John Stevens: Favorites

Apr 2018 John Stevens

The Tree

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Cné

The Tree

Through the withered branches
where the verdant leaves once grew,
I stared up at the old oak tree
against a sky of blue.

The branches stretched to heaven
as a supplicant might do.
It seemed to pray, as if to say,
"My time at last is through."

I wondered at the gnarly trunk
and limbs of twisted wood
And for a moment thought of life
and almost understood.

Life and death go hand in hand.
Our time is our's to spend.
But like the tree against the gale,
‘tis better if we bend.

I'll pay it forward when I can.
Thy brothers' keeper be.
I'll keep the roots well watered
and learn the lessons of the tree.

It shares the world with nestlings
and it's acorns oft abound,
To feed the hungry denizens
that glean them from the ground.

It's leaves give shade to those below.
It's branches form a gym.
Children climb to see the world
and love this gift to them.

And as I watched, the farmer
came and laid the old husk low.
Firewood now, would be it's fate
and make the chimney glow.

Ashes unto ashes and to dust
we must return.
All of life in cycle goes
and from this I hope to learn:

This gift of life to all below,
all creatures great and small,
Is just a stop upon the trip
we travel, one and all.

Inspired by a photo shared by Melissa. Happy Earth Day!

#life #death #lessons #journey #nature #tree

Apr 2018 John Stevens

just for a while

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

just for a while

you made me smile
my eyes twinkled in the dark of the night
my heart leapt with delight

you made me cry
tears ran down my cheeks
like crazy

you closed my eyes
and opened my vision
to a whole new world

a place where my dreams were kings
where life was a sweet lollipop
where there was only victory to devour

but -
it lasted only a moment
it was just for a while

movies, songs, relationships, we all have that one thing that makes everything feel right. But unfortunately it lasts... just for a while.....yet, God can do all that "for eternity" if we do open our hearts to him and just surrender. it's scary but worthy.

#moment #god #happy #cry #laugh #tear

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Tears flow

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

Tears flow

Cry till you're dry
O troubled soul
Cry till the eyelids swell
O weary heart.

But do it all in that corner
Where only shadows live
In that corner where your ease belongs

Dump it all .
Then step out with the heart of
a warrior; Head held high,
For another day unfolds at the death of the darkness,

A day for strength
A new breath to take
Get up and teach those broken wings how to fly again .

In the end, we all need a moment to break down and spill out the sorrow, confusion, exhaustion and all those heavy-laden emotions but after that.....it's time to give the world a wider smile

#tears #breakdown #fly #sad #spuill

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Death

Apr 2018 John Stevens

FredErick le Roux

Death

Death is nothing to fear
It is but a step into Eternal sphere
It is a new beginnin as an End
draws near
It is the continuating of Life ever more
It is the opening onto a closed door
Death is purpose as to Life is for

Leaving but this mortal stance
Death is merely Life's new dance
In a realm of peace and a new chance
Finding the answer to hidden alms

Death is nothing to fear
As a new day borns a days end near
Simply but the entrance to new years
That is waiting in anticipation clear
Death itself holds no fear

May your Heart take courage
And your Soul
Eternal peace

The fear itself is not of death but the hidden uncertainty of Eternal life

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Beloved

Apr 2018 John Stevens

FredErick le Roux

Beloved

For no greater Love
Has someone but be
The everlasting sacrifice
For you and for me
No deeper care
Than the one who hang there
To bore all your sin
For justice thats fair
And never again
Shall your past bore the pain
All is forgiven
Forever He reigns
Know but only this
Beloved you are now
No greater hope
Than the hope you have found

Happy Easter

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Worth?

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

Worth?

Face; an empty expression it carries
Emotions; a few share, a few care, a fewer handle
Heart; barely knows itself, ever drowning in insecurities.
Life; lacking direction
Friends; limited by none other than myself, yet, their reaching out is short
Myself; exhausted
The World; false, ever changing, frustrating, ungrateful

In the end, what am I worth?
Jesus's answer: my pain, my death,
God's answer: much more than gold, much more than the world itself.

There's so many reasons.to feel inferior for we fall for the perspective we've got on ourselves but the Good News is that from God's perspective, we're not broken and burnt.No, we're just broken and soon to be fixed 'cause He sees something in us that's worthy to be saved.

#answerworthgodjesuspaincross

Apr 2018 John Stevens

It's poetry

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

It's poetry

It screams in silence,
where the mouth is speechless.
It's creeps
In the soul's very darkness.
It has no meaning,
It's only described by the feeling.
It's poetry,
The narrator of my history.

When the mouth fails...

#poetry

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Moi

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

Moi

I'm no celebrity,
I wasn't born for popularity,
I'm just an originality
Stickin' to my personality,
Even in adversity
What about you?

Answer?

#thebeautyinbelief

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Simple

Apr 2018 John Stevens

Shimwa Augusta

Simple

They told me to speak
I told them I couldn't
and so I wrote.

They told me to scream louder
I told them I wouldn't
I'd rather let my words cut deeper.

They told me I wouldn't fit in
I told them it was fine.
Cause I preferred keeping it real

They asked me about language
I told them I spoke only one:
Art

At times muteness isn't just biological but unlike the real disease this one has an actual medicine: poetry, art

#poetry #art #mute #speak #write