TREADSTONE PSALM

TREADSTONE PSALM

Real love is Genesis –
The Ballroom Dance of youth –
On Persian carpets – etched with stars –
The modesty of truth.

True joy is Exodus –
The company enhance –
In Asian deserts – coming out –
The debutantes of trance.

Pure form is Emphasis –
The accent strong or weak –
The isocolon syllables
Enable feet to speak.

Real light is Chrysalis –
As beautiful as Moon –
The waltz of Family Kings and Gwens
In promenade of Noon.

(25 June 2010, Dublin, Ireland)

TITLE PSALM

TITLE PSALM

Prophet of Prophets – Lord of Birds –
Leader of Angels – King of Words –
Shepherd of Sparrows – Friend of Friends –
Healer of Lepers – Man who Mends.

(31 May 2010, Provo, Utah)

CARDINAL PSALM

CARDINAL PSALM

Of all the winds that wind the Earth,
Which one will take you home?
The Zephyr of the Occident?
The polar blast from Nome?

The capillary canyon breeze?
The gusts of discontent?
The whispers of the Orient?
Or greasewood’s southern scent?

(25 May 2010, Glendale, Arizona)

NOTEBOOK PSALM

NOTEBOOK PSALM

This verse is like an Amulet –
A frontlet for my eyes –
A scripture for remembering
The statutes that I prize.

A parchment for my ponderings –
A chaplet for my deeds –
A manuscript recovering
My covenants and creeds.

(9 May 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

CAUSE/EFFECT PSALM

CAUSE/EFFECT PSALM (for Galway Kinnell)

If agency has consequence,
How can Atonement win?
How can the Blood make recompense –
The Spirit rinse our sin?

The Harmless One who did no wrong
Had most to overcome –
He suffered more than penalty
For wrongs He had not done.

In spite of overwhelming faults,
Self-pity is now gone –
Remitted by the grace of Good –
The stirring of the Swan.

(9 May 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

CONFIDENT PSALM

CONFIDENT PSALM

The compliment was never meant
To flatter nor to tempt –
Although the gesture gathered her
There was no vain intent.

The unanticipated words –
Spontaneous attempt
To comfort someone desolate
With message heaven-sent.

(7 June 2010, Provo, Utah)

LIMERICK LIMERICK

LIMERICK LIMERICK

There was a new tourist in Limerick
Who witnessed a riverside pick-e-nick –
The white swans were feeding –
The sun was receding
Along Shannon River Bridge – gliding quick.

(21 June 2001, Ireland, just for fun)

REST PSALM

REST PSALM

I slept as deep as DNA –
Like waves of drenching rain –
I lumbered through a maze of dream –
Like fields of heady grain.

I rested sweet as innocence –
A newly lathered lamb –
I lumbered on ungainly feet –
Forgetting who I am.

(13 June 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)