baa, baa, baaaad sheep

victim feels disturbingly sheepish when
pale eyes of death stare down their neck;
a black stone heart with unblinking eyes
watching, watching in dark for opportunity.

does devil wear faux alpaca coat or is she
genuine, nightmarish animist with long face
and sharp chin to be used as artist’s weapon
to elicit salty streams of patron’s fearful tears?

her thin head appears vaguely disconnected
from soul-less body, which is reason why
she seeks to possess another’s…after, oh,
so slowly drowning them in acid downpour.

praying to unnatural spirit will in the end
bring only howling, painful torture such as
cruel wringing of blood from besotted ears
while hearing her hideous inhuman laughter.

_____________________

Painted by Ukrainian artist Svetlana Telets, Rain Woman (1996) illustrates a pale woman with elongated features, a long neck, and wearing a large black hat, standing in the rain. The artist claimed that for months leading up to her painting, she felt an invisible presence watching her constantly. Telets’ painting was displayed in a local art gallery in Ukraine, where it was purchased and returned multiple times by buyers who reported the painting caused them to experience insomnia, nightmares, and an eery sensation of being watched.

(As you’ve probably deduced from reading, I did not see the Rain Woman as wearing a hat, but long ears.)

_____________________

Melissa offers some creepy artwork to write about “a haunting”. Come join dVerse poets and have a good scare!

“body piercing saved my life”*

______________

when we partake of

the bread and wine,

we accept the gifts of

his body and blood,

(soul-nourishing essence

offered by living presence).

my broken heart kneels

thankful for a broken

savior who loves us with

his arms stretched wide,

present in our suffering.

______________

*T-shirt title quote for quadrille on “present” prompt by Lillian at d’Verse Poets

 

blood rose

Roses for Mothers Day, attempt at “lai” form poetry and linking to dVerse…

IMG_1221

photo by lynn

 

 

velvet blooms blood rose
subtle scent wafts nose
petals
folds of ruffled rows
vivid color grows
sepals
thorns prick of sorrows
wilted tomorrows
medals

remembering him

 

firstborn son cruelly beaten

pierced, hung on rough cross

dark blood trickles down wood

 

utterly forsaken by God

cries out in deep agony

firstborn son cruelly beaten

 

releases his final breath

pagan soldiers insure death

pierced, hung on rough cross

 

bruised body claimed, wrapped

gently laid in bare, stony tomb

dark blood trickles down wood

 

 


Requiem written in cascade form…linking with Amaya’s prompt at dVerse.

triduum

Linking to Frank Tassone’s haiku challenge…

 

maundy thursday meal

passover lamb serves supper

taste body and blood

 

good friday trial

soldiers nail God to wood beams

love’s great sacrifice

 

silent saturday

women weep while Jesus sleeps

he will rise again!

 

Inri

1510 fragment – Matthias Grunewald, Netherlands

INRI stems from the Latin phrase ‘Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum‘ meaning ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’. This was the notice Pontius Pilate nailed to the cross.

 

a wreath wraps around us

IMG_5413 2

 

evergreen circle

 as God’s everlasting love

tied with blood red bow

 

 

 

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  

(God’s words in Jer. 31:3)

he shall have first place

 

for us he shed his blood on wooden beam
he is the son of God and son of Man
in all things Jesus Christ will reign supreme

you may think such a statement is extreme
no more extreme than God’s great love for Man
for us he shed his blood on wooden beam

to honor him as Lord is my life’s theme
to share good news of God’s salvation plan
in all things Jesus Christ will reign supreme

our own attempt to reach God is pipe dream
no matter how we stretch, we never can
for us he shed his blood on wooden beam

will we admit our sin is real, obscene?
proud men hate truth so pierce God’s heart & hand
in all things Jesus Christ will reign supreme

he paid our ransom debt, souls to redeem
God saw our suff’ring, opened his arm span
for us he shed his blood on wooden beam
in all things Jesus Christ will reign supreme

 

 


Inspired by sermon on Colossians 1:15-23, written in villanelle form.

community unity meals

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:

silent sabbath

 

laid down life for friends

blood congealed, stiff body wrapped

stone seals death in tomb

soldiers wipe spear and spikes clean

women grieve over spices

 

meditation

 

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.

national day of lament

 

legalized forty-four years

america’s future aborted

innocent blood on our hands

 

it’s mechanical/chemical rape

woman’s womb was sacred space

innocent blood on our hands

 

complications may occur

unplanned barrenhood results

innocent blood on our hands

 

abortionists get filthy rich

take advantage of desperate girls

innocent blood on our hands

 

would not dissect live puppies

yet traffic baby body parts

innocent blood on our hands

 

dark path of sexual revolution

strips all human lives of dignity

innocent blood on our hands

 

six million Jews in holocaust

almost sixty million unborn children

innocent blood on our hands

why did you?

Screen Shot 2016-05-16 at 4.44.28 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the Magnetic Poetry site.

Previous Older Entries