nurtured with Your mercy and wondrous kindness’ zeal
Kept in Your perfect plan, I should never depart.
Surmounting trial-challenges and testing dart
My spirit You keep triumphant midst serene bliss
I keep You, and Your precepts, Lord with all my heart
Keeping Your promise in my well-being abyss.
Keeping great loyalty of fidelity zest
My faith does grow stronger along Your truth rampart
Fortifying my trust and covenant, so blest
I keep You, and Your statutes, Lord with all my heart.
October 30, 2023
2nd place, "Keep, Knock, Knotty Words" Poetry Writing Contest;
Chosen Word: Keep; Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 11/1/2023
Categories:
surmounting, blessing, character, christian, faith,
Form: Lyric
From the falling edge of the ebony night sky,
as the surmounting shroud of despair darts,
the promise of the full moon I’ve made to you,
I’ll keep before the enwrapping eclipse starts.
As the cloud clumps clear at the fall of night,
I rise from the strewn debris of the fallen sky,
the opulence of your grace captures my sight,
my dormant desire to reach you soars high.
Your image then comes to me as an astral boon,
designs the leitmotif of longing in your lilting glow,
entices my shadow to touch the tainted moon,
you’ll realize the earnestness my effort will show.
Within my desolate darkness deepening fast,
you in my orbit gleam with the moonshine grace,
while the floating tinsels of the silver dust
flutter like fairy wings on your silhouette face.
The sun of desire aligns with my heart precisely,
bloody flush flashes on your face devastating.
As the penumbra of my passion eclipses you totally,
your visage turns into the rare red moon rising.
Categories:
surmounting, analogy, desire, moon,
Form: Rhyme
Surmounting feelings of woe and sorrow
She seeks the Saviour along hopeful glow
Striving to discard shroud wrapping her doubts
Surely showing triumph for tomorrow.
Having indeed conquered depression bouts
Her heart smites melancholy with praise-shouts
Holding on to Christ’s assurance of grace
Hoisted for divine freedom from guilt-clouts.
Grateful to God for peace midst gloomy race
Gladly, faith propels her strongly to face
Grim realities that shatter great dream
Guarded against pangs of torturous space.
Winning now against grievous wistful scream
Will of hers trusts the Lord for service-beam
Watchfully reaching-out to ease pain’s blow
Withdrawn not, but wafting wise self-esteem.
Categories:
surmounting, depression, encouraging, faith, feelings,
Form: Rubaiyat
In my bag are gifts; oh, awesome
For young explorers’ sure welcome…
I wonder what they would become!
Neon-colored, radiantly bright
Rubber spiders for child’s delight…
Inviting mirth, conquering fright!
Marked with numbers for counting zest
Plastic spiders for learning best…
Surmounting arithmetic test!
Cuddly, serving as soft pillows
Indeed, wonderful bed fellows…
Spider-shaped, fighters of sorrows!
Artbook on spiders’ variety
Shows the Creator Who’s mighty…
Giving each one unique beauty!
These good spiders are for sharing
While imaginations, stirring…
Learning midst gracious nurturing!
*Proverbs 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
June 17, 2023
Categories:
surmounting, 1st grade, appreciation, blessing,
Form: Tristich
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