2020, Selected Poems & Psalms

 

            LIAHONA PSALM

 

The will to live is Faith –

The energy to Do.

Desire to act is Faith –

An Agent’s follow-through.

 

The heart of Faith is pow’r –

The courage to proceed.

The face of Faith is Hope –

The spirit’s Antecede.

 

The will to give is Faith –

A tendency to Care –

A moving principle –

Propensities to share.

 

The gist of Faith is life –

The Sister of Belief.

The seed of Faith is love –

The practice of Relief.

 

(4 February 2020, Springville, Utah)

 

 

            AURORA NOTE

 

Do Birds help bring the Dawn?

Does their song move the wind

That spins the clouds that turn the world

So morning can begin?

 

(4 February 2020, Springville, Utah)

 

 

            FIRST THINGS PSALM

 

God’s first love is Life –

His true love, Language –

God’s best love is Wife –

His real love, Music.

 

God’s first hope is Light –

His true hope, Vision –

God’s best hope is Sight –

His real hope, Wisdom.

 

God’s first word is Faith –

His true word, Belief –

God’s best word is Health –

His real word, Beloved.

 

(19 February 2020, Provo, Utah)

 

 

            ELEGY FOR FRAN

 

Amazing face –

How dear the smile

That cheered a child like me.

I was alone –

I found a friend –

She gave me family.

 

(Cedar Hills, Utah, 18 May 2020)

 

 

            EXCHANGE

 

We cannot be forgiven

Without learning to forgive.

We cannot be beloved

Without learning how to live.

We cannot be believing

Without learning how to love.

 

(Springville, Utah, 20 May 2020)

 

 

            THE GEM

 

You say that you’re Tornado, but

Your sister says you’re Calm.

You listen like a Laser beam

With ears and heart of Balm.

 

You say that you’re not Active, but

You never miss a Beat.

Perceiving an unspoken Need,

Your ministry is Fleet.

 

A Hurricane of losses is

No hindrance to your Mirth.

A load of heavy Burdens can’t

Disguise your vital Worth.

 

Too loyal to abandon Hope,

You give a Second Chance.

Too lively to relinquish Love,

You call us to the Dance.

 

(26 June 2010, Springville, Utah, 6:00am)

 

 

            THE SEER

 

You can see into souls

As you enter the scene.

You discern parts and wholes.

You distinguish between.

 

You can draw out a smile

As you banter the breeze.

While you name and compile,

You extinguish dis-ease.

 

You can make mountains stay

For the sake of your friends.

You did offer to pray.

You perceive what transcends.

 

You can sing to the deaf

By the hale of your speech.

You can bring light from death.

You receive what you reach.

 

(27 June 2020, Springville, Utah, 4:33am)

 

 

            MEDITATIONS

 

Seek ye first His Kingdom come.

Speak ye so: His Will be done.

Walk the Way of Worthiness.

Run to Him in Righteousness.

(5 December 2020, Springville)

 

Our Charity will never fail,

And Empathy will yet prevail.

The Beauty forged from ash remains

In spite of wind-tossed tempest pains.

(7 December 2020, Springville)

 

The Tent will be a Temple.

The Fall will help you rise.

Mistakes convert to Miracles.

Suspense turns to Surprise.

(9 December 2020, Springville)

 

 

            KINGFISHER

 

The Savior is a fisherman –

He casts with net – or line.

He works and waits with rod and reel –

In fresh seas – or in brine.

 

The Savior is the Fisher-King –

The azure diving Bird –

Who lifts us from the freezing Lake

And warms us with a Word,

 

Partakes us as His Sacrament,

Converts us into Flesh

With Flaming Tongues that translate fins

To wings of Nourishment.

 

(14 December 2020, Springville, Utah)

 

 

            TRAWLING

 

And so He calls us to the task

Of drawing others forth:

“Come follow me, and you’ll retrieve

My treasures of great worth.”

 

(15 December 2020, Springville)