Raise the banner of Virtue –
Heed not the mocking of Men –
Hold to the Rod of scripture –
Partake of the Tree again.
Share the fruit with my Children –
Speak with me morning and night –
Follow the Spirit’s prompting –
Choose well, then work, serve, and write.
(27 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
ACCEPTANCE (Luke 7)
How did she know where to find Him?
How did she dare to approach them?
How could she suffer the smirking?
How did she bear the reproaching?
Why did she cry when she knelt there?
Why did she give the guest welcome?
Why did she carry such perfume
Into the Pharisee’s feast room?
She washed His feet with fuller’s tears –
Then dried them with her linen hair –
Anointed them with spikenard myrrhs –
She kneaded them with utmost care:
“How beautiful upon the hills
The heels of Him who walked with us –
How wonderful among the towns
The toes of Him – that gathered dust.”
How lyrical upon her ears
The words of His clear gratitude –
Phenomenal the message of
His understanding attitude:
“This absolution for my death
Brings incense to the temple door –
Thy love is great – forgiveness thine –
Go now in peace and sin no more.”
(10 February 2009, Provo, Utah)
How did she dare to approach them?
How could she suffer the smirking?
How did she bear the reproaching?
Why did she cry when she knelt there?
Why did she give the guest welcome?
Why did she carry such perfume
Into the Pharisee’s feast room?
She washed His feet with fuller’s tears –
Then dried them with her linen hair –
Anointed them with spikenard myrrhs –
She kneaded them with utmost care:
“How beautiful upon the hills
The heels of Him who walked with us –
How wonderful among the towns
The toes of Him – that gathered dust.”
How lyrical upon her ears
The words of His clear gratitude –
Phenomenal the message of
His understanding attitude:
“This absolution for my death
Brings incense to the temple door –
Thy love is great – forgiveness thine –
Go now in peace and sin no more.”
(10 February 2009, Provo, Utah)
Friday, April 24, 2009
BABY’S BREATH
I cannot give my heart for nought
For it was bought with drops
Of blood that poured from every pore
And Love that never stops.
I cannot cast my pearls in vain
For they were formed with tears
Of pain that covered every grain –
With Hope that reappears.
I offer everything I am
Without a wince of shame –
For He provided us with Faith –
Protected by His name.
(20 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
For it was bought with drops
Of blood that poured from every pore
And Love that never stops.
I cannot cast my pearls in vain
For they were formed with tears
Of pain that covered every grain –
With Hope that reappears.
I offer everything I am
Without a wince of shame –
For He provided us with Faith –
Protected by His name.
(20 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
“SPRING COMES LATE”
The higher the mountain –
The later the spring.
The longer the waiting –
The sweeter we sing.
The greener the meadow,
The purer the light.
The cleaner the water,
The fresher delight.
(10 January 2009, Provo, Utah)
The later the spring.
The longer the waiting –
The sweeter we sing.
The greener the meadow,
The purer the light.
The cleaner the water,
The fresher delight.
(10 January 2009, Provo, Utah)
CIRCUIT
Light is the circumference –
Truth, the radius –
Poetry, the pin point
For the compass quest.
Writing sets up waymarks –
Reading lights the path
Leading to perfection –
Love the Father hath.
(3 December 2008, Provo, Utah)
Truth, the radius –
Poetry, the pin point
For the compass quest.
Writing sets up waymarks –
Reading lights the path
Leading to perfection –
Love the Father hath.
(3 December 2008, Provo, Utah)
BAPTISM
Immersion is a quenching shield
To thwart the fiery darts
And mists of darkness Evil sends
To sabotage our hearts.
The Living Water flows to wash
Away our selfishness –
The weekly Sacrament restores
Our soul to cleanliness.
As newborn infants bathed and clothed
We eat and drink to grow
In stature, favor, righteousness
Until back home we go.
(6 December 2008, Provo, Utah)
To thwart the fiery darts
And mists of darkness Evil sends
To sabotage our hearts.
The Living Water flows to wash
Away our selfishness –
The weekly Sacrament restores
Our soul to cleanliness.
As newborn infants bathed and clothed
We eat and drink to grow
In stature, favor, righteousness
Until back home we go.
(6 December 2008, Provo, Utah)
JOB MEETS NEPHI
“Knowest thou His condescension?”
I know He that he loves Man –
But I do not know everything
Pertaining to His plan.
“Ask now the birds, and they shall tell –
Ask beasts, and they shall teach –
Speak to the Earth, it shall declare –
Even the worms can preach –
Behold a Virgin, pure and fair –
Look at the Child she bears.”
I see – her Child will carry us
As we endure our cares.
(29 November 2008, Glendale, Arizona)
I know He that he loves Man –
But I do not know everything
Pertaining to His plan.
“Ask now the birds, and they shall tell –
Ask beasts, and they shall teach –
Speak to the Earth, it shall declare –
Even the worms can preach –
Behold a Virgin, pure and fair –
Look at the Child she bears.”
I see – her Child will carry us
As we endure our cares.
(29 November 2008, Glendale, Arizona)
AUDITION (for Susan Boyle)
The awkwardness was beautiful –
It made a perfect foil
For all the hidden grandeur of
A song that scorn can’t spoil.
The ethos of transparency –
The curtain of surprise
Raised up the audience to you
And opened jaded eyes.
The hope that millions sublimate
Awakened with your notes –
And suddenly the critics gave
Unanimous “yes” votes.
The show was more than wasted fate –
The tigers backed away –
Love is more real than you or me –
No one can kill that Day.
(24 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
It made a perfect foil
For all the hidden grandeur of
A song that scorn can’t spoil.
The ethos of transparency –
The curtain of surprise
Raised up the audience to you
And opened jaded eyes.
The hope that millions sublimate
Awakened with your notes –
And suddenly the critics gave
Unanimous “yes” votes.
The show was more than wasted fate –
The tigers backed away –
Love is more real than you or me –
No one can kill that Day.
(24 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
Monday, April 20, 2009
GARMENTS (see Jacob 2)
If we could understand the price
He paid to make us clean –
We would not dally with the world
Or toy with the obscene.
If we could see how hard He worked
To free us from the stain –
We’d willingly forsake our sins
To restitute His pain.
Our feelings would be delicate –
Our longings would be chaste –
The tenderness of family love
Would never be replaced
By customary insolence –
By denigrating ploys –
Or habit-forming indolence
That steals our sweetest joys.
Instead we’d treasure wholesomeness
Through Him who made us whole –
We’d love the Lord and all our kin
With heart, mind, body, soul.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
He paid to make us clean –
We would not dally with the world
Or toy with the obscene.
If we could see how hard He worked
To free us from the stain –
We’d willingly forsake our sins
To restitute His pain.
Our feelings would be delicate –
Our longings would be chaste –
The tenderness of family love
Would never be replaced
By customary insolence –
By denigrating ploys –
Or habit-forming indolence
That steals our sweetest joys.
Instead we’d treasure wholesomeness
Through Him who made us whole –
We’d love the Lord and all our kin
With heart, mind, body, soul.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
COUNTING THE COST
Broken by torture, by scourge, by abuse –
Taunted by mocking, by spit, by rebuke –
Laden with burdens, with sorrow, with care –
Bleeding in bruises, in thorns, in despair.
Risen by morning, by dawn, by daybreak –
Haunting the garden, He couldn’t forsake
The women who went, the quick nor the dead –
He ransomed the children of Eden from dread.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
Taunted by mocking, by spit, by rebuke –
Laden with burdens, with sorrow, with care –
Bleeding in bruises, in thorns, in despair.
Risen by morning, by dawn, by daybreak –
Haunting the garden, He couldn’t forsake
The women who went, the quick nor the dead –
He ransomed the children of Eden from dread.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
HEART TURNS
Late afternoon in Provo –
Your ancestors call to me –
The pioneers of persons
Who now serve faithfully.
They call me to nostalgia –
They ask about their sons.
I don’t know how to answer.
I am a convert one.
(24 February 2009, Provo, Utah)
Your ancestors call to me –
The pioneers of persons
Who now serve faithfully.
They call me to nostalgia –
They ask about their sons.
I don’t know how to answer.
I am a convert one.
(24 February 2009, Provo, Utah)
THEY AND THOU
They gave Thee bitter:
Thou giv’st us water.
They gave Thee death:
Thou giv’st us breath.
They gave Thee harm:
Thou giv’st us balm.
They gave Thee pain:
Thou giv’st us peace.
They gave Thee wounds:
Thou giv’st us wealth.
They gave Thee shame:
Thou giv’st us shade.
They gave Thee blame:
Thou giv’st Thy name.
(11 June 2006, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Thou giv’st us water.
They gave Thee death:
Thou giv’st us breath.
They gave Thee harm:
Thou giv’st us balm.
They gave Thee pain:
Thou giv’st us peace.
They gave Thee wounds:
Thou giv’st us wealth.
They gave Thee shame:
Thou giv’st us shade.
They gave Thee blame:
Thou giv’st Thy name.
(11 June 2006, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
TWENTY QUESTIONS
How does light make words and worlds?
How does breath make living?
How does truth plant trees in yards?
How does love make giving?
How does touch make miracles?
How does death make healing?
How does woe make fragrant oil?
How do tears make sealing?
Just a servant in the house?
A stranger passing by?
Who was the sinful woman
That brought the spikenard by?
Was it me, Lord? Was it I?
Someone had to cherish?
Give a tribute for the Soul
Not afraid to perish
So we could be remembered
By not neglecting Thee
And thus be resurrected
In Thy facsimile?
Am I clean now? Free to go?
Was my offering sanctified?
How thank Thee for accepting
Me? Even when I cried?
(3 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
How does breath make living?
How does truth plant trees in yards?
How does love make giving?
How does touch make miracles?
How does death make healing?
How does woe make fragrant oil?
How do tears make sealing?
Just a servant in the house?
A stranger passing by?
Who was the sinful woman
That brought the spikenard by?
Was it me, Lord? Was it I?
Someone had to cherish?
Give a tribute for the Soul
Not afraid to perish
So we could be remembered
By not neglecting Thee
And thus be resurrected
In Thy facsimile?
Am I clean now? Free to go?
Was my offering sanctified?
How thank Thee for accepting
Me? Even when I cried?
(3 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
TALENTS
“Trust yourself,” He counseled –
How? When I’m so weak?
“Trust the Lord,” He countered –
“Faith is not oblique.”
“You are not a stranger
To the Spirit’s script.
The parable is clear.
Do well. You’re equipped.”
Trust has much to teach me –
I have such to gain –
Confidence is easy
Once you swallow pain.
(24 February 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
How? When I’m so weak?
“Trust the Lord,” He countered –
“Faith is not oblique.”
“You are not a stranger
To the Spirit’s script.
The parable is clear.
Do well. You’re equipped.”
Trust has much to teach me –
I have such to gain –
Confidence is easy
Once you swallow pain.
(24 February 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
TRANSEAMUS (We shall change)
Instead of blindness, to choose light –
Instead of stasis, act.
Instead of ignorance, to know –
Instead of theory, fact.
Instead of harshness, to be kind –
Instead of muteness, speak.
Instead of arrogance, to care.
Instead of hardness, meek.
(23 February 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Instead of stasis, act.
Instead of ignorance, to know –
Instead of theory, fact.
Instead of harshness, to be kind –
Instead of muteness, speak.
Instead of arrogance, to care.
Instead of hardness, meek.
(23 February 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
SCRIBE
The Muses of the Other World
Ask us to write for Thee –
They miss the days of pen and hand –
They yearn for poetry.
The Angels of Elysium
Record what we make here –
As if we publish in accord
Eternal atmosphere.
(24 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Ask us to write for Thee –
They miss the days of pen and hand –
They yearn for poetry.
The Angels of Elysium
Record what we make here –
As if we publish in accord
Eternal atmosphere.
(24 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
RING AROUND
Hope means it’s not too late to love –
Love means that light is real –
Real means that every soul we meet
Can think, grow, learn, change, feel.
Feel means it’s not too late to learn –
Learn means the power to think –
Think means real wisdom gives us sight –
To see, know, hope – not sink.
(19 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
Love means that light is real –
Real means that every soul we meet
Can think, grow, learn, change, feel.
Feel means it’s not too late to learn –
Learn means the power to think –
Think means real wisdom gives us sight –
To see, know, hope – not sink.
(19 January 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
WINDOW WELLS
He hath not spoken in secret –
The Lord speaks openly –
Assemble – draw near together –
Approach Him reverently.
Each anthem reviews Creation –
Each invocation counts –
The skies pour down Salvation's stores
In benediction founts.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
The Lord speaks openly –
Assemble – draw near together –
Approach Him reverently.
Each anthem reviews Creation –
Each invocation counts –
The skies pour down Salvation's stores
In benediction founts.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
LEAN
He cannot walk in crooked paths –
He does not deviate –
He has no shadow turning wrong –
The route is keen and strait.
How often He would gather us –
But we want our own way –
He offers us a second chance –
Refining gold from clay.
If we will keep our covenants –
Winds, tempests, doubts never
Can shake us from eternal rounds –
Now, tomorrow, ever.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
He does not deviate –
He has no shadow turning wrong –
The route is keen and strait.
How often He would gather us –
But we want our own way –
He offers us a second chance –
Refining gold from clay.
If we will keep our covenants –
Winds, tempests, doubts never
Can shake us from eternal rounds –
Now, tomorrow, ever.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove, Utah)
GROWING UP
It’s not about me – rather Thee –
The selfless price Thou paid’st –
It’s not about my will – but Thine –
The sacrifice Thou mad’st.
Not about pleasing kings or queens –
It’s about feeding sheep
The bread of life – the water quick –
Helping lame lambs leap.
The alms and prayers are not for show –
Songs not for earth’s reward –
The gifts we share will glorify
Thee – risen perfect Lord.
The poems and hymns are gratitude –
Though words inadequate –
And how the Angels add their voice –
Enough to compensate.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove and Provo, Utah)
The selfless price Thou paid’st –
It’s not about my will – but Thine –
The sacrifice Thou mad’st.
Not about pleasing kings or queens –
It’s about feeding sheep
The bread of life – the water quick –
Helping lame lambs leap.
The alms and prayers are not for show –
Songs not for earth’s reward –
The gifts we share will glorify
Thee – risen perfect Lord.
The poems and hymns are gratitude –
Though words inadequate –
And how the Angels add their voice –
Enough to compensate.
(20 April 2009, Pleasant Grove and Provo, Utah)
MATURATION (for ELH)
Freedom is gained by earning trust –
True love is guaranteed.
Wisdom is found by learning much –
Real life is refereed.
Friendship is won by listening –
Sincerity succeeds –
Kinship is nourished eye to eye –
Attention intercedes.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
True love is guaranteed.
Wisdom is found by learning much –
Real life is refereed.
Friendship is won by listening –
Sincerity succeeds –
Kinship is nourished eye to eye –
Attention intercedes.
(20 April 2009, Provo, Utah)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
SLIP MOON
Almost is near enough
In waking Galilee –
The post-full moon is still a pearl
Above the laving sea.
This version of the bead
Forgoes periphery –
Though nothing but a waning strand
Has slipped from what we see.
Diminishment begins
In gentle increments
That teach us how to say “Good bye”
When darkness implements
A temporary loss –
A temporal farewell –
Until perimeter of Sun
Repairs the waxen shell.
(5 April 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)
Friday, April 3, 2009
DAUGHTER
Thy Love hath made me Beautiful –
An ordinary Maid –
Extraordinary Equipage –
“Eternal Golden Braid” –
An unsuspected Entourage –
The Bearing of a Queen –
A Crown of Zion’s city walls –
A Loveliness Sistine.
(3 April 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)
SISTER STARS
She has a bulb of many watts –
Omega-byte hard drive –
What if hope drove her – not shadow?
What poems would then arrive?
She has a comprehensive eye –
A quintessential ear –
What if noon moved her – not midnight?
What power would appear!
(3 April 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
BROTHER MARS (To J.K.H.)
He has a forty-carat brain –
A million dollar mind –
What if light passed through – not darkness?
What wonders would he find?
He has a universal heart –
A conscientious core –
What if love passed through – not distance?
What beauty to explore!
(2 April 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)
PLAN OF HAPPINESS (for SJH)
We lived before we came to Earth –
They had a preface there –
They taught us how to choose the right
Through wisdom, virtue, prayer.
We chose to test experience
By coming to this life.
Our vehicle: an Ark of joy
In spite of storms and strife.
The Dove holds out our destiny:
A branch of olive peace.
If we reach for that promised state
Our freedom will increase.
(2 April 2009, BYU, Provo, Utah)
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