My Love, I sail this treacherous sea
The sea of life with all its ills.
The boisterous winds and giant waves.
And rising tides. Oh, come and still.

The nights are long, dark and fearful.
Oh Lord, my love, my Savior divine.
Terror strikes like lightning bolts
While sailing o’er the angry brine.

Uncertainty stalks, looming ‘bout;
Naught but peril all around.
Fear within and perils without
Amid the search for higher ground.

Yet in the distance, glist’ning bright,
Midst life’s boisterous sea—a ‘light.’

Amazing is Your gift of grace,
That You should even think of me.
I am convinced Your love is true
‘Tis by Your concern, I can tell.

Grace. Oh, marvelous grace divine
All wrapped with love-- a thing sublime.
A grace that gives and gives and gives.
With sweetness of a pealing chime.

And oh, that You should give to me
Such gift so beautiful and free—
A wondrous thing. A mystery.
How grateful I shall ever be.

And I, in turn, with rapid pace,
Do thank You for Your gift of grace.

I have read Your loving letters
Not just once, but time and again.
And, each time, my heart beats wildly:
Oh, Lord, my love—my God and Friend.

Incomparable to all things,
Beautiful, boundless and true—
Always assuring is Your love,
Encompassing every hue.

The Promise of togetherness,
As, longingly, my heart reads on.
For I shall see Your lovely face:
And I pray, ‘twill won’t be long.

For, then, I’ll be safe in Your arms
From this a world, so full of harm.

The little black book Mamma would read
Was filled with miracles—a wonder indeed.
It showed God’s love; taught many a thing,
Gave lots of hope and caused her to sing.

She daily prayed and sought God’s Word,
On which pages His voice she heard.
As for His promises, with never a doubt,
The Word of God—it brought her out.

And from that book, she'd never depart,
But hid it deep within her heart.
When Mom’s days on earth were done,
The Word took wings and they as one
Sailed the skies, beyond the blue.
God’s Word is faithful and ever true.

I am a unique gift given unto men—
Sent to teach and guide, and to comfort them.
From the heart of God, peace and hope I bring.
Adding depth to life, I give the soul wings.
I am Poetry.

I was here for ages, even before dawn.
I can make mount’ns skip and the deserts spawn.
The masters are all gone, who have imprints laid.
But I am here for eons to tell what ‘they’ve said.
I am Poetry.

Give me a voice, lend me an ear;
I will tell of yesteryear,
When in water the earth did lay,
And God created the first day.
I’ll give you love;  I’ll give you land.  
And place a wand in your hand.
With words, soothing and so sweet,
I’ll lay the world down at your feet.
I am Poetry.

My going is from east to west,
My message is of peace.
Inspiring souls in every quest,
I give true hope to each.
I can make the flowers laugh  
Or give the trees arms.
I can make the brines rage
Or render them ever so calm.
I am Poetry.

Give me a voice, and I will speak
Of the ocean, earth and sky.
I dwell amongst the noble,
The humble and the wise.
Look for me amid the stars,
There is where I’ll be.
In meadows, fields, gardens…
The sunset and the sea.
I am Poetry.

I am tucked beneath great rocks
Or hidden in the sand.
Come, now, search gingerly,
And find me—if you can.
I am poetry.
(1997)

Lazarus was a beggar
Somewhere in space and time
As others fared sumptuously
In their life sublime.
Homeless and full of sores
He laid at a rich man’s gate.
No one to love and care for him.
His poverty garnered hate.
At the mercy of others
Was how he would survive
Till that fateful day in which
The beggar was to’ve died.
And since he was a pauper
(No riches, fame nor power)
There was no lavish funeral,
No wreath, nor card, nor flower.
But at this world’s departure
The angels took his hand
Off to Abraham’s *****—
That bright, fair holy land.

While in the rich man’s hand,
His riches were an art.
The beggar held the love of God
Deep down within his heart.
Ah, in heaven he has friends
And family galore.
There he wears a regal robe
And not the rags he wore.
His earthly pal was the dog
That often cleaned his sores:
A mutt, now remembered,
In heaven—evermore.
The rich man held to riches
That he dreaded to depart.
But within the beggar’s *****
Was a truly humble heart.

Where my favorite flowers
Rest in a vase.  
And I deal with matters
At a personal pace.

Where I spend winter,
Spring, summer, and fall.
And my favorite pictures
Grace every wall.

And it’s where I recover
When I have been frail—
Where I get all my tweets,
My ‘e’ and ‘snail’ mail.

Entering the
Thanksgiving arena,
I do so with reverence
And the greatest respect.
Careful that my heart
Should give honor
For all blessings bestowed—
God, family, country,
Friends, neighbors
And every provision.
For these things, and more,
I give thanks.

Amazing the field of art.
And 3-D is breathtaking;
Blows the mind—literally.
Insane just for the making.
Although it’s an illusion
That I cannot figure out.
I find it remarkable—
Phenomenal’s the clout.
Perhaps you can check it out
To see what I really mean;
So talented the artists
‘Mongst the best i've ever seen.

3-D artwork where it sits
On Youtube. Or Google it.

To live another day.
To know God.
And to help someone
Find their way.
These are grand opportunities.

May each have the chance
To climb his Everest
And wave the victor’s banner—
Nabbing the opportunity
To overcome every challenge.

The gorgeous evening sky,
With a lovely hue,
Succumbs to the transforming—
E’er to bid adieu.

Slowly, the sky’s conforming,
Though reluctant to.
Taking on another look,
As skies are wont to.

All morphing before the eye,
The clouds rearrange.
With repositioned sunrays,
The colors ever change.

Two thousand sixteen Election,
Will it bridge or breach?
And what is the prognosis—
How far will it reach?

Humm.  Who will be our next leader,
What lurks in the wake?
Will it make for good influence…
For the country’s sake?

In fulfillment of its shadow,
How far is the scope?
Will there be a sunny future?
Or the loss of hope?

The Motherland must ride it out—
This slippery *****.

Tomorrow all the pundits
Will show up in full view.
Each giving their opinions—
The many and the few.

So many a news station
Will chime in with reports
To bring cross-country polling
The nearby and remote…

As voters cast their ballots,
Nabbing a president
To lead us in the future—
The White House to ascent.

Thy will be done today, Lord,
And help us ‘long the way.

Electrical storm. Pow’r failure
Just imagine the commotion.
The anvil of darkness proceeds
Firmly grasping the emotions.

Surrounded with total darkness
Like the blind grappling for light.
Colliding with wall and furniture;
A dark, clumsy and scary sight.  

The dread of darkness would increase,
Now morphing into a brute beast.
And I’m, still, in a cul de sac—
Can, neither, advance nor go back.

Then, a blessing as time stood still—
The light appeared and darkness chilled.

We’re treading hallowed ground
With angels all around
As grateful hearts are bowed
For blessings so endowed.

Eyes all fixed ‘pon heaven
While ‘Thank-Yous’ are given
For deeds of kindness sown—
Both, the known and unknown.

Remembering the past
While memories still last.
Embracing our loved ones.
Recalling those who’re gone.

The thread of Thanksgiving’s
In everyday living.

Somewhere in the far
Distance, a lone dog barks, and
Barks—then sheer silence.

Flowers dazzle. The
Sun shines. Seas mummer, Brooks sing—
But the willow weeps.

Blackbird crafted nest,
Laid its eggs, and hatched its young—
Bright little blackbird.

Wide sheets of hard rain,
Now precipitating down—
Softening the ground.

Ev’ning sun plays ‘mongst
The trees, dazzling the leaves—
Casting light and shadows.

Green gecko resting
Sunning ‘pon a sago frond -
Humanity reels.

Sound of birdsongs. Sound
Of motors passing by - and
The scream of silence.

Soul wandering in
The rain, outwardly soaked—but
Inwardly is dry.

Skies bright, clear and blue.
Sun smiling down with jolly
Rays—earth in shadows.

Irradiating
Sky. As morn's dawning welcomes
Light—the darkness flees.

In the ship of life, sailing o’er the sea of time.
Tempest raging, billows tossing, jolting the brine.
Launching, now, into the deep—from the tranquil shore
Sailing t’ward a promised land—a land forevermore.

A battered ship nears the land of perfect peace and glee,
As midnight furrows heavy brow on tempestuous sea.
So pow’rful a storm—thunder, lightning, ship-toss.
And so intense the gale—might everything be lost?

Sailing until dawn appears against celestial glow.
Thus, a golden day is born—heart could never know.
In harbor there, the ship docks and the anchor’s cast.
Stepping onto heaven’s shore, my soul is safe at last.

Home at last.  Home at last.  Nevermore to roam.
Thank You, oh, my blessed Lord.  I am safely home.
(8/2017 rev)

Pilgrims in this land of shadows.
A land of darkness and of death,
Filled with labor and with sorrow—
Of time and innocence bereaved.

Ever increasing fear and harm,
Never-ceasing cares and alarm.
Faithfully withstanding life’s storm,
Until God speaks a word of calm.

Betimes to plod ‘neath skies of gray.
Betimes bearing the heat of May.
But always with a praise and song
To pack their tents and move along.

Heav’nward pilgrims, tho' betimes worn,
Seeking a city—with love adorned.

I have lived to see the big 6-0.
How humbled and grateful I am.
Many a restless night there were;
At times my faith seemed jammed.

Oh, what a struggle it has been,
Tho' Word and faith were all I knew.
When curve and bend seemed like the end,
The Lord was sure to see me through.

Oft' the way grew dark and dreary;
As for my fate, I had no clue.
When everything was slipping fast,
I needed something to cling to.

So, I clung tightly to God’s will;
He guided, and is guiding still.

Today you’ve given me a song
A song for times when I am sad.
When nothing seems to be just right
And the world seems to have gone mad.

A song to brighten up the skies
With the presence of a rainbow,
To remind of your gracious love
Protecting from life’s sharpest blow.

A song to sing in the dead of night
The night of life tho’ dark it be.
A song that generates comfort
And sets life’s weary prisoners free.

A song that is so full of hope
It gives me the strength to go on.
A song that is so full of love,
I’ll be singing it till I’m gone.

Oh love so heavenly and true,
How beautiful You are to me.
Fairer than the glistening stars
Or rolling hills, river and sea.
My soul is drawn enchantingly
Oh love to whom my heart belongs.
All mesmerized, and faithfully,
I sing to You this lover‘s song.
A love for all eternity
And not just for a thousand years.
‘Yon life and death—all that befalls
Of sickness, health, joy and fears.
This dowry of a song, so pure,
Is for my love—long to endure.
© 2015 Walterrean Salley

The waves.
They come and go,
As if they have no clue
Of what to do.
They carry away,
And they bring.  
A dubious song to sing.
Double minded
And ever changing.
But isn’t that the nature
Of waves?

Peeping from behind
A mulberry tree,
The little wildflower, taciturn,
Seemed quiet and shy,
Nonetheless beautiful.

Life’s sweet
Moments are too
Precious. There’s not an inch
To lose. Blink an eye, and you’re sure
To miss.

It’s not
A question of
Who’s right or who is wrong,
But what is right and what is wrong
That counts.

Mental
Strength is vital
To meet life’s challenges.
The building blocks of victory—
The mind.

If a
Society
Would thrive, there must be a
Moral foundation; or else it
Would fold.

Warm ‘wintry’ skies;
Birds singing—flying high.
Flowers blooming.
And folks lightly clad.
Has Mother Nature forgotten
Her identity?

__________  
Note:  Summer weather in wintertime.

The grim reaper treads the earth,
Where, crisscrossing the land,
He comes to collect.

Valley, hill and mountain—
Nothing escapes his repulsive visitation.
He comes to collect his due.

Great fences are erected
To ward off his intrusion,
But only for a season.
For, He is persistent in his returns.

The Grim Reaper.
An unwelcomed visitor—
Only leaving sorrow in his wake.

Spectators were mesmerized
By the enchanting view
Of an ocean swell
‘Pon the infinite horizon.
They watched in euphoria,
Ecstatic by the charming phenomenon
That captivated with joy.

All day,
The gray clouds had
Promised rain, but when the sun
Appeared, they acquiesced. Not
A drop

We build castles, and great they may be—
Proudly displayed for all to see.
But highly constructed and formed so grand,
We fail to realize they are of sand.

Dreams and ambitions of noble degree
Often crumble and vanish at sea.
Failed relations, goals not reached,
Abandoned visions, promises breached.

Foundations that are made of sand
Don’t guarantee a dream will stand.
But those dreams built on solid rock
Withstand troubles when they knock.
So, firmly anchored you should be
As not to drift and toss at sea.

Only God restores sight
Unto blinded eyes.
Or sets a blazing sun
In the open skies.

Only God turns midnight
Into a sobering day,
Or carves a winding river
Down by the bay.

And only God can make
Life whole again.
Only He can do
Such marvelous things.

There is no way to the Father,
But through Christ the Son.
His innocence on Calvary:
The cross and all He’s done.

There’s no other way to God,
But give your heart to Him.
His arms are opened always
To receive you on a whim.

There’s no other way to heaven,
But by the “Master Plan”—
The marvelous gift of salvation
For the lost and longing man.

In the darkest hour,
There is true peace.
The blessings of God
Never cease.

He lightens the load
And brightens the day.
The light of the Lord
Will guide your way.

For the pow'r of darkness
Can never keep bound,
When the light of the Lord
Is shining around.

Talk to God,
He’ll talk to you.
Tell Him your joys—
And burdens too.

Put your problems
In His hands.
Nothing you say
He won’t understand.

Night or day,
He’ll hear your call,
And answer your prayers—
Come spring or fall.

He won't tell your secrets,
Like others do.
Just talk to God,
And He’ll talk with you.

God heals all sorrows,
And all pain.
God heals all brokenness
When life seems vain.

So when in doubt
Of what to do,
Look to the Lord
To see you through.

Each painful step
Along the way,
Remember that God
Still heals today.

Your love is the strong rope
That keeps me holding on.
The divine needle of mending,
When I’m weary and torn.

Your love’s a trusty band aid
For every painful wound.
And the golden sunshine
For my precious, fragile June.

Your love fills the grayest skies
With hope and lasting peace.
What a glorious, wondrous love
That never shall decrease.

For Your love—which I have known—
By leaps and bounds, I have grown.

To gaze 'pon my precious One
Is to see a diamond finely set,
With its countless facets sparkling.
All glistening in colorful array.

An ageless beauty for now seen
Thro' the vagueness of this earthly vail.
But, I shall see Him face to face
In all of His revealed glory.

He is a burning, shining light
In whose presence there is no night.
The perfect light of righteousness;
An inextinguishable source.

Shine on my Love, my precious One,
For I shall ever gaze 'pon thee.

'Tis a wonderful fellowship
Sharing things that matter the most.
I am one with the One I love,
And my joy is forever full.

Walking and talking with my Savior
The path emblazoned with His love.
How gloriously radiant;
Footsteps pristine and garments pure.

Hearing His ensuring voice.
Learning of His amazing ways.
Growing deeper in His love,
Savoring such promising days.

And leaning ‘pon Him as we go,
There's so much more I need to know.

Take wings, thou my prayer, take wings
And get thee up to God most high.
Hurry now my trusty prayer;
Up and off. Climb—soar—fly.

Thro' all the spheres and galaxies
Midst obstacles, your way to fight.
Veer not left or to the right;
Let nothing hinder, then, your flight.

Above the clouds and skies of blue
Go, bear the cargo that I send.
Ever, then, so cautiously,
Proceed ‘cording to heaven's trend.

Till thou return, I shall not rest;
And, so, I wait with bated breath.