we sit around this table and share our burdens
and our sorrows and our fears
and it’s alright that we do so
for is it not better that we bare our faces
instead of holding in all that ails and brings us pain
the fruit of the fall that still haunts us to this day
so yes let’s come before one another
these brothers and sisters with whom
we break this bread and drink this wine
as our faces glow and hearts akindle
we speak of our older brother who went before us
our Jesus who bore all that we might draw nigh
and we consider that day we shall
see him face to face
oh soon we pray come our Jesus come
Tag: poem
Faithfulness
he sits under the maple tree
and scribbles in his little turquoise notebook
as he breathes deep of scents of fall
woodsmoke on the breeze
gently crunching leaves
and he sets down his pen and cocks his head
waiting for the dinner call
for through the kitchen window he sees her
finalizing the dinner spread
rice and good spiced beef and maybe okra too
it seems he’s hungry after all
his writing done he leans back his head against the bark
while he ponders of the richness that has been granted him
and looks up at the first of the evening stars
this night while he sits
under the maple tree
Tobias and Penelope
tell me i said
what have you written of late?
oh you know, bits and bobs
she asked how’s the family
and i said oh they’re well
and the silence began to stretch
for there was nothing more to be said
than all the words that were not said
so many years ago
but you know what?
that’s ok
and we smiled as we parted
and our memories remained
Spirals and Buttercups
she leans across the table and
stretches forth her hand
of course i respond
a dash of cinnamon into the cup
why can’t i taste
the subtle intermingling you describe
am i that much of a barbarian?
perhaps
what does it matter she whispers
why shouldn’t we
why not
you’ll understand when you wake
this dream is not for us
my heart races as trembling
i place my hand atop hers
it is well with my soul
A Mailbox at the End of the Lane
A well-loved book is similar to a
favourite coffee cup
for both have been lovingly cradled
and from both have they been
drunk deep
mined for the sigh of joy that comes
with a sip of perfection
a well turned phrase
then she says to me
babe listen
do you hear the rustling of the leaves?
No no I say sitting here on this wrought iron bench
I’ve been considering books and coffee
and how they fit each other well
that may be so she replies and rolls her eyes
but your coffee is cold and your book is closed
and I could use a little love
but of course my darling
and I hold her close to me and
drink deep
Reminiscing
again in the silence spirals up
a bit of smoke
does it come from the corner
where that woman stands alone
i wonder if she prays as i do now
looking up to the sky that darkens
looking up at the stars that cry
i cannot guess but i hope so
just so i’m not quite as alone as i feel
sitting on the bench in front of the
convenience store
scribbling in my notebook
breathing out prayers
in the spaces between my tears
Pumpkin Time
Hello friends! Thought I’d write a quick few words this Friday evening. How wonderful it is to get a little bit to rest, I do say! I am also eager at the moment to test out this new laptop which I’m writing on. It’s been eleven years that my previous one lasted and while it is still limping along, I felt it was time to transition to the next generation. It is kind of nice to have a laptop that boots up in mere seconds instead of a minute or two! And the keyboard is glorious. Is it weird that I particularly picked out a laptop that would have a decent keyboard? And didn’t at all consider gaming capabilities? Ah well, I guess I have aged a few years since my last laptop purchase and thus it makes a bit of sense that my priorities would have changed. Now I’m more concerned about how it will feel to type long passages of text than on how capable my graphics card is. Things change. Of course, that change comes with the hopes that I shall at some point type long passages of text that actually have a slight bit of depth or beauty. Praying for such.
And now for what do I hope? I hope for a quiet night in which I am able to truly rest. Grateful for the few minutes I’ve had now reading a lovely and inspiring book – “The Imitation of Christ” and looking forward to a yummy dinner of burritos and avocado/tomato salad. Shall I write a few words now to christen this new laptop keyboard? I’m not sure my mind is settled enough to compose anything suitable. Perhaps I shall attempt nonetheless.
she turns back from the ledge
and smiles at me
reaching out her hand that I might
join her
and then I step forward and take her hand
our eyes meet
in solemn concord
and together we bow our heads and pray
under the sun that blesses
let’s walk forward as pilgrims
bear our crosses as our joy
for nothing else
will satisfy
Christ crucified is our cry
better than life as kings and queens
why do we wail for the want of jeweled crown
when we have one that went before
from whose crown-pierced brow that blood fell
mingled with those tears for us
Parking Lot
I sat with my hands folded in my lap
Waiting for you to make a move
But you didn’t
Because you couldn’t
Even though you wanted to
Perhaps your doubts or your
Self loathing
Or perhaps uncertainty that all our checks
And superficial chemistry amounted
To much
I don’t know
I don’t care
I wish my eyes showed the pain I felt
All I wanted is for our hands
To touch
And Books Were Opened
he picked up the book and flipped to the page
he knew most well
it had been held open at that spot many times
and this time no less did upon reading those lines
he had long ago memorized
his eyes began to fill
and as his eyes caressed those words
his thoughts flew to higher planes
and he thought of what it would be to those words one day hear
sometimes he doubted sometimes he feared
that he never would
yet he knew those for lies and said begone!
and recited the promises and verse
and clung to the truth he knew
that what he sought was not due to him for his worth
rather it was what another had done for him so long ago
as he spoke and bled and died upon this very earth
he knew it was because of what was done that day
in a real and literal fashion marked down in ink and blood
that he had a home built for him
a home built in a country far away yet now even his
so pilgrim boy he walked and walked rejoicing in the already
and looking forward for the not yet but soon to come
for the kingdom he sought was already blossoming within
and the sealed sign was his
as he abided in that life that had been so dearly bought
one with God and one with brothers and sisters alongside
and so that pilgrim trail he walked not alone
but ever onward he trod and trod
rejoicing in the joys of someday home
when he would look upon the face of God in Jesus Christ
and no longer doubt or fear or raise lament
instead he’d hear those words for which he’d
dreamed and wept and prayed and been kept secure
well done my good and faithful servant
and join would his praise with all the saints
and the choruses will be sung most fervent
and all will be well with his soul
no longer does his heart need bear the sword
for holy holy holy is the Lord
and we have met him at his table
come Lord Jesus come
let us rise and feast with you
Michigan
shoulders slumped she stands at the edge of the dock
at the opposite shore her eyes gaze and she prays
that soon the morning mist will clear
for now she wipes her eyes and cries
and asks oh god how did it come to this
not expecting an answer
so it surprises her when one comes a sudden
as she feels the vibration of her phone
in slow motion she pulls it out even as
her eyes stay locked on the choppy waves
she stands tall and answers
hello?
Something Weird 