personal notes on 23rd psalm

 

The Lord is my shepherd,

i admit to sheepishness; like a foolish, fearful, lost lamb

 

I shall not be in want.

Jesus is all i really want, all i’ll ever need

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

my provider sustains and renews me with peace for body and soul

 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

he leads me on the right path for my good and his honor

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

the world is a dangerous place but i need not fear evil’s threats

 

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

my shepherd is ready to protect, defend, and rescue me

 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

i will sit at the king’s table and enjoy his triumphal feast

 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

you raise me up to all i can be; my life spills your joy

 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

you are the Lover who pursues me… relentlessly

 

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

abiding in his presence is my true forever home

 


– Inspired by summer sermon series by Dr. Justin Bailey 

hey bun, issa mud mess!

 

enough rain here five to six inches already and counting with basements filling and ditches flowing as swollen rivers carry away sheep too frightened to move to higher ground and wash out culverts which derailed a train of oil tanker cars spilling into the flooded fields and seeping downstream calling out hazmat teams and trucks hauling rocks while farmers groan at wet hay rotting crops covered with silt and black soil carried away and why must it rain another day?

 

farmers grow webbed feet

wading through muddy season

who’s building that ark?

 

 

IMG_7112

road wash-out next to flooded field

 


Jilly at dVerse poets encourages writers to “break the rules” with this week’s haibun. Our local weather has been unconventional too….and destructive.

ewe ain’t seen mutton yet

dVerse poetics prompt to use street names: Mutton Lane, Shoulder of Mutton Alley


 

The town grew up around a humble sheep farm. A stone farmhouse, before they razed it, had stood a hundred years, with sheepfold attached. The last farmer, third generation of sheep farmers in the family, built a butcher shop behind the house to diversify his business. His only son, Marcus, was known as a young boy for his skill at mutton busting (sheep riding) at the local fair. Once, he entered a national competition, winning a trophy which surpassed his own height and glittered like gold. The townspeople ooohed and aahhed when Marcus returned as a local celebrity. The farm and sheep are gone, but Marcus’s grandchildren still live on Mutton Lane and manage the butcher shop adjacent to Shoulder of Mutton Alley.

 

an old stone sheepfold

see one’s breath doing farm chores

bleating of the lambs

 

 

lamb will roar

 

prince of this world

like a lion in lamb’s wool

sneaking, seeking prey

as one who would devour

 

we like sheep sleep

 

King of the universe

like a Lamb led to his

shearing, spearing, pray

to One who would ransom

 

sheep from death’s sleep

 

lion-statue-zoo-37609

lion statue – pexels.com

 

 

contentment is green

IMG_1076

 

Earth’s new spring green

sings a theme serene

for ears and eyes keen

to creation’s pastoral scene.

 

On hills’ grassy sheen

fresh rain-washed clean

sheep shearer has seen

fluff-puff wool to glean.

 

A poets’ paradise pristine,

if you know what i mean.

 

 

For dVerse Poets “green” quadrille challenge and with my apologies to Luci Shaw 🙂

 

dona nobis pacem

 

heaven’s wings brush earth

peace, favor, goodwill to men

sheep dazzled by song

 

_______

Linking haiku to Carpe Diem