A Fond Farewell

The hills are brown’d; the sheep have fled

Smoke blocks the sun; the sky turns grey

At height of day, words left unsaid

Tomes left unwritten, left unread

Won’t you come mourn, Chol¹, bird of fire

Thee, I invoke - Come, bless this pyre

With blazing² coal infuse my lyre

This swain uncouth³, please now inspire

Once on the hill Acropolis⁴,

The thistle⁵ bloomed and spread its wings-

It rose on high, reached⁶ for the sun

Spread to ev'ry metropolis

The burning bush shared light with all

Gave truth and warmth, redemption’s call

It burned with flame but was consumed⁷:

To earth returned, to dust recalled⁸

Remember when its voice boomed ‘round

With strength and pow’r, spoke words profound

It grew in fame, t’was world renowned

Until it reached its upper bound

Look on its works, ye mighty men⁹ -

Sinners, saints, citizens, and kings -

My soul with laden heart will grieve

Come gather round and join with me

Release its ashes to the Styx¹⁰

And follow them around the bend

Streams converge to waters new

Ayun, Hasbani, and the Dan¹¹

'Till on the shores of Jordan¹² spy

Its seeds disperse¹³ and find new ground

To find new root and touch the sky

To blaze with fire once again

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chol_%28bible%29
2. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+6%3A7&version=NET
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycidas#The_Uncouth_Swain
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus
5. http://horoscopes.lovetoknow.com/Zodiac_Sign_Flowers
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus#Interpretation
7. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus+3%3A2&version=NET
8. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes+12%3A7&version=NET
9. http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learning/guide/238972#poem
10.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styx
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River#Tributaries
12.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_River#Symbolic_importance
13. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/cirvul/all.html#FIRE%20ECOLOGY

Paradox Prayer

That which I seek You promised I would find
But unrelenting knocks have yielded naught
Perhaps my heart is sick and misaligned
For though your Word is light it leads me not


Great passions wage within my wearied soul
There’s fear in love and doubt infused in faith
There’s selfishness when service is my goal
Exhaustion when enduring hope must wait


Invading sorrow ruins my grasp of joy
Tumultuous times assault attempts at peace
My might and soul and strength cannot employ
the means by which this suffering will cease


Your blood alone will grant me my release
Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief

Battle Ballad

I.

Dear friend, you've fought the fight so long

A battle every day

So many trials, traps and snares

That never go away

So many people look to you

They go to you for aid

And help you do, you give them life -

More victories each day

But if you ever stop and pause,

Your dragons lay unslain

there's so much hurt so close to home

You grieve in silent pain

II.

Dear friend, you've fought the fight so long

A battle every day

So many trials, traps and snares

That never go away

She took your heart and so much more

She aims for money, too

And what will happen with your kids

Whatever will you do?

You give and give and give some more

You love so well it hurts

She takes and takes, abuses grace

But you will not leave first.

III.

Dear friend, you've fought the fight so long

A battle every day

So many trials, traps and snares

That never go away

You had a dream, but they said "No,

Go get a real job soon."

You've always had to prove yourself

And prove your dream was true

You've had to prove your place, your worth

When all the world's a stage

And every day auditioning

To Speak, to Act, to Stay

IV.

Dear friend, you've fought the fight so long

A battle every day

So many trials, traps and snares

That never go away

You understand the brokenness

That's brought on by the Curse

Acquainted with grief, suffering,

Pain, illness, death, and hurt

You live in fear you'll be consumed

The way you saw it done

You fear your fears will be confirmed

But won't tell anyone.

V.

Dear friends, you've fought the fight so long

A battle every day

So many trials, traps and snares

That never go away

I've got no answers, pithy thoughts

I ran out long ago

But I will lend my ear and pen

Your story should be told

 You're not unheard; you're not unseen
You do not fight alone

I'll take up arms and join your side

We'll fight our way back Home

To be Filled with the Fullnes of God

Far beyond what I can ask or think
Or think to ask
Or dare to dream
Or hope to have
Or the "maybe's" of my mind

The vacuum of my need is even further,
Greater than what my tenuous grip of
What I believe to be reality tells me
And yet

You have promised more

From a child

One foot in front of the other

Left Right Left Right

Quick!  Fast!  Go!

Where to?

Who knows?

We’ll figure it out when we get there

There is only one rule:

The floor is lava

And avoid the cracks!

OK, so maybe two.

Running is the funnest game!

The adults don’t run, well

not like us.

Mommy runs to work and

Daddy runs to the store.

Grandma - she runs the bridge club,

which is weird now that I think of it because there aren’t bridges around here.

I saw one on TV.  I don't get it.  It's painted red, but they call it gold.

Left Right Left Right

Quick! Fast! Go!

Where to?

Who knows?

We’ll run until we’re old

The Word Market

Pluck one from the pile

delicately, deliberately.

Gauge its weight cradled in your palms

Turn it over with a gentle grip

Is it ripe?  Is it right?

Texture is not a trivial thing.

Give it tap and listen to the sounds.

Are they sharp, shallow, shrill,

strong, sturdy, strident?

Taste a taste;

Note the notes

How will it pair with the others?

Inspect as many as you desire

They are after all, free - at first -

The price paid in the absence of another

Possibly heretical sacrament

They only serve breakfast until 11 a.m.
But I woke up late, and additionally
A friend was in need
Time stops not for trivialities
Such as the availability
Of one woman's much-desired meal

I phoned ahead, asking
if they could make my omelette
for pickup after the cutoff time
“We’ll wait for you,” they said
“Do not worry about being late to the table.
There is no shame here.”
I do love their omelettes.

It comes with a hearty 7-grain toast
A giant slab of it
served with foil-wrapped butter.
And what breakfast is complete
without coffee?

I took the bread and the cup
The ding of the cashier and the
low chatter of patrons
silenced;
The clickety clack of fingertips
on laptops all but ceased

Swirls of cream hovered over
dark, caffeinated waters.
I heard a voice,
“Let there be life”
And there was.
And the world was very good.