I was forty- five years old, by chance, I wrote,
My very first song/poem. I am sitting in the same room,
Like then all alone, When I received a sad call, on the telephone.
A drinking buddy, Randy, stumbling on the words, he had to say,
His buddy Jamie, fell off a cliff, his last step, his life,
Ended that day. I had never planned to write, a song or poem,
I could hear Randy’s voice, he was lost, so alone.
I remember, arguing with, a voice inside, of me,
Which kept, saying you can do it, just write you will see.
I gave it a try, I was probably high, Within about,
One hour, Jamie’s Song, I had printed in pencil, before my eyes.
To this date, I have around two thousand finished, with about,
Another four hundred started, I never finished those songs,
My siblings, parents, the lady I married, and Randy,
Left this life, they have all passed along. There is no happy ending,
At least for today, I do thank God, for the talent, of writing words,
In a special way, the ideas can arrive anytime night, or day I then try to finish one then set it aside. A bittersweet feeling, I should feel proud inside,
I know there will be times in everyone’s life, we should have,
A beaming smile, which is washed away by tears from our, lost miles.
                The Original: Tom Maxwell© 8/15/22 AD

(Verse 1)
In life's deep waters, day by day,
When storms arise and clouds turn gray,
I find my strength in Your embrace,
Anchored forever in Your grace.
Your mighty hand holds sure and strong,
Through every trial, through every song,
My faith is secured in who You are,
My anchor point, my guiding star.

(Pre-Chorus)
And when the waves come crashing in,
Your perfect peace speaks from within,
No force on earth can shake my stand,
While I'm held in Your mighty hand.

(Chorus)
You are my anchor, strong and true,
In all I do, I trust in You.
My solid ground, my steady guide,
Forever by Your side.
You are my anchor, holding fast,
Through raging storms that cannot last.
My hope, my peace, my endless song,
In You I'm safe, in You I'm strong.

(Verse 2)
The world may shift, the mountains fall,
And earthly treasures lose their call,
But Your devotion stands the test,
A timeless love, forever blessed.
You lift me up on eagles' wings,
Above the noise the chaos brings,
To find in You a quiet space,
A sanctuary of love and grace.

(Pre-Chorus)
When darkness tries to steal my hope,
And weary steps struggle to cope,
I lift my eyes, and see Your light,
Breaking through the darkest night.
Your promise shines, a guiding ray,
Leading me to a brighter day,
And I remember, come what may,
Your love will never fade away.

(Chorus)
You are my anchor, strong and true,
In all I do, I trust in You.
My solid ground, my steady guide,
Forever by Your side.
You are my anchor, holding fast,
Through raging storms that cannot last.
My hope, my peace, my endless song,
In You I'm safe, in You I'm strong.
You are my anchor, You won't let go,
Even when the wild winds blow,
In You, I find my strength and stay,
My rock, my refuge, come what may.

(Bridge)
When trials come, and doubts arise,
I look to You with trusting eyes.
Your love surrounds me, calms my fears, And wipes away my falling tears.
You are the calm within the storm, Protecting me from every harm.
So I will rest within Your care,
Knowing Your presence is always there.

(Chorus)
You are my anchor, firm and deep,
A promise You will always keep.
My sure foundation, come what may,
You guide my steps along the way.
You are my anchor, holding tight,
A beacon burning ever bright.
My constant hope, my endless plea,
To stay forever close to Thee.
You are my anchor, strong and bold,
A love that never can grow old.
My everything, my all in all,
I hear Your voice, I heed Your call.

(Outro)
You are my anchor, evermore,
My guiding star, my open door.
In You I live, in You I breathe,
My heart and soul to You I give.
You are my anchor, now and then,
My faithful God, until the end.
Forever anchored in Your love,
Safe in Your arms, like a gentle dove.

the weight of the tie
around my neck
and the quivers of my jaw
from what I've said.
a flock sits with downturned heads
and the wolves stand, with mocking hands.

as easily as the pencil glides
over the ****** page,
so also it is for the written to blossom
like forget-me-nots in the slanting rain.

Today,
the heavens wrote me
on the wrong end
where the ground is filled with spit
and the sky, grey with the angst
of mourning heads.

Tomorrow,
the writing would not be the same
and I would be
at the right end.