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.

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.

I must
Remind myself
Constantly—the beauty
Of life outweighs its …. And believe
It’s true.

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.

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.

Huge, red-clay mountains
Tho’ upward extended—find
Base in deep canyons.

Happy butterflies.
Sunflowers. But then, there’s a -
Hidden side to life.

Orange, red and yellow
Against the western skies.
No, it’s not Christmas lights
But California fires.

Hot, like a raging bull
Emerging every bend,
Terrorizing one and all
It soars upon the wind.

‘Tis larger than New York
And Boston states combined.
The third largest Cal fire
Has yet to be confined.

The so-called Thomas fire,
Formidable at will,
Sadly has razed life and land,
And yet it rages still.

Outside my bedroom
Window a little sparrow
Sings her morning song.
Reminds me of the **** that
Crows. But the sparrow-- she sings.

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

Today He sang a lovely song
Thro’ a sparrow perching near.
He sung to me a lovely song
To wane my hurt and wax my cheer.

I knew it was Him all the time,
There, posing as a little bird;
Concealing His identity.
The sweetest melody e’er heard.

Yes, ‘twas You singing to me
Thro’ the voice of a sparrow near.
Your song brought comfort to my heart.
An act to say how much You care.
I thank You for the sparrow’s song.
How glad I am he came along.

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.

Amazing the beauty
In simple things.
A little wildflower,
A ripple’s rings.

The twinkling of a star.
A bright moonbeam.
The babbling of a brook.
Billowing steam.

Simple touch of a hand.
Smile on a face.
The sound of pure laughter.
Some deed, or grace.

Not the grandest splendor,
Nor the abyss—
But for simplicity.
Blink and you’ll miss.

Each day’s
A press.
But do press.
Never look back.
The road may be long,
But press on.

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.’

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.

Amid nature’s finest things
That make the taste buds sing,
Are summer-fresh cherries.
Deliciously mouth-watering.

Ruefully, as summer wanes,
Cherries go out of season.
But upon their due return,
I’m cheery for a reason.

The most delightful of fruits—
In my HMO.
Perhaps for they’re exquisiteness,
Or that I love them so.

The cherry, a gift from God,
Spruces the daily diet.
It grows on trees and tastes so good.
The perfect dessert.  Try it.
(Revised 2/2018.)

Ready for the challenges
Life will surely bring.
Forever love remains poised
To withstand the sting.

Now, to its sincere moorings,
Love's a gentle king
Chiming with all faithfulness
That shall ever ring.

For its grace and purity
Love does humbly sing.
Beholden unto sacrifice,
But honors it will bring.

Looking
Back on youth spent.
Now aged—barely moving
Forward. What’s the next chapter of
His life?

It seems a fairytale to me
Too beautiful for eyes to see.
Oh, what a dream. Oh, what a song.
Will I awake before too long?

The healer, Christ, who is adored;
A ruler. King. And Lord of lords.
The Prince of peace in whom we trust,
Gone to prepare a place for us.

A palace in a distant land
For each of us. Oh, what a plan.
With gates of pearl and streets of gold
The half of which has not been told.

All joy and peace; no more to weep.
Oh, wake me not, just let me sleep.

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.

Sighhh. All
Done. Task finished.
A productive day. To
Bed feeling good. Wake to find… not
Done yet.

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

A poem needs a metaphor
A poem needs a theme
As the poet weave his words
And concocts his scheme.

Life’s pendulum
Swings with time:
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.

Good and bad.
Life and death:
Back and forth,
Back and forth.

Joy and sorrow.
Sunshine and rain:
Back and forth,
Back and forth.

Yes. That’s life.
It never continues
On one course,
But is ever back and forth.

Needed inspiration
To lift my spirits, sooo…
God sent a nightingale
To replace the crow.

In stark silence, the
Ticking sound of the clock made
Me ever aware
Of the fleeting moments of
Time, and its affect ‘pon life.

The sky
That gives us light
By day
Also gives us dark
By night'
Yet, we marvel
For both sights.
A mysterious
Delight.

Because of Momma I know Christmas
She taught us how to celebrate
And tho’ she is no longer with us,
To be a part and undertake,
I will ever remember Momma
And will always appreciate
Her love for the holiest Season
And sincere zeal to celebrate.

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.

Hazy moon on a misty night,
Keeping the dim skies clear and bright
Amidst the raindrops—soft and light.
This, somehow, seems to be all right.

Yonder like a chivalrous knight
Hangs the moon at a distant height.
A most serene and gorgeous sight—
Filling the fancy with delight.

All-wise Creator. God aright.
Endow such watchman of the night
To faithfully shine with his might.
And bar the dark, which lords o’er fright.

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.

Congratulations to those
Fortunate enough
To take the plunge,
Crossing the threshold
Into a new zone,
Once more to brave
Life’s uncharted waters.

May your sunshine be bright
And your coffers be full.
May your storms be few
And your furnaces be less.

May you laugh more than cry
And smile more than frown.
For every blessing to be had,
May good health be your crown.
Happy New Year Everybody.

Coffers of the poets seem full
Of things both good and bad.
The things that keep men wake at night
The sadness to be had.

There is so much to write about
As we reflect our world
Of all the things we see and hear
Emotions that unfurl.

To peer about on these dark days…
Not much to laugh about.
But, sometimes, we poets write
Of things that bear no clout.

Such is the nature of our world
Come good or bad. E’en strife.
Everything's not all 'rosy'
In the Seasons of life.

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.

Amazing the beauty
In simple things.
A little wildflower,
A ripple’s rings.

The twinkling of a star.
A bright moonbeam.
The babbling of a brook.
Billowing steam.

Simple touch of a hand.
Smile on a face.
The sound of pure laughter.
Some deed, or grace.

Not the grandest splendor,
Nor the abyss—
But for simplicity.
Blink and you’ll miss.

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)

I’d cast some bread upon the waters
More than a decade or so.
And now it has returned to me
From many a year ago.

From many a mile it came floating
Upon the peaceful waters—
At the time I needed it most.
(In chaos, life finds order.)

So ‘cast your bread upon the waters’
If you would so dare.
Somehow it will come back to you—
Some time. Some place. Somewhere.

Be it time, or talent, or finance—
Whatever you’re able to give—
Cast your bread upon the waters,
And trust God as you live.
(Revised 2018.)

Like an old blanket,
Fold up 'last year,'
And place it on the shelf of time.
Box up its contents,
Which rings no longer prime.
Take up today and journey on—
Understanding that...
Yesterday no longer speaks.
For yesterday is gone.

Mountains echo,
But brooks chatter.
Days drag
And moments fly.
The moon watches.
The sun scorches.
And earth trembles
As willows cry.

Once I was young
And life was fun,
Always busy
And on the run.
Then I matured
To an adult:
No marathons,
Cartwheels or vaults.
Before I knew
I’d become aged.
My life had turned
Another page.

(Psalm of Devotion: a commitment to praise.)

My soul, abandon your cares.
Shake off your weariness
And cast aside your infirmity.
Arise and praise the Lord.

With the lavishing of affections,
Set your heart upon him
Whose heart is unto you.
And let your love be to him
With eyes for him only.

Like waters rushing over a divide,
And like the fountain of water
That constantly springs forth—
So let your praises pour,
Oh my soul.

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

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.

The answers are there
Look hard enough, and you will
find them. They are there.

(A Prayer-Psalm.)

Lord God, the ruler
Of night and day,
You are the God of my sleep
As well as every wakeful hour.
Make my sleep sweet
And my rest complete.
Every vigilant moment,
Guide my feet
That from Your Word
I’ll never stray,
But will seek your path
And follow your way.

Some people are true dreamers.
They make you dream too,
Simply by considering
The things you see them do.

A burst of inspiration
Such dreamer seems to ooze,
And someday you're wanting
To follow in their shoes.

Some folks are dream stealers.
With nothing else to do,
But to sow discouragement.
Don’t let that thief be you

The codicils of time
Frequently change one’s life
Giving new directions
Like the tune of a fife.

So often adding this
And too removing that
As one who dares to don
A many a life hat.

Such addendums to life
(The codicils of time)
Are countless in numbers
And proven to be prime.

Positioning the heart
To gain through persistence,
They bring new dimensions
To a shallow existence.

(Ballad: a song of deliverance.)

Now I know that
The Lord can save.
He delivered me from
The will of the grave.
With songs of deliverance
And songs of praise,
He affirms my soul
In his righteous ways.
By his matchless power
And invincible might,
He speaks a word
And darkness is light.
He is the joy of my soul
And the hope of my life.
The lover of my soul
And the love of my life.
He enlightens my eyes
With spiritual sight—
Even in the midst
Of confusion and strife.
I know that God can save.

There are days
When I need a song
That’s powerful enough
To take my mind off myself
And my problems.

Not a lot
Of drama
But a strong message
With powerful delivery.
Oh, for such a song.