A songwriter got up one morning and even before dressing for
the day was sitting down and writing a brand new song that
had come in a dream.

The words appeared upon the page like a stream from that
dream…

‘Wow!’ declared the songwriter! ‘To think that God gave
that new song to me! To ME!’

Then the songwriter began to sing a favourite hymn learnt
many years ago, ‘How Great Thou Art!’ And having sung
that song from start to finish, the songwriter paused to pray…

‘What will You do with my new song, Lord?’

Then the Lord spoke to make things clear…

‘It wasn’t your song… It wasn’t My song… It’s OUR song!’

The songwriter smiled. Then these words were spoken in a
delicate whisper…

‘Tell My people… God offers serenity to the world, if you are
blessed by serenity, you are truly blessed indeed.’

Denis Martindale March 2018.

Once set alone, with just your mind,
Can thoughts become unkind?
Can they condemn each act, each sin,
Such that you just can't win?
Can they pour out, like snakes about,
To hiss each solemn doubt?
Can they speak truths, can they speak lies,
Enough to fool the wise?
Can they express each nagging fear,
Like demons dancing near?
Can they dismiss the Saviour's love,
Think His death not enough?
If so, condemn each thought in turn,
Salvation we can't earn...
God's gift of grace is His to give,
His kindness helps us live...
By faith, to Heaven, we proceed,
God's Word is all we need...

Denis Martindale March 2018.

I’m thankful I write poetry and write it on the spot,
The winsome words just come to me and help me out a lot…
The rhymes are structured to appear, conformed by syllables,
That’s how I’ve written year by year to write these miracles…
For who knows what these poems bring? What wonders will they weave?
What joy of life or songs to sing God only could conceive…
And when He helps the poets write, I stand in total awe,
Then plead with God by day and night, Lord, help me write some more!
It’s then I know, God’s heard my prayer, it’s proved this very day,
Because these words I seek to share are simply here to stay…
I wish that all could write as well, what tales we’d have, dear friends!
For each would have their tales to tell, because love never ends…
It’s here right now, I feel it’s close, it’s truly beautiful…
It’s like a light that never goes, it’s undeniable…
Love has a magic all its own, a power none should fight…
And blessed are those to whom God’s shown the words that they must write!

Denis Martindale April 2018.

The poem came… out of thin air… right there, it came real close…
With wondrous words beyond compare… yet where from, no-one knows…
I sat with my computer on… fixated by the screen,
Before the wondrous words were gone… I typed them while still keen…
Should I have closed my eyes instead… refused to type a word?
No, I began to use my head… with my thoughts clear not blurred.

I placed my focus on each line… each verse I knew must be…
I kept on typing words so fine… they really spoke to me…
I’m not a slave, I’m just a friend… a partner, if you will…
Someone on whom new thoughts depend… to share each noble thrill…
I’m not averse to verse as such… I’m not opposed to prose,
I like each graceful phrase so much… thus my affection grows…

And even now, I’m writing stuff, no-one has typed before,
For poetry I’ve come to love, in fact, I’d like some more!
When inspiration’s far away, I let new poems come,
I wonder what each has to say, to one and all, not some…
And if I sense I’ve played my part, to share something sublime,
I pray to God with thankful heart for every theme and rhyme…

Denis Martindale April 2018.

Some say this and some say that
and some say this and that
and some say yes and some say no
and some will stay and some will go
and some say up and some say down,
some act the fool, some act the clown
and some get busy every day
and others waste their lives away
and if some like that sort of stuff
then good for them for showing love,
but as for me, I’m sometimes glad
with all the poems that I’ve had
and that I don’t like writing styles
that lack the common touch and smiles…
So that’s the way it is with me,
I just like winsome poetry!

Denis Martindale April 2018.

Last Wednesday, I went out shopping, that’s rare indeed for me,
Just walking along and stopping when something good I’d see…
But then my nose made me aware that strawberries were nearby,
I followed their scent upon the air until they caught my eye…
I licked my lips and gulped with glee… I got my wallet out…
Went in search for every penny and gathered these about…
I took my darling strawberries home and put these on a plate
And honey fresh from honeycomb poured out the jar so great…

Then came a slurping dash of cream anointing all below…
I smiled as if within a dream, as I surveyed the flow…
But then God stopped me just before I started on my treat…
Reminding me it was no chore, ‘Give thanks for all you eat!’
And so I did, right there and then… For cash to pay my way…
For shops to visit once again… for such a sunny day…
No clouds, no rain, no storm, no gale, warm sunshine, that was all…
A little tan for me so pale… a strawberry miracle…

AND THEN… I swirled my spoon around and licked my lips as well…
AND RAISED a strawberry that was bound to cast its wondrous spell…
AND SUDDENLY I closed my eyes and my mouth opened wide…
And tasted Heaven’s sweet surprise… with joy I couldn’t hide…
I guess that I’m addicted now… it’s strawberries every day!
Do I love them? Oh… Yes, and how! I hope I’ll be OK…
Be careful what you wish for, friends! Or you’ll be like I am…
The need for strawberries never ends, so don’t get in a jam…

I’m running out of pennies soon… and then what will I do?
Just stare down at my empty spoon… red-faced and feeling blue…

Denis Martindale April 2018.

The would-be poet sought the good… the noble and the best,
Through words, much loved and understood… so readers would be blessed…
But what to write and what to share… and what ways to improve?
Such questions, friends, should lead to prayer… for wisdom and for truth…

And so the would-be poet paused… 'Lord Jesus, guide me now…'
That was the humble prayer that caused a breakthrough, there, somehow…
For in the days, weeks, months and years… a flood of poems came,
Such that today, there are no fears… because of Jesus Name…

The poet isn’t famous yet, but who knows? Maybe soon…
If not, there’s time to write more prose… or words to fit a tune…
As long as life gets granted still… there’s reason still to rhyme…
With words that charm and words that thrill… and words that prove sublime…

Denis Martindale April 2018.