AWESTRUCK (to Diana and Ashley)

Treat every day as pilgrimage –
Be tourist in This land
As if the common place were new –
As if the plain were grand.

Greet every word as foreign phrase –
Search etymology
As if the language were a guest –
Give hospitality.

Meet every one as Deity –
Show honor to the small
As if the humble soul were God –
As if the child were all.

(31 March 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)

POEM xD (for Scott)

“What does the Lord say about me?”
He says that you are free
To choose prison or liberty –
Real joy or misery.

He says that you are infinite.
You have a destiny.
You have the power to change the world
With moral agency.

(31 March 2009, Provo, Utah)

OF GOOD REPORT

Who wouldst Thou have me be, oh Lord?
Thy birth in Bethlehem
Has got me humming first noels
And skipping like a lamb.

What wouldst Thou have me do, my Lord?
Thy home in Nazareth
Reminds me to grow grace by grace,
To fear not even death.

Where wouldst Thou have me go, dear Lord?
Thy walk in Galilee
Has left me restless for Thy shores,
Thy blessed propinquity.

When wouldst Thou have me learn, dear Lord?
Thy days in Bethany
Tell me to seek a better part
In Thy proximity.

Why wouldst Thou salvage me, good Lord?
Thy sharp Gethsemane
Seems hard until I see the pain
Transformed to victory.

How wouldst Thou have me help, kind Lord?
The path to Jericho
Requires a good Samaritan
To ease a Neighbor’s woe.

(24 March 2009, Provo, Utah)

REMISSION

“Who dost thou say I am, Child?”
Thou art the Saving God –
Light of Lights – the Lamb of Lambs –
Whose feet with peace are shod.

“Who do I say thou art, Child?”
A Saint of Latter Day –
Sister – Daughter – Teacher – Friend –
Whose shoes will walk Thy Way.

“When will I see thy face, Child?”
In prayer both night and dawn –
At the Holy Place each week –
When I put Kindness on.

“When wilt thou see my face, Child?”
When I look up and live –
When I serve others as Thine own –
When I this song Thee give.

(23 March 2009, Provo, Utah)

THE ROMAN PREFECT (To Elissa)

She pleaded with her husband: “Please,
Do not harm this Man.
I had a dream that He is just.
Release Him, if you can.”

He thought of her imploring, but
Accusers over-ruled.
So Pilate washed his hands of Right,
Admitting he was fooled.

“Behold the Man,” he jeopardized
As he gave mobs the choice,
Let their hostility prevail.
They crowded out his voice.

Ironic superscription sign
Proclaimed the coward news.
Greek, Latin, Hebrew read the line:
“This is the King of Jews.”

Though Pilate feigned to intervene,
The Christ was crucified.
But he conceded Truth to men:
An Innocent has died.

Beneath the politics, he knew
His governing was flawed.
His low Centurion confessed:
“This was the Son of God.”

(19 March 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

KING FOR A DAY

The hazing starts with rolling dice:
A prisoner is “king” –
The soldiers’ lot: to “serve” a lord –
The Lord is suffering.

The role reversal mocks the King –
The whole band takes a turn –
“Anointed” Him with “crown” of thorns:
His blood not their concern.

“Endowed” Him with a purple “robe”
As one by one they toss –
They “scepter” Him with filthy reed –
Make Simon bear His cross.

The round of torture’s wheel twists on –
The cohorts play their “game” –
They almost sense His dignity,
Sufficing in their shame.

The King of Kings will now be “throned”
In piercing infamy.
Forgive them for they did not know
They hung Eternity.

(17 March 2009, Antonia Fortress, Jerusalem, Israel)

IN GALLICANTU

“Put up thy sword,” the Lord had said
When Peter smote a guard.
To follow Him takes more than might.
The Discipline is hard.

Obedience, not sacrifice?
To live for Him, yet cry?
Excruciating subterfuge –
The bitter cock crows “Why?”

(19 March 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

WEEPING FOR PETER

“Judge not, that ye be not judged”
Applies to Peter, too.
To die, or to deny the Christ?
The man had work to do.

The gentle Master told him that
The test would be extreme:
“You will not know me thrice by dawn
As bold as you may seem.”

What agony of loyalty,
To love but not to tell,
To go where danger fed the flames,
To choose an inner hell

And thus survive to testify
That He was God in deed,
To witness for the scattered sheep,
To heal, to seal, to bleed.

(16 March 2009, St. Peter in Gallicantu, Jerusalem, Israel)

INCENSE PSALM

Is there any trace of Jesus
In this anxious ancient land?
A hair of head, or crust of bread?
A skin cell from His hand?

Is there any sign of Jesus
In this neighborhood of Job?
A footprint on a sandaled trail?
A tassel from His robe?

Is there any hint of Jesus
In the remnant of His seed?
A shepherd leading one lost lamb
To where the safe ones feed?

I thought I caught a glimpse of Him
In Shiloh's sacred space --
Where Rachael and her new children
Are putting stones in place.

(13 March 2009, Haon, Galilee, Israel)

SABBATH SUNSET

"What good can come from Nazareth?
So insignificant!
How could a Governor emerge
From such a settlement?"

"What King can rule from Bethlehem?
From such humility!
How could a man of modest means
Claim Principality?"

"What Lord can walk on Galilee
And vanquish surly winds?
What makes you think a carpenter
Can ransom us from sins?"

His greatness came from Elohim --
And Mary gave Him grace --
In scrolling coasts and fruitful hills
I sense His weathered face.

(13 March 2009, Haon, Galilee, Israel)

MOON SET

The Galilee is waking --
The Moon is veiled in dawn --
Her abalone fringes
Are putting ripples on.

The birds chime in as cantors --
A full-fledged gamelan --
Opalescent hosts of hope
Transverse the brave Golan.

(13 March 2009, Haon, Galilee, Israel)

SHILOH PSALM (for Rachael)

The incense of Priesthoods
Still sifts from the stones.
The cisterns are filling
With blessings – not bones.

A princess of Judah
Restores Ephraim.
The flaming Shechinah
Returns to redeem
The perfume of almonds –
The gold statice scent –
The Holy of Holies –
The veil that was rent.

She’s gathering pillars –
She’s teaching the scribes –
She’s reading the Torah –
She’s schooling the Tribes –
She’s stretching out curtains –
She’s strengthening stakes –
She’s laying foundations
For all of our sakes.

She’s fighting the envy –
Uprooting the pride.
She’s planting the garden
Where God will reside.

(12 March 2009, Shiloh, Ephraim, Israel)

VILLAGE PSALM

A moon of milk and honeycomb
Is setting over Galilee --
The hidden sun is scaling heights --
Revealing its identity.

The morning birds anticipate
A day of pilgrimage --
Across the water dawning marks
Apocalyptic images.

(12 March 2009, Haon, Galillee, Israel)

ALL THY MIND

Full moon is out in Galilee --
North Star -- above the sea --
The gentleness of vesper waves
Is pacifying me.

The frogs are bleating like lost sheep
Who know they will be found --
The lights of cities on a hill
Rejoice without a sound.

Tiberias is vigilant
Across the western shore --
The Golan Heights insomnious --
Retreating from the war.

(11 March 2009, Haon, Galillee, Israel)

SHABBAT SHALOM

Do birds sing in Jersalem?
Do stars shine as in old?
Which steps lead to the Olive Mount --
To stories that were told?

Can Peace come to this place again?
Can good will reign on Earth?
Can deserts blossom like a rose
Because of one Child's birth?

The wedding dancers wend to bed --
The Christian pilgrims dream
That every step toward peace they take
Makes Stars of David gleam.

Today the birds awoke at four --
The Holy City slept --
Three waves of prayer preceded dawn --
The first Shabbat was kept.

(7 March 2009, Christmas Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel)

CHRISTMAS RESEARCH (for Margaret Baker)

To sing is not to sin –
The glory has a skin
That covers flesh with luminence
And clothes the voice within –

(January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

RESOLUTIONS, 2009

Out of bed first, on my knees –
Book of Mormon, one verse please –
Seek the Savior, find His way –
Write one letter every day –
Make poems daily – walk a mile –
Index records – give a smile –
Eating healthy – sleep eight hours –
Fix the garden, plant some flowers –
Temple weekly – EDL –
Finish Webster – Do work well –
Love my neighbors, greet by name –
Count my blessings, Grateful-Game –
Laugh more often – let things go –
Teach the students, help them grow –
Boldness, yes, not overbear –
Bridle passions – serve, prepare –
Never idle – always pure –
Seek forgiveness – still endure –
Cherish virtue – walk in light –
Help my family, choose the right –
Thinking clearly, sunny side –
Keep it simple – forsake pride –
Honor family – treasure souls –
Daily planning – write down goals.

(2 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)