posting poetic prose
18 Mar 2020 6 Comments
in free verse, prayer, worship Tags: breathe, coronavirus, God, heartbeat, prayer, sanctuary
close restaurants
and coffee shops,
take away my chai
latte and stuffed crab,
hang the last TP rolls
from nearest tree, and
cancel church services
even if infected with
coronavirus at home
(my childhood home
was on corona street)
& quarantined, i will
yet have a sanctuary
for my heart to rest
within the soul’s home
found in Yahweh/God
whose name is breath;
i breathe His presence
as close as a heartbeat,
prayers whispered and
translated by the Spirit
forever and ever amen.
22 Oct 2019 31 Comments
in quote, Uncategorized, worship Tags: apples, autumn, cornstalks, leaves, pumpkins, squirrel, tumbleweeds, wind
do you know what the earth meditates upon in autumn?
when north wind breathes fresh worship
over cornfield of heavy stalks bowed down
as ripe apples bless orchard with abundance
and tumbleweeds dance across rural road?
when crispy leaves gather in harvest pile
over rich soil fully yielded to waning sun
as pumpkins swell with orange-ribbed grace
and squirrel chatters praise for scattered nuts?
do you know what the earth meditates upon in autumn?
The beginning (and ending) question is from Pablo Neruda’s El Libro de las Preguntas.
29 Nov 2018 7 Comments
in free verse, scripture, worship Tags: angel, annunciation, flame, glory, messenger
At heaven’s high command,
a white-hot beam of purest light
penetrates time and space
to touch our tiny blue planet.
In a peasant cottage,
silence is muted by
an alien presence; the
whispering whir of mighty wing.
Flesh crawls with palpable terror
as the dazzling creature, a holy flame,
fixes its piercing gaze on one
wide-eyed, trembling maiden.
“Do not be afraid.”
Surprising, melodious words
uttered by molten-gold messenger
to an ordinary girl who pales
in wonder, what can this mean?
Glory’s courier speaks favor—
words of prophets coming true
Spirit of I AM will overshadow you,
virgin chosen to mother Messiah.
Her eyes lower, palms sweat,
as dry lips answer from her
wildly-beating, totally yielded heart,
she burns but does not disintegrate.
“I am the Lord’s servant.”
(Originally posted in 2012 as “advent: trial by fire”; later, expanded and focused. I was privileged to read this at our church Christmas Eve service 2016, 2018, 2019!)
17 Sep 2018 4 Comments
in classical haiku, worship Tags: crstal, drown, harvest, heaven, river, sky
harvest gathered in
crystal sky glitters invite
river of heaven
image – pixabay
Linking to Frank J. Tassone site, where “haiku poetry matters.”
15 Jul 2018 4 Comments
in free verse, worship Tags: birds, cicada, fireflies, grove, praise, sunset
dusky sunset chalks sky’s rose window
fireflies flicker their candles’ brief flame
cicada choirs hum nightly prayers, and
robed birds chirrup their evening praise
23 Apr 2018 2 Comments
in triolet, worship Tags: air, bless, creatures, earth, life, soil, water
Psalm 104 is a poem that celebrates creation! I write a humble triolet for earth day. Okay, I’m a day late but to a farmer every day is earth day, right?!
bless the Lord who forms the earth
he calls us to be caretakers
let creatures thrive, let life give birth
bless the Lord who forms the earth
air, water, soils of priceless worth
forgive us wasteful mess makers
bless the Lord who forms the earth
he calls us to be caretakers
free image – liturgy website
25 Mar 2018 2 Comments
in haibun, senryu, troiku, worship Tags: beggar, hosanna, Jerusalem, Jesus, King, palms
I am that beggar on the ancient road of cobbled stones in Jerusalem, begging alms in the city of the king, near David’s tomb. The Passover crowds pass by me on their way through the golden gate to the Temple mount, singing songs of ascent. I limp out of the chaotic throng, pressing my back against the stone wall and clutching my empty cup. What is that I hear? Shouts of “Hosanna, save us”! Now I see ecstatic children waving palm branches before a rabbi astride a young horse; no, he rides a humble donkey. As they pass, Jesus looks into my eyes; a gaze that overwhelms me with compassion. I pick up a palm frond as the shofar sounds the call to worship: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
crowds shout hosannas
rejoice in the coming king
my cup overflows
24 Dec 2017 5 Comments
in worship Tags: angels, Christmas, faithful, invitation, prophets, shepherds, virgin
A voice crying in the wilderness, make straight a highway for our God!
What shall I cry?
Come all you faithful:
young and old
rich and poor,
black and white
Come, let us adore him
on this holy night.
Prophets cry:
Woe to sinners
everywhere; our
guilty hearts despair.
But do not fear, for
heaven’s hope draws near!
The virgin cries
with urgent pain,
birthing firstborn
on straw’s bloodstain;
Do not be afraid,
love’s sacrifice is paid!
Host of angels cry:
God’s good will
on earth to men!
Fear not, they say,
Prince of our peace
brings shalom today!
Shepherds cry:
choose good news!
Messiah’s here,
in swaddling bound.
Worship, unafraid,
spread joy around!
God’s star shines fierce
searchlight to pierce
through darkest times
O Holy night
advent of Light,
we celebrate this night divine!
I had the privilege of writing and reading this for our Christmas Eve candlelight worship. May God bless us, every one…Merry Christmas to all!
08 Nov 2017 8 Comments
in worship Tags: gravity, planets, space, stars, time
Lillian at dVerse Poets invites us to “look up” and marvel at pictures from Hubble Space Telescope…
Credit: ESA, NASA and L. Calçada (ESO); ESA/Hubble
You, who spins
planets in place
calls stars by name
speaks light into
hot existence
You, whose wisdom
births bright galaxies
weighs gravity’s laws
measures our time
expands space
You alone are
worthy of worship
we, who spin
on watery planet
stare at your stars
depend on light
of dying sun
we, whose
understanding
reflects your image
yet live limited by
gravity, time, space
we bow in awe at
Your cosmic beauty!
a poem in my pocket 
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