posting poetic prose
10 Aug 2017 Leave a comment
in free verse Tags: business, cake, discriminate, enterprise, signs
image from mydoorsign.com
such common signs
seem common sense
none of government’s business
to tell citizen’s private business
whom they may or may not serve
free enterprise best
to remain free…yes
we all “discriminate”
choose where to shop
what’s the debate?
(this is not “hate”)
cannot force another to
make or sell product for you
now we ask who bullies who?
consider whether this be true:
“can’t eat your cake and have it too!”
05 Aug 2017 4 Comments
in free verse, Uncategorized Tags: calliope, kaleidscope, menagerie, mosaic, rainbow
see such cunning calliope of creatures
view fast running menagerie of animalia
stare at stunning kaleidoscope of wild kingdom
gaze on sunning rainbow of critter chaos
admire funning mosaic of my zootopia
Gotta love this colorful fabric pattern featured at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where Margaret invites us to quilt a poem!
12 Jul 2017 9 Comments
in free verse Tags: blooms, country, flag, flower, poppy
red poppy by Robert Draves (@draves.robert)
leaves home for war
fresh budding youth with
proud ideal to serve country
mother cherishes each
scripted word of letters home,
hopeful heart brightens like flower
bomb blooms open, cries
for her as red blood darkens soil…
his flag-draped casket returns home
Imaginary Garden with Real Toads‘ weekend mini-challenge with Magaly…
11 Jul 2017 4 Comments
in free verse Tags: climb, Long's Peak, mountain, pilgrimage, serenity
sixty-one years young,
he feels lean, fit and
needs mountain to climb;
wants to test stamina on
tough colorado 14er, even
if summit proves stronger.
silence any fear of lion or bear,
concentrate on challenge of
altitude, rock scale, exposure.
drawn from flatland stress
toward heights of serenity,
he packs gear for one, solo
climb yet won’t be alone;
God descends mountain and
i will long for him at the peak.
28 Jun 2017 11 Comments
in free verse, prayer Tags: blessing, God, Irish, poets, prophets
Paul at dVerse suggested “blessing poems”. Here are my thoughts…
At our wedding reception, a couple sang an Irish Blessing, which was later read at our second son & bride’s reception. (We’re not Irish but the sentiments are beautiful):
At the end of a worship service, a pastor usually gives a blessing (benediction) such as:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26
_______
“Give blessing” and “say grace” are synonyms for prayer. At home, we fold our hands and close our eyes before meals to thank God for his provision. One prayer we taught our (young) children:
Thank you for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing, thank you, God, for everything.
_______
Thinking about how we really need His blessing on our lives and on our world:
There’s no blessing without a blesser
left to ourselves, the “good” grows lesser
pretend we can fix it by wearing mask dressier
outside of God’s plan, our messes get messier
There’s just no blessing without a Blesser!
And finally…
May God bless
the poets
and
the prophets,
inspire them with
words worth
smithing
and
insight worth
pithing
may steel
words reveal
deepest darkness
shatter
false piety
and
scatter
hot light into
life’s mysterious
corners
amen.
30 May 2017 23 Comments
in free verse Tags: create, desire, gift, need, serve, work
(Poem inspired by article at The High Calling & poetics “gift” prompt at dVerse.)
work is life gift
created to create
something productive
with whatever we have
stretch and hone abilities
promote one’s self-respect
provide for own desires
satisfy another’s need
give something back
to world we live in
joyfully serve six
actively rest one
weekly rhythm
work is life
…a gift!
23 May 2017 25 Comments
in free verse Tags: boom, church, hometown, jet, pilot
clear SUNday mornin’ [early 1950’s] 2
US navy uniformed young pilots ~swag~
fighter jets flyin’ hi, leavin’ con-trails…on
official run: san diego(go) to chicago—GO!
idea 4fun stunt [see lightbulb flash]
RE-duce altitude& RE-connoiter over
rural mid-west in search of 1buddy’s
tiny hometown on farmz checkerboard
[needle in haystack] eye spy white chURch
(as)pire to steeeple – jets dive hard ‘n fast
breakin’ sound barrier/zooom…sonicBOOM x2
loud cock(y)pit laughter, silent sanctuary after
week later, pilot ONleave re-turns home-y
BIG talk in small town about 2 (too) low planes
overhead [IN yer head] soundin’ off, poundin’ off
shattering of air stopping preacher’s pray-er
(dad still grins when tellin’ his sins!)
26 Apr 2017 12 Comments
in free verse Tags: blood, community, food, table, unity
Join the community of poets as Paul scribbles at dVerse Poets Pub!
connection by blood
relatives around a table
share past family history
gather for holiday food
connection like blood
friends around a table
share current life history
gather over favorite food
connection spite blood
neighbors around a table
share convergent history
gather with communal food
connection shed blood
nations around a table
share territorial history
gather to distribute food
connection in his blood
believers around the table
share biblical faith history
gather for spiritual food
Check out World Renew video of working with communities to end poverty:
21 Apr 2017 15 Comments
in free verse Tags: abortion, baby, girl, rights, woman
Joining Real Toads in Imaginary Garden today on the theme: “I Have No Mouth but I Must Scream” -title by Harlan Ellison
unborn baby girl
dodging abortion’s
sharp instruments
has mouth but
voice not heard
muffled in womb
unsafe sanctuary
tiny life unwanted
no fault of her own
they shout about
women’s rights,
“now let me grow
into a woman
strong, nurturing
seasoned in love —
help! it’s got me!
torn me…bleeding”
hear silent scream
18 Apr 2017 40 Comments
in free verse Tags: armadillo, barbecue, posse, star, Texas
Wishing you were here at dVerse poetics with De, postcard poeming…
hi all, y’all
how r u, lone star?
roundin’ up a posse
for saucy bar-be-Q
hopin’ to see live
armadillo near amarillo
with lotta luv from
big ole’ heart o’ texas!
14 Apr 2017 6 Comments
in free verse Tags: blood, cross, hell, Jesus, rescuer, sinners
La via dolorosa
the way of suffering
tell me, Who would
choose to suffer?
Plenty of suffering
here to go around:
pain, grief
rejection, loneliness
bullying, abuse
derision, disease, death.
None of us immune
all of us sinners
except the immutable Son of man.
He chose the via dolorosa
only he could
only he would
bear all our misery and loss
on rough wooden beams of
a Roman cross:
ugly method of torture
cruel means of execution
for common criminals.
What crime deserved piercing?
His uncommon love for us
pierced his magnanimous heart
spilled gracious agape love
to wash our dirt clean away…
His via dolorosa is
our way home to the Father,
who turned away from
our hideous sins
borne on the bleeding back
of his beloved son.
Shadows fell on his
forsaken and disfigured form
when he descended into hell
Praise God, now we will never be forsaken
we need not smell the sulphur or feel the heat.
Let us kiss the nail printed feet
of our Redeemer – Rescuer
who walked the cobbled streets
of the via dolorosa uphill to Calvary.
26 Mar 2017 19 Comments
in free verse, impressionism Tags: mediterranean, music, olives, pyrenees
olive trees by Van Gogh
mediterranean sun
pulsing rhythm
warm yellow sky
radiates, ripens
music of olives
leaves quiver
trees wave arms
trunks sway hips
shadows of oil
flow to sound
of cool blue
pyrenees bass
