poeticpreacher | Entries tagged with free verse

Lord God,
My path has strayed;
My eyes have wandered far;
My arms have over-reached;
My ears have cherished lies;
My tongue has tasted iniquity;
My head has been lifted in arrogance;
My own work has divided your people.

Prince of Righteousness,
Redirect my vision;
Reign in my grasping hands;
Remove deception from my hearing;
Restrain my heart with love;
Relish my mouth with truth;
Remove my pride;
Restore our peace.

Almighty God,
Clothe my feet with readiness,
Cover my chest with righteousness,
Drape zeal over my back,
Salvation over my head,
Faith within my grasp,
Truth around my waist,
Join me hand to hand with the brethren.

Good Shepherd,
Tranquility shall be my staff;
Clarity shall be my sight;
Charity shall be my offering;
Veracity shall open my ears;
Humility shall mark my heart;
Sincerity shall dwell upon my lips;
Equity shall become my treasure,
Until at last,
I rest within your arms
forever.

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Born a slave in Egypt, she groaned for freedom.
Given to Sarai, she groaned for a husband.
Given to Abram, she groaned in childbirth.
Proud of her child, she groaned in abuse.
Running away to the wild, she groaned in desparation.
Returning to her mistress, she still groaned inside.
When Ishmael mocked Isaac, she groaned in the desert.
With all the promises of heirs and conflict, she groaned still.
She aged and died, and her groans should have ceased.
But around the world, Hagar's daughters still groan.
No hope in the Hadith,
No Savior in the Sunna or Shi'a,
No quiet in the Qu'ran
No law of liberty,
No amount of cloth can cover her shame,
No supply of springs can satisfy her thirst,
No number of heirs can hide her indignity,
Hagar still groans in the mosque.
Hagar still groans from the desert.
Who will bear good news to end her groans?
When will her groans become shouts of joy?
How long will Islam disappoint the birthpains of Hagar?
We do not know.
Still we hope.
Still we pray.

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The wounded souldier marches on …
Alone inside.
Friends fell beneath bayonets.
Comrades fell away.
Enemies fall upon his life.

Rocks beneath his feet,
Branches scrap his face
Chains restrain his wrists,
Clasped, as though in prayer.
Heavy pack imposed upon his frame.
Taken captive by his foes.
Stripped of gun and flag,
Marching with his foreign guides.

And now,
Cold cell.
Cold gruel.
Cold steps.
Unbroken heart—fiery hot.
Walls are near,
Death is nearer,
God is nearer still …
Life abounds.

False lights do not entice.
Tears taste refreshingly salty-warm.
Freedom has come today …
Free to rest,
Bound but blessed

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free verse

But with the Lord ...
... better a little beating, than a lot of bleeding.
... better a little rest, than failing the test.
... better a harsh rebuke, than being nuked.
... better a word of caution, than becoming caustic.
... better a time apart, than a losing heart.
... better a desert blast, than living too fast.
... better to be slow, than refuse to grow.
So let us ...
... take the pain with the gain.
... take a break and have johnny-cake.
... take a verbal blow, and truly know.
... take advice from those who paid the price.
... take some time and squeeze life's lime.
... take a drink of water before we get hotter.
... take a snub and leave the club.
Going
... outside the tent.
... Outside the camp.
... Outside our home.
... Based on Jesus,
... Built up in love,
... Sharing the feast,
with the lost, the last, and the least.

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free verse

Ah, love, a seed that touches deep within the heart.
Pure compassion, what carries the hope abroad.

Ah, love, a sprout that starts with truth.
Boldness, what starts the word of faith.

Ah, love, the root of satisfaction.
Thirst, what drives the root deeper.

Ah, love, a shelter in the storms.
Integrity, what sheilds against the weather.

Ah, love, a fruitless branch cut off & burned.
Self-control, what restrains waste for gains in taste.

Ah, love, a branch that climbs the neighbor's walls.
Generosity, what spreads beyond the borders.

Ah, love, a tree sourced in living streams.
Faithfulness, what endures the changing seasons.

Ah, love, a drifting cloud in the heat of summer.
Gentleness, what keeps our lives sustained.

Ah, love, a steady rain in the midst of summer.
Kindness, what strengthens ailing hearts.

Ah, love, the leaf of restful work.
Patience, what lasts through the seasons.

Ah, love, the tree that carries on.
Peace, what holds amidsts the winds.

Ah, love, the fruit of life.
Joy, what tastes the life of God!

Ah, love, the root of satisfaction.
Love, what drives the root deeper still.

<+><
The above poem was written in response to a friend who said that he was finding his work progressing well as he spent time with family ... and a new granddaughter. He replied:

"Those are beautiful lines, Mert. Our little baby angel granddaughter clearly is spreading love, deep within our hearts and into neighbors' yards." - Wayne Leman <wayne_leman@sil.org>

Current Mood: happy

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Seven Sins and Seven Virtues

Hagar Still Groans

Onward to Freedom

In the World, With the Lord

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