Hello, dear one. I write this now from the back of the wardrobe, hoping somehow it gets to you. You may wonder at the strange paper and perhaps what pen produces ink such as this. Well those are the lesser of the questions you should be asking. Firstly – how did it come to this? Bare three days ago we parted under the oak trees ringing the far field. I left you with a promise and you left me with a kiss. Do you remember the golden light that afternoon as the sun slowly bent down to the earth? In the moment it felt momentous and it felt as if the sun knew it too. And so she curtsied to us two and bathed us with the golden light from her beaming face. And through the rays I looked and saw a rainbow forming in the corners of your eyes. For yes even with my words you could not bring yourself to lie to me that you were happy and I don’t care I said. It’s ok my love to cry. Now I walk under stranger trees and stranger skies and I wonder if we’ll ever meet again. I write this in the hopes that your eyes will brush these papers with the dark fire that blazes forth when your emotions are roused. Please my love forgive me for my tardiness. I’ll forgive you your doubts. For now for certain this has gone far beyond the little matter that we thought it was those three days ago. Or was it four? I can’t be certain anymore. Still please pray for me. I need it, oh I need it. I wish I could say I’ll be with you tomorrow and that we could picnic on the porch. I’d delight to share a few sandwiches with you and some cold iced tea and perhaps a few strawberries. Yet I can’t think on that too much. My focus is demanded here, even writing this taxes me as I let my thoughts drift to kinder climes. Pray for me my love. Always yours.
Tag: poetry
Self Examination
Cross-legged on the bed she sits
staring at the cursor that blinks in endless taunt
reminding her of all the lines she’s failed to write
and of all the momentous mementos that she’s lost
for now she forgets to look around her
when she’s sitting on the bus stop bench
yes there’s stories thick as forests in the muttering voices
but the only voices she hears now are those in her head
so what does it matter that her pen is dead
or more like it – that her notepad is white without a blemish
of messy scribbling in furious fantasy of that which used to be
so now she blinks in resignation as the tears start to fall
eyes wide open on the bed she lies
Riptide
She likes to write of the last horizon
the one that was only ever seen that once
everyone tells her she’s lying
but it’s true i was there
like the trees indrawn breath at the start of autumn
so too the breeze that day did something to my lonesome eyes
and as i thought of what it signified that the moment hung eternal
she grabbed my arm and in her eyes i saw the same thought that perhaps
God had chosen this moment of all moments to take us home
and the air caught in my throat and i felt the holy fire
and for a second we rested at the crest
until sound returned and the cry of the gull was heard
not yet my child not yet
she told me later that she knew in that moment she believed in God
for her mind in that space between the wallboards felt awe at what it knew
not in the solidity of earth or mountain or oaken forest
did she linger
but instead in the revealed promises of God made true
not many get to rest in the light of heaven
at least not in this tumultuous night
yet we all gaze off into the horizon
not many sit upon the grassy shore and count the dolphins
but remember beneath the waves how many swim
Duologue
meekly i shout meekly!
and once more she lets out a sigh
how can i suppress my fire
when you keep stoking it so well
and then you dare have the nerve
to tell me to dull my songs
you’re right of course
but all i ask is a little indulgence
for the sake of art
just pretend i’m not on the other side
for on the stage you play a part
and that character is all prim and proper
well perhaps your reading of her is
but mine is that she’s been told lies too long
and so of course in this moment she’d erupt
even if it is only in her blazing eyes
so i’ll play her as i want to
and yes this conversation may have undertones
that discomfort even you
but it’s alright we’ll forget all that
when we step off the stage and celebrate opening night
and down at the pub share a drink or two
Ripened
on the madison county line
i waited
in the deep dark depths of mid july
and off to the side at the end of the little gravel road
a dilapidated and faded barn stood
and under an old oak
where a red checked picnic blanket was spread
i waited
and that old classic paperback i read
even though i’d read it far too many times
what’s once more when it brings such joy
and upon the thought of memories of black and white
there comes a crunch of tires upon the gravel
and up the road comes the little sedan
i see her dark tousled hair whip around as she parks
and then she tumbles out and over to me sheepish smiles
there are sparkles in her eyes
what now she says shall we not recommit our love
yes i say simply and in that recommit our lives
and in that moment her eyes met mine and we stood
in the profound symmetry of frozen time
and then upon the blanket we sat and i uncorked the wine
and we raised our glasses said a toast and slowly drank
to us to future glory to that truest of all stories
there off that gravel road on the madison county line
Frayed Scarf
Sunflower dreams and slowly spun tales of oak
What can I take with me as I walk through this forest
Some say whatever is in my pocket
Some say whatever is in my head
I say only that which I craft along the way
And so I whistle the tune I heard at the show last night
And add a few nonsense words which seem to fit
The trees seem not to mind
Courtyard
Outside time
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit met
and in full communion and perfect accord
they said
in covenant let us come and
for covenant let us go
and draw near to man
that he may know us
and adore us
and commune with us again
Let me be propitiated
I shall do this thing
I will send
I will go
and I will strengthen
and comfort your soul
Let him come to me and look upon my death
let him come and eat my flesh
let him drink full of my blood
as I have drunk deep of thy wrath
let him come to me and rest
let him come to me and look and in me believe
for as I have arisen so let him with me rise
for to us I have now him reconciled
and surely brought him nigh
and he cries out listen to his plea
skim off skim off
these base impurities
that i might know more
and ever treasure thee!
My Father I am thy child
and in you and you alone find true peace
My Jesus I am thy prayer
and only live through you who intercedes
My Comforter and Helper
I because of you know the words of God
I long to be with my Lord
forever
in the places where you are!
Be near me, indwell me, dear Spirit
show me how I ought to live
your heart is new, your joy is true
see now the strength I give you for each day!
Pray for me, pray for me, dear Jesus
show me the true and better way
it is done, I have done it
only through me will you see the Father’s face
Have mercy upon me my Father
i still feel so cold and full of sin
consider my love, my dear child
the work I did long ago begin
will not falter
for I who chose you and who knows you
will surely keep you to the end
what a wondrous thing it is that i should be called a child of God
as I step through the doorway and above me glance and see
the blood smeared over my head that came from a Lamb who died
and consider that this has been the plan since outside eternity
and now feel the winds of the Spirit rustle through my soul
i tremble to know that i am loved and i am held
and that by divine sympathy and mercy am made truly whole
oh i feel the pulsing of the lifeblood that spills out as these words
the blood that for me was spilled points to the divine reality of God
and now I hesitate to appropriate that treasure of eternity that is mine
but nothing do I want if it is not in actuality the reality of life in Christ
I long to obey the commandments that have been given
I long to be found in communion in the church that is my home
I long to be known by the one who’s for his Father’s glory risen
I long to be a clay temple of the Spirit who somehow fills my frame
and now and forever I lift my voice and whisper glory glory glory
to the Lord God Almighty forever and always glory to your name.
As it is written so shall it always be,
glory to the Father, Son, and Spirit
glory to the Holy Trinity
peace to mankind through the cross of Jesus
and may all who come to him know the bliss
of delighting in our God for eternity.
It is good for us to be here.
It is good to gaze upon the face of God.
Promise Kept
I love this good grey coat
for it reminds me of my time abroad
when it kept me warm even when the water
poured
and all my notebooks in its many pockets
were filled with notes and maps
and prayers and poems
and all the little things
that cross your mind when
you’re in a country not your own
see now what i write in this notebook spread before me?
the candlelight flickers across the half-written scribblings
as i consider even now that i walk as a pilgrim in a foreign land
so let me fill these pages with all the wonders that spur my thoughts
to spiral further up and further in
consider this far country to which i go.
Trials
sometimes i wish my pen didn’t run out of ink
just when inspiration strikes
and i finally have something to say
alas more common my pen sloshes full
and in morbid fascination
i fill the pages with lines
no one cares to read
not even me
Across the Sea
for upon this autumn evening
when the air is really rather fine
and there is not even a hint of rain
i hum a tune and unzip my coat
now it’s time to let my thoughts tumble
as I walk down winterstone lane
i hear the click clack of my boots upon the cobbles
and brush my gaze past the shopfronts on either side
and now look up to see the twinkling streetlights
see here night is almost nigh
and surely this is a night that’s ripe for poetry
and i say that last aloud as she walks up to where i wait
she pulls her hands from her coat pockets and swiftly hugs me
and i hear her smile as she replies
every night is a night for poetry
especially where you’re involved
so write me something please but first maybe let’s duck in here
and grab a bite to eat
i’m famished and could really use a good beef stew and perhaps
some mashed potatoes too
you read my mind my love
and inwards we go exulting in the warmth that flickers from the hearth
we grab a table by the fireplace and i take her coat and drape it over her chair
and then she sits and then i sit and then we laugh
what now she says tears of joy shining on her face
let’s exult in the glories that surround us
let’s meditate on the paths that brought us here
let’s rejoice in the God who made us
let’s talk until the stars grow faint
and after that let me walk you to your door
do you consider that a proper plan?
i have no complaints she says her eyes sparkling
Something Weird 