My Own Book of Poetry, Volume 1, Page 3

  wandering wild, but walking as a son.

  Our Father holds us ever near

  Our peace is His delight.

  He knows our joy and our fear;

  His faithful Love became our Light.

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  Following The Wind On A Wing

  Summer is nigh;

  The bees follow the flowers

  Gently caressing each petal for its pollen.

  Summer breezes blow;

  And butterflies fluttering on wing

  Gently follow the wind.

  Summer sweets flow

  For the creatures of the season

  Made for the flow of life.

  Summer days glow

  As life giving rays

  Bless the creatures bountifully.

  Summer nights sigh

  As night creatures sing a lullabye

  In comforting notes of rest,

  As season follows season

  Following the wind on a wing.

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  Fountains Of Rome

  A dove sat drinking at the fountain;

  An awesome and exciting sight.

  With camera raised and waiting,

  The dove was caught in flight.

  Water dripping from each basin,

  In rhythm to each heart-beat,

  Set the scene of serenity felt

  Of Rome’s summer heat.

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  Healing Wings

  A fascinating expression

  Of David the King

  In his Psalms was quoted,

  "In the shadow of God's wing".

  But when David was afraid

  It was then he asked to hide

  Within the covert of God's wing;

  In God's depths to abide.

  Christ spread His wing to shadow

  All those who would obey

  Where His love and mercy

  Could protect day by day.

  In the shadow of His wing

  We stand beneath His care

  Under His close and watchful eye

  To be protected there.

  And by trust in His promises,

  When in fear we seek to hide

  Within the covert of His wing,

  It is in His depths we abide.

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  Pure Water

  The rivers of the world ever flow

  Down the drain,

  Flushing the gutters as they go;

  Yet it has no gain.

  Oh, that even a single drop seen

  To the air arise;

  Or it be sweetened and clean,

  ‘Ere it compromise.

  What flower in the sewer would bloom

  With beauty and sweet smell?

  In darkness without sun or room

  Within its prison cell?

  Draw your water from the well of the deep,

  Where purest waters run.

  Then pluck the flower from the dark so tenderly

  And place it in the sun

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  Dark Times Of The Thorns

  Though thorns are sharp

  And drops of blood are there,

  Pick the bloom and smell the rose;

  Observe its beauty rare.

  Give praise to God and to His name;

  Bow humbly as you mourn;

  Look through rainbows of dew-dropped tears

  In the dark times of the thorns.

  Do you weep because of pain

  And sorrow weighs you down?

  Pick the rose and press it close,

  And place it near the Crown.

  Listen close as darkness falls

  To that once echoed cry,

  “Why do you forsake me, Father,

  When I have to die?”

  Is your journey through this world

  A struggle day by day?

  Pick the rose; its petals strew

  Step by step along the way.

  Bring into your memories’ path

  Burdens that once were borne

  By the full atoning love

  Of one crowned with your thorn.

  Though thorns are sharp,

  And drops of blood are there,

  Seek the bloom and grasp the rose;

  Observe its beauty rare.

  Give praise to God and to His name;

  Bow humbly as you mourn.

  Seek then, the rainbows through your tears

  In the dark times of the thorns.

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  Fishing Hopes

  These boys that fishermen would be,

  As they bait a hook upon bended knee.

  And the final toss as line is dangled,

  Followed by a shout "Our lines are tangled!"

  Spots are crowded and the worms are spilled.

  The things caught are not ones that are gilled.

  They snag a limb, or fish get the bait.

  With patience unknown before, they wait.

  Heard over and over "Can't catch a thing!"

  And maybe one will boast a sting.

  Long hours are spent slapping pests in the heat.

  Not a catch all day; they're tired and beat.

  "Maybe next time", and they smile with hope,

  As homeward bound they climb the slope.

  And they chatter of perfect spots they sought

  And how big were the ones they nearly caught!

  New Hopes

  Fishers of men these boys would be,

  As they read "the Book"  on bended knee.

  The final toss as "truth" is dangled,

  Following the shout "Our lives are tangled!"

  Crowds come and worms are spilled.

  Men are sought and hearts are filled.

  Words fly away, or are crushed with hate.

  With patience unknown before, they wait.

  "Can't touch a heart!", heard again and again,

  "They do not hear, or turn from sin!"

  Long hours are spent fighting Satan in the heat.

  So few responses, but never defeat!

  But maybe soon, and they smile with hope,

  As homeward bound they climb the slope.

  And they chatter of the souls they sought

  And weep over the ones that were nearly caught!

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  Behold He Walks With Them

  As I stand upon Golgotha,

  Behold! the lonely cross!

  I hear the screaming rent

  That is the Temple's loss.

  The murky sky is churning;

  The thunder rolls about;

  Then I feel the barren chill:

  God's son .there is no doubt.

  Before the tomb I stand.

  Behold! the darkened grave!

  I ponder upon the thought,

  Who gives as He gave?

  Alas, with bitter tears I weep.

  Alas! the Lamb was slain!

  How do I turn from the place

  Wherein the dead was lain?

  Amazed stand I; the tomb is op'ed.

  Behold! the shining light!

  That reaches out to me

  Symbolic of His might,

  Leaving only shadows

  Across Golgotha's knoll

  To lead me on through death

  And regenerate my soul.

  Contrite I stand before Him.

  Behold! His Holy Word!

  To which I hold, by which I live,

  To teach as I have heard.

  By every word must I be tried

  Before my final rest.

  In His name I should long

  To give my very best.

  On through timeless ages

  Behold! the faithful stand!

  Trusting in His Promises

  They walked the desolate land.

  Those, who, as through the grave


  Triumphant passed with Him

  In obedience to His will.

  Behold! He walks with them

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  Christmas Essence

  The wonder of season's giddiness,

  Alike to old and young,

  Is the hypnosis of festiveness

  In very essence wrung.

  Mystic little workshop elves,

  And dancing fairy queens,

  And toys that gaily line the shelves

  Fill all the solvent dreams.

  Trees are in decoration dressed.

  Bright fires are burning cozily.

  Children are poking unrepressed

  Through coveted presents nosily,

  That had in greedy askance

  In hopes they could not hide,

  For Christmas morning's vigilance,

  Each one desired espied.

  How deep, how deep the love must go,

  To search the lasting heart,

  That looks beyond the tinsel glow

  In somber faith to impart

  The sound, as once, of Angels' song,

  That filled the glowing sky,

  Telling of that, these eons long,

  Which brought these blessings nigh.

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  Empty Words

  Oh, empty words that so depress,

  Yet, with your eyes lifted high,

  And outstretched hands that express

  Deep desire to draw nigh.

  You say how much you love me,

  And what for me you'd do.

  Works so great I can not see.

  Empty words ring untrue.

  You leave me standing so alone,

  My loved ones you beguile.

  And when you feel that I am gone

  You lose your empty smile.

  Laws and love you strongly teach,

  And yet you do not see

  What you do, my brethren, to each,

  So you do to me.

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  Existential

  Life, no more than death,

  is just a place set within walls of eternity

  With echoes of each generation crying their insistence.

  The silence is beyond,

  but the echoes ring in halls of each century

  With each particle descrying answers of existence.

  Eternally bound,

  yet with deadly fear embracing each quaking soul,

  They are walking slowly through the dark, shadowy vale

  Destitute of spiritual cloak,

  dried and burnished as an earthen bowl

  The lonely, the silent ones, as though they dare not fail.

  Where have they gone;

  beyond the veil where now their footsteps fall?

  Muffled cries of generations long swept beyond our ears

  Is the silent blanket of beyond and spreads softly o'er their latent call.

  And existence passes unanswered; unscathed by human tears.

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  God Says

  “If you would walk with me and stand where I stand,

  Then you must do it, under the touch of my hand.”

  If you are a faithful servant, the Master must be able to say,

  ”Come my good and faithful servant, for you did it my way.”

  ”Because I sent my Son to bless you, and to call you back to me,

  He promised through your obedience that He would set you free.“

  Then for the sake of righteousness, if you hunger and thirst,

  You must walk by His pathway, and seek His kingdom first.

  If you pass through toils and troubles, and win day by day,

  You will seek His face in service; you will do it His way.”

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  Feed The Lambs

  Peter, if you love me,

  My little lambs must you feed,

  For unto you have I given

  That which they need.

  You must open up the door

  Through which they must go

  To the fields everlasting

  That you must now sow.

  Sow bountifully for the fullness

  Of the time of harvest,

  For the gathering of the bounty

  Brings gratitude and rest.

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  Joy Fullfilled

  Oh vain man!

  that cries out in the wilderness!

  You think your world is so full

  with knowledge and beauty that you see.

  Yet lacking the touch of tenderness,

  you cannot feel the pull of truth

  and glory of what is to be.

  Oh vain man!

  in desperation of escape!

  While, from thorns and burning pain,

  the chains of bonds, self willed,

  consumes your search of vain trial

  and prevents your turning again

  from agony of joy unfulfilled.

  Oh sanctified man!

  that in the fullness of your joy,

  knowing that in your world to be

  you are enclosed within His tender love

  through cleansing waters, to employ

  fulfilled vision of glory which you see

  the shadow of things above.

  Oh sanctified man!

  that once was darkened without sight,

  now freed as vessels from the sod

  and placed for honor as God willed;

  taking death from life and giving light,

  a budding promise as on Aaron's rod,

  the glory of man's joy fulfilled.

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  Lament

  What matter these that are here

  And walk in the lust of their flesh?

  Why follow those that go there

  And crucify my Lord afresh?

  Why beg these that do not hear

  And with eyes wide do not see?

  Why cry for those who would sear

  Their conscience and evil be?

  Deep inside

  There is a yearn

  I look aside

  And as I turn...

  Slowly along the bone of my cheek

  A trailing as that of a snail

  A slender line that is so weak

  The sparkle of my silent wail.

  O, reach for these that are here,

  And walk in war with their flesh.

  O, return those that go there

  To live with my Lord afresh.

  O, beg these and make them hear;

  Open their eyes His wisdom to see.

  O, weep with those for Godly fear

  That they more Christ-like be.

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  Limitations

  I will fly with the wings of the birds

  As high as the clouds, if I can,

  But I am limited to only words

  Upon the wings of a man.

  I will sing the song of the nightingale

  In the mellow of the night, if I can,

  But I am limited to the lonely wail

  Within the voice of a man.

  I will run as swift as the deer

  Across the meadow of life, if I can,

  But I am limited to rear

  Upon the two legs of a man.

  I will conquer as a lion with might

  And show my courage, if I can,

  But I am limited to that right

  In my relationship with man.

  I will live my life as a seed,

  Expound nature's wisdom, if I can,

  But I am limited to human need

  To live my life as a man.

  I will bedeck myself with beauty,

  As the owl gain deep wisdom, if I can,

  But I am limited to human duty

  And the understanding of a man.

  I will be devoted
as a dove

  And fly with peace, if I can,

  But I am limited to human love

  Within the heart of a man.

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  Mountains To Climb

  Mountains to climb! Oceans to swim!

  I’m not in my prime, No vigor or vim!

  The Lord is my shepherd,

  I’ll climb that mountain, its heights to see,

  And I shall not want, nor shall I faint.

  I will drink at its fountain; whose strength will it be?

  The Lord is my shepherd

  Comfort is mine when I am weak!

  And I shall not want, for my cup He has filled.

  By His will divine, forgiveness I seek.

  The Lord is my shepherd,

  Footprints to follow; patterns to see;

  By His Truth and Spirit will I stand;

  Mountain top or hollow, whose Will will it be?

  The Lord is my shepherd:

  He seeks me when lost; My fears He doth quell.

  In His love is my peace

  In His fold I will dwell.

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  My Best Friend

  You are a friend to me.

  You taught me how to sing,

  And then supplied the harmony,

  With hope that flies on Eagle's wing.

  You are a harbor in my storms

  When waves are lashing high;

  You stay them with your arms

  Until peace again is nigh.

  God's love you shared with me,

  And taught me how to win

  Its glory, and its beauty see,

  And how it dwells within.

  So all that I can say,

  All that I can be, you knew;

  And with every passing day

  You touched my life --and I grew.

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  Nature's Way With Winter

  Winter snows upon us fall, and around

  Crystal trees fantasize our day.

  Crisp sounds of our feet upon the ground

  Tinkle in our ears with pleasant sound.

  Time for joys of riding on a sled

  And building snowmen in our play;

  Angel’s wings upon a snowy bed

  Against the holly’s green and red.

  But once again the earth will sleep,

  For that is nature’s way

  For all the seasons then to keep

  Balance in its awesome deep.

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