Untitled

Written October 2005

Said the leaf to the tree, "Must I turn this year?
I like being green
I like it right here."

Said the tree to the leaf, "I'm afraid that you must.
After all you were made
To turn colors of rust."

And then the tree said, "But I do understand.
I dislike being stripped
Of my many leaf-hands.

"I dislike being bared to the forces of harm
To the ice that will weigh down
And crack my strong arms."

"Then why do you let go?" the leaf asked the tree.
"Why don't you hold on
To leaf-hands like me?"

"I must learn to relinquish my outer facade
To be moulded and renewed
And strengthened by God."

"Okay," said the leaf with an insecure sigh.
"I'll try to let go
Oh, surely I'll try."

And so the leaf turned a bright, beautiful gold,
And fell to the ground
As the harsh wind blew cold.

The leaf that surrendered the things it held dear
Then nourished the soil
For beauty the next year.

A Spark

Written sometime in March '08 while in Western Classics class

A spark.
One.
One spark against the blanket night.
One spark on trampled grass.
One spark.

It glows, this spark,
Yet I tarry.
Do I need fire?
Or am I content
This cool spring eve
With my own jacket?

A fire.
A fire warms.
It blazes and rages.
It lights a view now hidden in dark.
It consumes and must be fed,
This fire.

My coat, though,
Is soft.
It holds out cold.
It holds me well.
Its arms on mine,
This coat.

Where to from here?
The spark flickers.
It dims.
Do I fan it?
Or let it burn out?
Perhaps a third:
Let us see whether the wind blows.

Unfinished. Written 5/1/08.

O sweet Lord, that You would call me dear.
O dear Lord, that You would call me sweet!
Who shall stand in the Lord's holy presence?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart.
O precious Lord, wash my bloodstained hands!
Capture my wandering heart.
Make it as a twin to Your own.
Lift up your head, O gate of my soul;
Be lifted up, O door of my heart;
May the King of Glory enter here!
May all else fall away.
Though my mind may fail and my sight grow dim
The Lord God of hosts,
The Lord, strong and mighty,
The Lord, King of Glory,
He is my strength and my portion forever.
He has heard my cry, therefore I will hope in Him.
My soul will yet praise Him, my savior and my God.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen.

All To You

Written 6/24/07, a hymn of sorts, written very haphazardly

In the morning bright and clear
Meet me with Your presence here
Any my heart will echo true
All to You, Lord, all to You!

In the evening, stars above
Fill me with Your perfect love
Surround by your angels who
Sing all to You, Lord, all to You.

On the day of my success
When the crowd my name would bless
To whom is this great glory due?
All to You, Lord, all to You.

In my weakest moment still
When I fail to do Your will
Heal my broken heart anew
It's all for You, Lord, all for You.

When care and worry fill my heart
And from Your will my own would part
Break me 'til I sing anew
All to You, Lord, all to You.

When temptation turns my head
May I remember Him who bled
And followed only after You
Saying All to You, Lord, all to You.

When I fin'lly see Your face
Held forever by Your grace
Heaven. earth, and angels too
Will song all to You, Lord, all to You

Statement of Faith

A sort-of poem, written 1/31/07

I believe in a loving and powerful God, our Father and Creator, from whom we have been separated by our sinful nature.
I believe in Jesus, His Son, who died as an atonement for our sins and rose again to conquer death and reconcile us with the Father.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, sent to dwell in us, who guides and teaches, transforming us from children of sin into Children of God, until the time that we are called from this earth, whether by Christ's return, or by our physical death.
I believe that we who have been reconciled with God through the blood of Christ will spend eternity in Heaven, never again to be separated from Him.

Written 1/28/07

A little white
A little bright
Against the blackest
Dark of night

A little show
A little snow
How long before
The flakes must go?

Misconception

Written 4/27/07, unfinished

She sees it through looking glass.
Reflections only.
Looking back
At distortions of bending light.

She sees it through looking:
Glass reflections.
Only looking back at distortions
Of bending light.

She sees it through--
Looking glass reflections only
Looking back at distortions
Of bending light.

She sees it: through-looking glass.
Reflections.
Only looking back at distortions of bending.
Light!

Proverbs 13:12

Written 4/21/07

A wish
Like trees for rain
Like seed for spring

A hope
Like billowing clouds
Like fragile sprout

A taste
Like sprinkling drops
Like budding rose

A passing
LIke scorching sun... again
LIke April frost

A promise
Like storm-scented wind
Like earth-warming rays
Like heaven-sent peace