Thursday, February 28, 2013

Persistent, Patient Savior

(Knock) "I'm desperately alone."
(Knock) "Distracted on the phone."
(Knock) "Mind's confused, unclear"
(Knock) "Overwhelmed, filled with fear,"
(Knock) "Guilt destroying me."
(Knock) "Sin blurring what I see."
(Knock) "Unstable, consumed with doubt.
(Knock) "I want escape, freedom, out."

(Open)
I have hope
I Repent
I Believe
I have forgiveness.

By Curtis G. Audet, © 2013, All rights reserved.
→ Show additional poem info

Author notes

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:15-22

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Ripton's Roar



Winter's cold,
but not cold enough to stop the flow
of Ripton's river old.

Out of sight,
still I can hear the water singing
as it runs with might.

Rocks abound
and liquid chords are played
as it flows around.

Sudden falls
great heights drum Ripton's roar
in nature's melodic calls.

Parallel road
runs down and along the river
hearing all that's told.

Ears hear
river ever telling of creator's glory
quelling my lonely fear.
 
________________________________
 
 
Route 125 is the state highway connecting Route 7 on the west side of the mountain and Route 100 on the east side of the mountain. Ripton, Vermont is the tiny town at the top of the mountain, just south of an area known as "Robert Frost Mountain". Middlebury River is a beautiful mountain river running along the road.

http://www.riptonvt.org/

Face Flush As Drinks Rush (Haiku)

 
 
 
face flush as drinks rush
down throat; bitter bites and stings
like an asp in end


______________________________________________

Wisdom from Proverbs 23:29-35

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
“They struck me,” you will say,[i] “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink.”

Aquarium Lives (Haiku)



Aquarium lives
bursting with colors orange
illumines my life

Father?

As I have received the call to father my four growing boys;
I have listened to tales by my precious wife of many years
With shaking soul she's often told me through her hurting tears
As an innocent child, wretched men treated her as their toys.

Some men she did not know, but they were not the first
They came along as she tried to find meaning in this life
In the beginning her trust betrayed, found shattered strife
Those called to protect her; treasonously were the worst.

As a man, I know about the sexual passion and the drive;
But I cannot fathom or accept the raping of a precious girl
Blindly selfish, tipping and turning upside down her world.
like disjointed verses of poems I observed in my lady's life.

Cinema often tries to tell the story, but may just fuel the fire
showing to our eyes the core level pain through bitter eyes
the sensuality and rawness, may entice the lust in selfish minds
boring deeper the desperate trouble in which our world is mired.

A father's calling is greater than an ocean, redwood or eternity
A calling, an appointing, a charge that cannot be lightly used
Will this man hold and love and care? Or will he hurt and abuse?
Who called you, O man, to love your girls and women you see?

God is our Father; revealed In His Word: loving, tender and kind.
Meant among His innumerable qualities to model for us a man;
And show us how to love, to protect, to value the best that we can.
Who among you men will embrace the call; courage and honor find?

Monday, February 25, 2013

Heart Presenting In (Haiku)



Heart presenting in
an odyssey begun with ring
no start and no end

The Seven Sons of Sceva

1. There were seven sons of Sceva who went from place to place,
Appealing against demonic spirits, commanding evil face to face!
"We command you by the name of Jesus, who is preached of by this Paul:
Depart from the lives of these helpless ones, leave one and all!"
And the spirits answered simply, for they knew Christ and Paul,
"Tell us who are you sons of Sceva? We don't know you at all!"


Evil is he who after your soul; evil is he who won't let you go!
But greater is He who is in your heart, than he who's in the world.


2. For the seven sons of Sceva, had not known Him personally,
this Jesus Christ whose authority, they used so foolishly.
The demons truly understood that these men had no power,
So they overcame and subdued them, even within the hour!
Then they drove the men out naked, wounded and disgraced;
all because they knew not God, their efforts were laid to waste!


Evil is he who after your soul; evil is he who won't let you go!
But greater is He who is in your heart, than he who's in the world.


3. Like the seven sons of Sceva, we often do the same.
We don't draw very near to God, therefore we fall back in shame,
Because we lack the strength to face them who strongly want our soul;
The Way of Christ is cleary shown us, yet there remains a tragic hole.
So before you stand to oppose the devil, drop down on bended knees,
Submit yourself therefore to Almighty God, only then, will Satan flee!


Evil is he who after your soul; evil is he who won't let you go!
But greater is He who is in your heart, than he who's in the world.

So devote yourself to Lord in prayer, draw yourself where the Lord is near,
Then stand against the arrows of Satan, and He will flee from you!

______________________________

In 1989 I wrote a song, "The Seven Sons Of Sceva" out of the story found in Acts 19:13-16. I made up the tune, and then a good friend, Faith Beam (now, Faith Wilson) put the song above to a written tune.

Acts 19:13-16 -13 "Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all[a] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

A Necessary Painting Project

I arrived at this place at quarter to seven;
the long drive in was anything but heaven.

You see, I begin an ambitious project today,
One that I put off--things just got in the way!

Or likely it was me who put the distractions there
To stall for time, sort my thinking, to clear the air.

It seems the size and scope filled me with fear,
And a sense of doom grew as the time drew near

These vibrant colors will allow a new view on all
The past forgotten, freshness needed on this wall.

"Cover it! Make it go away!" This has been my plan,
"Do it quickly!" And then move on as quick as I can.

Avoiding this has not made the situation any good;
It was "Out of sight, out of mind!" as long as I could.

But delays only made an increase of a type of mold,
As the problems grew larger, as well as it grew old.

Like yeast that causes growth that is hardly seen,
It spews out bitterness, anger, its just plain mean.

I take a deep breath, start with a hug and prayer,
And truly own my own fault, and listen with care.

For the record, it is my pride that I must choose
to abandon--and my own selfish desires to lose,

Surely by leaving this world's wisdom far behind
I can now see that a hopeful future can be mine.

No longer cowardly, hiding or covering it up too.
God's Word and His Spirit leads us to make it new.

Engaging those people that I love brings the wins
Reconciling. Finding love covers a multitude of sins

By now boldly taking tools, the roller, the brush;
Tediously, courageously doing what I must.

There's A Hope Within Me

What is there to live for?

There's so much in life to live for.
Life is filled with joy each day.
There are people and places more
Richer, greater than I can say.

I'm in love with my wife, twenty two years,
I cherish my four sons, gifts each one
I have friends and family, far and near.
Chica, my dog; and where we call home.

Many are passions which occupy me.
I enjoy carpentry as my work each day.
Or up a winding path of rocks and trees.
Exploring, walking, biking along the way

But I ask you questions deep and great:
What happens when things go wrong?
When all I value is stripped from me away?
My health falters? or my life ebbs till gone?

What remains?

In Christ I have eternal life received,
Gifted mercy, forgiveness for my sin;
from the bondage of guilt I'm freed!
A fountain of life springing from within.

In the end, to Glorify Him.

Persistent. Patient Savior

(Knock)            "I'm desperately alone."
(Knock)            "Distracted on the phone."
(Knock)            "Mind's confused, unclear"
(Knock)            "Overwhelmed, filled with fear,"
(Knock)            "Guilt destroying me."
(Knock)            "Sin blurring what I see."
(Knock)            "Unstable, consumed with doubt.
(Knock)            "I want escape, freedom, out."

                          (Open)
                          I have hope
                          I Repent
                          I Believe
                          I have forgiveness.


________________________________


Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:15-22

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

So All LIving Thrive!

Seasoning with gracious speech,
loving others in words and deed;

Always with the Hope ready to share,
living out acts of kindness and care.

Lighting in the darkness to shine,
leading the lost in truth to find.

Telling of Jesus our Savior and King,
helping others who are dying in sin.

__________________________________

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses it's flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matthew 5:13

Saturday, February 23, 2013

"The Poem Of Your Life", sung by Michael Card

Here'e s link to Michael Card singing, "The Poem Of Your Life".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa1SD-eVhNc

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Haikus

Here's some Haikus that I am working on:

Anyone have any pictures to post beside these poems?

____________________

1
Breath comes in richly
fills lungs, my soul with life, till
death comes in boldly


 2
Snow resting gently
white quiet on white, and wind

Wild blizzard brewing

3
Water dripping down
wrapping around the faucet
cold, building ice forms


4
Brief poetry song
blending five and seven sounds
a piece of music


5
Silence filling ears
Peace, tranquiity affects
lost by tinnitus.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Learning How To Write a Haiku

Recently, I challenged myself through a 20 word limit poetry contest to write a Haiku, which generally I have never liked.

I did some reading on how to write a haiku, and then posted the following for the contest:

Breath comes richly
fills my lung, my soul with life
till all is gone

Further reading, and comments from contest moderator led me to make the following changes:


Breath comes in richly
fills lungs, my soul with life, till
death comes in boldly

I like this one.  And, it follows the "rules" of Haiku writing.  Check out the links below and post one of your own here.

Have fun.

 http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/how-to-write-a-haiku.html

 http://writeahaiku.com/

Monday, February 18, 2013

Letter From Petersburg, March 4, 1865

I'm writing, my dear Mother, upon hearing reports from early today
Tell of Lincoln's inauguration; Perhaps this will seal victory's sway.

Late riders came bearing noble words, "With malice toward none;
charity for all, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, as one

to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace
among ourselves, and with all nations." May warring finally cease!

Mother, most of these good men here are still much older than I;
Though each and every day more join in, while many others die.

I love you and thank you for kind words in fine letters I received
God willing I do not intend to give you a reason to be bereaved.

You know I turned twenty-two on January fourteen this very year,
I surely pray and feel that the end of this wretched conflict is near.

Four months removed, I'm still lifted by Mr. Lincoln's words and win
With what we are doing and what's at stake, I am grateful he's still in.

"I earnestly believe that the consequences of this day's work," said he
"will be to the lasting advantage, if not the very salvation, of the country,"

We blues are surrounding them greys with the brave Grant as our head,
Since I started at troubled Spotsylvania last May, following where he led.

I recall great Richmond, and our first throw against Petersburg this pest,
I try to forget many men I loved and lost at Cold Harbor, that crucible test.

News says Johnston's almost down, and out here we face the mighty Lee
Here in the South, Petersburg may be the final bloody battle that we will see.

My hope remains as I rest in the cleft of my Rock, in the Refuge for my soul,
Returning to you and father in a single piece, a country of peace, is my goal.

At the end of today, as I rest among the men, leaning against this oak tree,
I've rehersed my letter with a grasshopper that knows nothing of the scene.

I tend carefully to a little wound received in this day's battle on my thumb,
To both of you with perseverance, fondness, with love from your only son.

what's it like to be in prison

i wonder from
afar
what its like
to be in prison

to have walls
blocking
out the sunlight
warmth upon my face;
no joys and pains of relationships

to see wind
blowing
a woman's hair
and kissing her face
with passion and depth of love

to hear news
announcing
an event unfolding
with drama and wonder
and how it affects and impresses


i know a man in prison
alone
in his barred room
leaving when and how he's told
surrounded by grey and plain and drab

i wonder if the man would be
encouraged
if I paid him a visit
maybe played a game of chess
or checkers or cards; or maybe not

i've heard how we are
blessed
if we move to our unknown
and bring gentle words of care
and leave our security, and see him in prison

i don' think i'll overcome
anxiety
that i would change
the ways things are and go
since I see that i am the man in prison

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Who It Is That Can Amend A Choice Made?

Who it is that can amend a choice made?
That can draw back water bursting the damn?


I was lured and enticed by my own desire.
I am madder about it than I was before
All the choices I pursued; I call this 'too late'.

Need reduction of this poison in my soul
That digs and twirls within my orbit
Consuming the fiber of who I am
Uniting self destruction with living.
The desire conceived gives birth
Producing death deep in my soul.

This is my dilemma: I waged war
in my mind to consider slight an indiscretion
To allow my guard to be lowered at battle;
Creating a growing, spreading iridescent stain
like blood and soil and water, arriving
To allow the crease, then the crack,
the choice to sin that threatens my life.


Who it is that can amend a choice made?
Only He who commands souls and tempests be still!


___________________

This piece was written for a contest at allpoetry.com. 

The following word list was given as a prompt:  iridescent, crease, slight, arrive, unite, madder, fiber, reduction, dilemma, poison, twirl, orbit

With the word list, I began to think about James 1 and Romans 7.

Romans 7:21-25
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

James 1:13-18
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[d] 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Carpet On The Floor

On a winter day
I find another way
To settle down
In a chair I found.
Letting my feet be wrapped in the carpet.

Waiting there
Almost everywhere
Not a single sound
From the little mound.
Spread wide open on the floor.

A best friend
Doing what it can
To warm my soul
When I am cold
Much more than simple furnishing.

Dark in the room.
Sun will be up soon.
Beside the bed.
Near the head.
I stepped on the edge and it yelped.



______________

Like a carpet on the floor, ever present, ever ready to warm and cheer, our dog, Chica is near her people.

I To Work, You To Wait

Passionate love;
Best when pure,
Married.
Free from chains;
Open to share:
Aubade;
sung to you
While I to work,
you to wait
until dinner.

______________

I tried writing this new piece on a Prompt from a poetry contest on allpoetry.com. 

Of these words, I chose "aubade - A love song which is sung at dawn".  As I researched the word, it appears that frequently this word is used of unmarried lovers together, and then parting in the morning.  The word doesn't demand this usage, so I use it in this piece to portray the satisfaction of an intimate relationship between two married people deeply committed to one another.  Let me know what you think of it.

Prompt

Choose one word and do it well in 25 words only...
acosmist - One who believes that nothing exists
paralian - A person who lives near the sea
aureate - Pertaining to the fancy or flowery words used by poets
dwale - To wander about deliriously
sabaism - The worship of stars
dysphoria - An unwell feeling
aubade - A love song which is sung at dawn
eumoirous - Happiness due to being honest and wholesome
mimp - To speak in a prissy manner, usually with pursed lips
  • Closes13 days from nowor after 7 more entries.
  • Awards200 for gold, 150 for silver, 100 for bronze.
  • Categories:and comment focussed, contest, imagery.71views
  • Not anonymous - the host sees your username
  • Prewritesare not accepted.

Rules

  • 25 words exactly (nothing less, nothing more
  • Only one word
  • Left aligned
  • Capitalization of the first person pronoun 'I'

Thursday, February 7, 2013

On Today

 
Lord, too often I am seeing
That I miss what I am being
In lieu of affections somewhere else.

I labor on toward a prize
Not designed to avert my eyes
From the grit of living right before me.

You called me in life to live
In dynamic relation give
Sacrificial love to those in my reach.

Though heaven in due time will call
And earthiness from me will fall
Today's the place needing my attention.

Fill me with Your spirits power
For demands of this very hour.
That I might be Your hands and feet here.
 
 
______________________
February 7, 2013 - For the second time this week, I am sitting in an emergency room chair shifting uncomfortably, trying without success to drift into an elusive sleep.

The times I have been here--or a place like it--over the past several years have been too many to count. The experiences generally blend into a single element of a much larger picture.

It's occurring to me again that while I sit here in this chair best suited for Papa Bear, my dear wife Mineke is--again--experiencing physical health issues and is getting much needed treatment, care, and now rest after days of throwing up and dehydration.

How easy it is for me to focus on my comfort level of the moment and then forget this. How easy it is to have my mind consumed by the events of the day, the schedule of tomorrow, the financial concerns; you know I could go on.

Jesus zeroed in on this as an issue of walking in faith, trusting Him in all situations. Allowing yourself to be fully on what circumstance He has called you to; and what precious people He has called you to share life with. In Matthew 6:34, our Lord puts it this way: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." I want to be all there on today.

Father, please forgive me for being self absorbed and failing to put my all into attending to the needs of Mineke, my wife, my fellow heir in Your calling of life.

She is resting, her eyes are gently closing; we have a few minutes before the doctor returns with instructions. Up on the wall, the hands on the face just moved into the new day; now I'm thinking through capturing these thoughts.


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Poetry Contest: John 11:1-38

Go to allpoetry.com. Contest title is John 11:1-44. Read this passage in the Bible. Enter your poem on this website; all other entries will be viewed and judged according to these rules on that site.

Rules

  • Read John 11:1-44 and write a poem expressing your thoughts, reactions, questions, responses to this reading.
  • Your poem needs to be between 5 and 25 lines.
  • To qualify, you need to read and comment on each entry.  Brief comments ok.
  • Allow permission for me to post your work, with credit to the author on my blog.  poetry-lost.blogspot.com


Contest closes on February 14, 2013.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Found Under The Sun




 
Found Under the Sun

Darkness.
Sounds of fear.
Weight of wonder.
I open my eyes. I search for something known.
My God what happened?

People.
Faces with fear.
Confusion and resolve.
My eyes lock on my son. Someone I know!
Whispering prayer to God.

Chaos.
Order erased.
Heaviness; feeling loss.
We try to find meaning in this puzzle.
Father, we are leaning upon You.

Hope.
Ray of warmth.
We struggle to gain the sight.
Sun pierces through our eyes!
You never left, forsook us.
 



**Written for an allpoetry.com Contest, "End Of The World" with the following direction: 

What would you do if you woke up one day in a bomb shelter and the world ended? You woke up not knowing where you are or how you got there. You leave and see everything is gone.

You job is to detail what you see, how you feel ect. I want your vision and version of how you think the end of everything is.

I want feeling and details. Do you have a love? family? Do you see any others? Do you find the cause? Start again? End yourself? What do you do? 

80 words, no more, no less

The Case Of The Missing Peanut Butter Cookies



Crumbs upon the yellow plate.     
Mocking me who chose to wait.    
Wafting scent of peanut butter.  
Dreams of six on one another.  
Lonely glass of undrunk milk     
Kitchen witness of varied ilk.     
Echoes of the sound of moving. 
Dark concealed something doing. 
No fingerprints of man to find.     
No special marks of any kind.  
A moment I was on the phone.
My dog rests smiling all alone.