DRAWING PSALM

    DRAWING PSALM 

The light makes perspective – 

The angles that slope – 

Diminishing arches – 

Diagonal scope. 

The rays intersticing – 

The network of waves – 

The particles splicing – 

In cross-section naves. 

Antiphonal pointing – 

Symmetrical twines – 

Stained-glass panes appointing – 

Perfectioning lines. 

 (11 August 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

HIGHGATE PSALM

   

HIGHGATE PSALM (to Mary Ann Evans, aka GE) 

Unconsecrated ground (they said) 

Is hallowed by thy grave 

Your common marriage (not by law) 

With neither aisle nor nave 

The sacred space walks into us 

As we move through each page 

To realms of moral circumstance 

In novels for our age. 

 (15 August 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

POLI-SCI-FI VERSE

POLI-SCI-FI VERSE

Subversion is self-consciousness –
A counterfeit for depth –
A fundamental ignorance –
A lack of height and breadth –

An adolescent undermine –
A disconcerting strike –
A tantrum for dismantling
The virtues they dislike.

Politicos Anonymous –
Astute but seldom wise –
Condemning what they cannot spoil
Or cleverly revise.

An underhanded sabotage
To slander – slash – and burn –
Destruction of prosperity
They did not help to earn.

They try to make us serfs and dupes –
Bully goals are feudal –
Progressive pretext for control –
Show of force – But – futile.

(16 May 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

HARP PSALM

HARP PSALM

The Harp as healing instrument –
The Harp as Shepherd’s rod –
The Harp as music’s metonym –
The Harp’s Shir Yedidot.

The Harp as Son of David’s sign –
The Harp as tree of Life –
The Harp for king of righteousness –
The Harp as type of Christ.

The Harp as Temple Covenant –
The Harp for jubilee–
The Harp menora’s branching light –
The Harp for angel’s glee.

(28 March 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

AWARD PSALM

AWARD PSALM

Forgiveness is my only prize –
All approbation Thine –
Thy mercy is my accolade –
The honor is not mine.

The constant pardoning of faults –
The softening of pride –
The overlooking my mistakes
And standing by my side.

My only victory is Thee –
Acknowledging my worth –
My only talent is to seek
To prosper in Thy work.

(4 February 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

SOPHIA PSALM

SOPHIA PSALM

Why is there existence?
What is the point of life?
Why instead of nothingness have
Children, father, wife?

Why is there creation?
Why universe of light?
Perceptions’s calculus of sense?
A choice of wrong or right?

Being gathers love in –
Choosing well, the aim –
Generations amplify their
Validity by name.

Poetry makes dwellings –
Cosmic rays bring views –
Revelation’s algebra sends
Every one good news.

(16 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

COSTUME DRAMA

COSTUME DRAMA

Skylark – Larkrise – Candleford flight –
Delicate cadence – my delight –
Minnie, Dorcas, Laura, and Ruth –
Ladies who learn to live by truth.

Purview is impervious sight –
Dominant goodness – souls contrite –
Dainty denizens – faithful friends –
Pray that this tale will never end.

(30-31 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

ANOINT PSALM

ANOINT PSALM

The blessing energy is real –
It organizes force –
It gives me strength to carry on –
It helps me to go forth

And do the things the Lord commands
With faith that I can be
A valiant servant for His work
In perpetuity.

(30 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

WAKING PSALM

WAKING PSALM

He wants to speak to us in dreams
And whispers in the mind –
A glowing feeling in the heart –
He wants us to be kind.

He want to talk to us in tongues
And gifts of prophesy –
Through visions, healings, wisdom, faith –
He wants our eyes to see.

He wants to free us from our fears
And whisk our tears away –
To build our confidence in Him
He teaches us to pray.

(29 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

MARTYR PSALM

MARTYR PSALM

Abinadi and Tyndale burned –
The torch was lit by lies –
Their message could not be consumed –
No martyr really dies –

St. Joan of Arc and Lady Jane –
St. Ursula’s young maids –
Their testimony is secured
By selfless holy deeds.

(24 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

TOMB PSALM

TOMB PSALM

When Jesus spoke to Magdalen
As resurrected Man –
She was the first to testify
That He fulfilled the plan.

She witnessed that He rose again
And ran to tell the rest:
“The First Fruit of the Garden is
Our Lord – the Blessed Best!”

(17 October 2010, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

SWALLOWED PSALM

SWALLOWED PSALM (Mosiah 16:8-10; 18:2)

He is the endless light of all
That never can be dim –
Our mortal puts Eternal on
With Life that comes from Him.

Through power, pain, and death of Christ
Redemption’s brought to pass –
Ascension – resurrection hour –
And earth a Sea of Glass.

(16 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

REVELSTOKE PSALM

REVELSTOKE PSALM (for Elizabeth Hallen and Wade Siebenthal)

Maturity means reaching out
While gathering within –
To share the heart with others while
Forsaking futile sin.

Great Aunt wants us to see the site
In Canada’s expanse –
A pilgrimage to where she learned
True love if not romance.

A wintry weathered mining man
Came here to face the fact
That what he needed was a life
Of sacred wedding pact.

One hundred years ago this fall
Is double jubilee –
So we will celebrate their vow –
Their anniversary.

(23 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

IDENTITY PSALM

IDENTITY PSALM (from Julie Beck)

Our name is Mother in the plan.
That is our endless role –
No other mantra can replace
The compass of our soul.

We must not run away from “Life”
That is our destiny –
The secret to fulfillment is
Response ability.

(18 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

CHESS PSALM

CHESS PSALM (To Catherine, Ferdinand, and Isabella)

The Queen is more essential
Than any other role –
She guards the King from danger –
She has the most control –

Moves forward or reverses –
With one step, two, or three . . .
Diagonal or vertical
Or horizontally –

If lost, the game is over –
Unless redeemed by Pawn –
The power of the granger
To reinstate what’s gone –

The Woman shares the center –
Her Husband’s equal mate –
They have to work together
To circumnavigate.

(13 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

PLACE PSALM

PLACE PSALM

We sanctify the Sabbath when
We listen reverently –
We justify our presence when
We worship solemnly.
We purify our spirit when
We gather quietly.
We clarify our vision when
We ponder soberly.

(15 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

ALOE PSALM

ALOE PSALM

All neatly poised in readiness –
Compassion’s steady length –
Emergency preparedness
For giving aid, help, strength.

All packed in tidy implements
Of succor, service, care –
The increments of soothing salve –
Of healing and repair.

All stored for quick recovery –
Support, relief, and cure –
The convalescent instruments
Reliable and sure.

(6 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

SYSTEM PSALM

SYSTEM PSALM (to Maria Elizabeth "Lisel" Hallen)

This book is made of paper leaves
That grew on poplar trees –
That stood upon a hill beside
A meadow made by bees –

Who danced a map from hive to bloom –
From blossom back to home –
Where honey gilt the palaces
Of wax and latticed comb –

Next to a cabin made of logs –
Wherein a daughter slept –
Who never walked when she awoke
But danced, entranced, and leapt –

Whose parents both were pioneers –
Survivors of The Fire –
Whose children were the siblings of
My grandfather – grandsire.

(6 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

LESSON PSALM

LESSON PSALM

My body wants to sing –
My spirit wants to hear –
So I will listen as I praise
In case the Lord is near.

My being wants to shine –
My essence wants to grow –
So I will hearken as I learn
To grasp what I should know.

(20 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)

VENERATION PSALM

VENERATION PSALM (Mosiah 27:22-31)

The Lord is good and glorious –
His power opens eyes
And shakes the earth’s encumbrances
Into a paradise

Where every humble knee will bend
And every mouth profess
The glance of His all-searching gaze
Restores our righteousness.

All men and women – nations, tongues,
And people must be new –
Redeemed by tidings in sweet song:
The gospel must be true.

(22 January 2011, Pleasant Grove, Utah)