Other People's (very good) Poems

Other People's (very good) Poems

1) STEP BY STEP
2) the Cliff
3) Don't Eat On Them Apples, Man by Gerry Sutter
4) Could You Afford It?
5) "on his cat Jeoffry" by Christopher Smart
6) Two Olive Trees by Carlene Appleby
7) Peek-a-boo by Gerry Sutter
8) Forgiving by Taijia and Adrienne

9. Once Upon a Time We Grimaced
by Tom Graffagnino

10.  Blind Eye Leslie Cain (Ortega) aka “The Paladin Poet”

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10.

Blind Eye by Leslie Cain (Ortega) aka “The Paladin Poet”

If you turn a blind eye

To the injustice you see,

You become complicit

With a lack of decency.

If you refuse to listen

To the cries of grief and fear,

You become apathetic,

And human feelings disappear.

If you ignore compassion

Allowing cruelty to reign.

Your life, your soul, your spirit

Will never be the same.

If you choose hate over love

That will be your legacy.

There is no one more blind

Than those who refuse to see.

Leslie Cain (Ortega) aka “The Paladin Poet”

12/11/20

NEW
9.
Once Upon a Time We Grimaced
by Tom Graffagnino

We watched Truth and Virtue vanish,
We watched conscience be defamed.
“Sin” we all but stripped of meaning,
Human pride then swallowed shame.

Once we shared in common values.
Once we placed our trust in God.
But now Deity’s demoted….
And Big Brother gets the nod.

Once upon a time we grimaced,
Some things we could not ignore...
Once upon a time we shuddered.
We don't shudder anymore.

Once we blushed at moral failure,
Once we flinched, and once we cried.
Once we recognized what sin was,
Sin itself is now denied.

 

1) STEP BY STEP
As thou goest, step by step I will open the way before thee. (Proverbs 4:12, New Translation)

Child of My love, fear not the unknown morrow,
Dread not the new demand life makes of thee;
Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sorrow,
Since what thou knowest not is known to Me.

Thou canst not see today the hidden meaning of My Command,
but thou the light shalt gain; Walk on in faith,
upon My promise leaning, And as thou goest,
all shall be made plain.

One step thou seest then go forward boldly,
One step is far enough for faith to see;
Take that, and thy next duty shall be told thee,
For step by step thy Lord is leading thee.

Stand not in fear, thine adversaries counting,
Dare every peril, save to disobey;
Thou shalt march on, all obstacles surmounting,
For I, the Strong, will open up the way.

Wherefore go gladly to the task assigned thee,
Having My promise, needing nothing more
Than just to know, whereer the future find thee,
In all thy journeying I go before.


Frank J. Exley

2.
The Cliff

'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.
The people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally.
Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

The lament of the crowd was profound and was loud,
As their hearts overflowed with their pity;
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day
As it spread through the neighboring city.
A collection was made to accumulate aid,
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave dollars and cents -not to furnish a fence-
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is alright if you're careful," they said;
"And if folks ever slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below -when they're stopping."
So for years (we have heard), as these mishaps occurred
Quick forth would the rescuers sally,
To pick up the victims who fell from the cliff
With the ambulance down in the valley.

Said one, to his plea, "It's a marvel to me
That you'd give so much greater attention
To repairing results than to curing the cause;
You had much better aim at prevention.
For the mischief, of course, should be stopped at its source,
Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally.
It is far better sense to rely on a fence
Than an ambulance down in the valley."

"He is wrong in his head," the majority said;
"He would end all our earnest endeavor,
He's a man who would shirk this responsible work,
But we will support it forever.
Aren't we picking up all just as fast as they fall
And giving them care liberally?
A superfluous fence is of no consequence,
If the ambulance works in the valley.

The story looks queer as we've written it here,
But things oft occur that are stranger.
More humane, we assert, than to succor the hurt,
Is the plan of removing the danger.
The best possible course is to safeguard the source,
Attend to things rationally.
Yes, build up the fence, and let us dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley.

Author Unknown

3) Don’t Eat On Them Apples, Man

I’m not talking ‘bout those Granny Smith,
Dappled red – golden delish.
There’s just so damn much juicy fruit
That the good Lord wants for you to chew:
“Do,” says he, “by all means do!”

There’s pomegranate, honey-dew
Pineapple, plums and peaches, too.
God’s filled this earth with honey nectar
To keep you out of Satan’s cellar,
Just steer clear forbidden fruit.

Stay away from short-cut stuff –
The good Lord wants you high enough:
Run five miles with a climb,
Nail that book report on time,
Number algebraic clime,
Endorphins wash your body fine.

But if you have to suck or sniff
Or gulp or slurp or gurgle it
To regulate just how you’re feeling,
Your life’s failed – y’ain’t even dealing.
Drugs, they just steal your soul –
Forbidden fruit attacks the whole.

Feeling good – God’s that all over:
Like doing something good for brother –
That smile spreads – one to another.
This joy swells without kickback
It’s called love and where it’s at!
Just stay away – apple attack.

Every one is high on sex
The good Lord blesses – without a hex.
Making love starts with a dad
Who at 3 AM walks sleep his lad.
Mother has some thanks in store
Treasure only moms outpour

When Dad knows all his momma do
He sings her praise she don’t refuse.
She wants to be his garden grown
So ladies wait for the guy who knows
Who’ll walk with you, with you alone.

So when Junior says that you’re a trance,
Go ahead enjoy the dance.
But the aphrodisiac God’s made a must
Is a bond we know is trust –
To go without is such a bust,
Don’t eat them apples – be in no rush.

If you want life of real adventure,
Thrill and joy of complex venture:
There’s nothing greater than the good –
Or better fitting in the ‘hood
Than happiness once understood:
Don’t fall for fool’s gold – flee for good.

Gerry Sutter
December 20, 2006

4.
Could You Afford It?

Suppose God charged us for the rain.
Or put a price on a songbird's strain
Of music, the dawn, mist on the plain.
How much would autumn landscapes cost,
Or a window etched with a winter's frost,
And the rainbow's glory, so quickly lost?

Suppose that people had to pay
To see the sunset's crimson play
And the magic stars of the Milky Way.
Suppose it was fifty cents a night
To watch a gull in graceful flight.

How much, I wonder, would it be worth
To smell the good, brown, fragrant earth
In Spring? The miracle of birth--
How much do you think would people pay
For a baby's laugh at the close of day?
Suppose God charged us for them,
I say!

Suppose we paid to look at the hills,
For the rippling mountain rills
Or the mating song of the whippoorwills
Or curving breakers of the sea,
For grace and beauty and majesty?
And all these things He gives us free!

author unknown

Christopher Smart, "on his cat Jeoffrey" from Jubilate Agno (1762), lns. 695-742

1 For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
2 For he is the servant of the Living God duly and daily serving him.
3 For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
4 For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
5 For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
6 For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
7 For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
8 For this he performs in ten degrees.
9 For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
10 For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
11 For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
12 For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
13 For fifthly he washes himself.
14 For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
15 For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
16 For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
17 For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
18 For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
19 For having consider'd God and himself he will consider his neighbour.
20 For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
21 For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
22 For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
23 For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
24 For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary.
25 For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
26 For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
27 For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
28 For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
29 For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
30 For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
31 For he will not do destruction, if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
32 For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat.
33 For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
34 For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
35 For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt.
36 For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
37 For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
38 For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
39 For the dexterity of his defence is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
40 For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
41 For he is tenacious of his point.
42 For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
43 For he knows that God is his Saviour.
44 For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest.
45 For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion.
46 For he is of the Lord's poor and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry! poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
47 For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better.
48 For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
49 For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
50 For he is docile and can learn certain things.
51 For he can set up with gravity which is patience upon approbation.
52 For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
53 For he can jump over a stick which is patience upon proof positive.
54 For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
55 For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
56 For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
57 For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
58 For the former is afraid of detection.
59 For the latter refuses the charge.
60 For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
61 For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
62 For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
63 For he killed the Ichneumon-rat very pernicious by land.
64 For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
65 For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
66 For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
67 For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
68 For the Electrical fire is the spiritual substance, which God sends from heaven to sustain the bodies both of man and beast.
69 For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
70 For, tho he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
71 For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
72 For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
73 For he can swim for life.
74 For he can creep.
Christopher Smart, who was tossed in the madhouse for his incessant praying (in the street, for the most part), constantly asks what creativity is, what rationality and irrationality are. His poems let loose a portion of the imagination which the age of reason makes a point of keeping fettered with social norms and conventional religion; in this way his raptures are related to the scenes of redemptive or escapest madness we see in the literature of Sensibility: Clarissa's mad letters after the rape and the lunatic picking flowers in Werther. These issues of madness animate the debate we see throughout the literature of Sensibility that revolves around the tension between an imagination founded on the senses, on one hand, and governing reason and judgement, on the other. Foucault in Madness and Civilization examines the relationship between passion and enthusiasm and madness. Smart's "madness" is actually grounded in his acute sensibilious response to the physical world: the "mad" Smart is very much a part of this world, even as he authorizes himself as a prophetic interpretor of the universe. Interested in this world -- the material, the everyday, his cat -- his own senses lead him on a journey of spiritual discovery. We also see here, as we see in Sentimental Journey and elsewhere, the non-human or animal which sparks benevolence, pity, or joy in the human.


6 ~ TWO OLIVE TREES... by Carlene Appleby

Come my Beloved, Come hide Away!
Find shelter in MY wings!
You are the ONE, whose voice I heard!
Your heart, the one that sings!

And on a Journey, you have been!
No friend or foe hath know
The Mysteries of YOur Spirit's flights!
Or where the Wind has blown!

But in the deep, yes, in the sweet!
Where waters ebb and flow!
There lies a mystery, in keep,
And this I say, you'll KNOW!

Now ride, my love, on Wings of Power
And feel, anew, again
The Power of the HOLY ONE
The ONE that lives "within"

Yes, in "this" night, and in "this" fight!
I've stood beside to show
That not by might
and Not by power
Will victory, you know!

But by my grace, and grace alone
shall I unveil to you!
The Mystery of "two" olive trees!
And show you what they do!

Yes, my annointed, they are "two"
Yet "one" are two, you know
And Two are one, and
Two have won. By Carlene Appleby

© by author and used with permission

@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@^@


7 ~ Peek-a-boo by Gerry Sutter

Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, diddily do –
Where’s the mud, its stain so true?
I ambled down the water way,
Swollen by the spring melee,
Nearly was I washed on through.

Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, telling you –
I thought I had it working too:
Early to bed and early to rise,
Put in steps to glamorize,
Followed up, I knew.

Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, seeing it through,
‘Til the Lord pointed out the fool.
Pestering proud of my jury rig,
Outside the box, I danced my jig,
Swept off my feet on through.

Peek-a-boo, peek-a-boo, whaddaya do?
Sweeping laurel flower’s dew.
I thought I was in charge of life –
Laid low like grass before the scythe,
Then I saw, it’s you.

8 ~

Forgiving

by Taija and Adrienne

Forgiving helps you to put away your anger. 

You know how you feel when you slam your finger.

Would you consider being full of hurt and pain?

Or would you like to be and have more to gain.

Sometimes things make us feel mad and not free. 

Leaving it in God’s hands can set us free truly.

Why be miserable in full of envy and strife?

Think of happy times and Positive things you want for your life.

So when you’re angry and sad,

Remember God knows all and has better things planned! 

<<<<<**********>>>>>

Book I

Index:

1. In This Place
2. EACH ONE
3. IF
4. We have , have we?
5. Uncommon Common Sense
6. Everything That Was Made
7. The Fly and the Flea
8. Two: to Women
9. The Trial of TRUTH
10. (untitled)
11. living water
12. Ecce Homo

In This Place

Here we are Lord Jesus, Ones whom You have made.
Gathered in this place, Gathered on this day.
Help us be the offering that pleases You.
Let us enter enter into rest and be with You.

As we walk along the paths that You illuminate,
We trust You because we know the way.
The many roads that men have paved in this world below
Lead to clever imitations our hearts refuse to know.

We will not share Your glory with another
Let all that can't abide You flee away.
In Your mercy give us grace that we may look upon Your face.
Here we are, Yours gathered in this place,
Here we are, Yours gathered in this place.

EACH ONE


Each one a mystery, a labyrinth untold.
Steeped now in secrecy, but ready to unfold.
No man knows, save He who rose:
What tale will be told, o let my people go.

Perfection went away, leaving us to groan.
Blood poured upon the earth, o how man does roam.
Far from the Way he knew, far from the Way of Truth;
O the tales been told, o let my people go.

Though hid from pedant’s* eye, each one is foreknown;
Destined to live and die, then no more to roam.
Cut not short their destiny, they for life were meant to be
Tales to be told, o let my people go.

Small though their bodies are, each one has great worth.
With silent cries they cross the bar, denied their first birth.
Ushered into Holy Light, before the Father and the Christ,
There to tell the tale, yet no more to weep or wail,
Lest they weep o for thee, o let my people go.

It’s we who should weep and wail, we who must tell the tale,
Crimes yet undone should not prevail, this must be the goal.
Warn now, I warn you well, your soul may be bound for hell,
It’s murder and must be told, o let my people go.


*pedant: in this case, one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the presentation or use of knowledge


IF

If we all lived by the golden rule,
We would’t send our children to school,
But keep them home to harvest and sow
And worship the Lord where ever we’d go.

If we’d have on our hearts of flesh each day
The commandments large and bold writ,
And drink of His water, the living and fresh,
There would be no need to chomp at the bit.

The days we would spend in His will, not a care
Would we have in our mind, we would never despair.
We would sing, dance and shout as we waited below
For His sure return, 'twill be soon you must know.

The things we pursue in todays “modern” world
Often define us as foolish and churls.
For our cities and towns and this new cyberspace
And cluttered and cloggged with so much disgrace.

We need to look up with the eyes of our faith
Wide open to God that we’d receive grace,
And open our ears to His Word, Oh so sweet;
He’ll guide by His Spirit our poor earthen feet.

But if we depart from walking with Him,
We open ourselves to the wiles and the whims
Of the enemy Satan, who is lurking around
For those who will wander and by him be found.

Stay upon Jesus: your mind, heart and soul
That up like a eagle you may one day soar.
Having been faithfully waiting below
Up, up you will fly to His heavenly shore.

To join with the thousands of thousands and more,
Who stand before Jesus and Fathers Great Thrones,
With angels and saints who with unending praise
give their all to the Lamb and the Ancient of days.

So faint not while now you endure with your groans
The falleness caught in your flesh and your bones,
And the arrows and slings of so much outrage
Of sin and perdition and death, they the wages
Of all who ignore the great Gospel of Love,
Of our God and His Son and His Holy Dove.





We have , have we?

This poem is not written to the faint of heart.
I am afraid many might see it as "shooting our wounded".
It is a little bitter, but as I grow, I'm am ever more ashamed of not my weaknesses,
but my poverty. I often fit the description "he's so POOR, he can't even PAY attention."
Please pray for me to be blessed by God. The Word is now this moment in my ear: "you must seek not your own wealth, but that others be made wealthy in Me".

Comments are desired especially in response to theis poem which might better have been titled
"I have, Have I?"

****************************************************


We have , have we?


We have built our wooden walls...
We have mortised granite by the hundred ton...
We have carpeted and fanned and heated...
We have cushioned and air-conditioned and draped with pleated…..
When will we build a man inside them?

We have sung ten thousand songs...
We have worshipped every Sunday...
We have tuned our guitars and pianos...
We have amplified our voices to the Skies.....
When will we find and sing the new song within us? (oh it’s there)

We have preached ten million sermons...
We have taught ten thousand verses...
We have rehearsed it all till blue in face...
We have counted and recounted God’s grace (ours).....
When will we build new men inside us?

We have had our fishy suppers...
And our breakfasts and our prayers...
We have coffee, tea and doughnuts...
And our waistlines show it’s true..... (fried chicken too)
When will we feed the man inside you, inside them, us,
the whosoever will or has?

Are you a whosoever will?
Or a whosoever has?
Make your self abandon self,
And let God make of you
A whosoever who DOES.

Lord, it is I that have called the kettle black.
And the pain of my omissions is greater than that of my sins of commission,
Though the thought of both leave me with the horror of having robbed You.

O that I might build in any of Thine,
A whosoever has or whosoever should be saved,
With the Pure Gold of Thy Word to set in Pure Silver
With the highest of Praise to teach
And feed the spirit that man Thy Word of Truth
And O ever be willing to heed Thy Call, Thy Correction, Thy Rebuke and Reproof.
I am willing, O show me how to do it,
For above all things Thou art my Holy Treasure,
My Master and King,
My Lord,
Jesus...
And I am grateful for Thee and Thy Love.





Uncommon Common Sense

O dear God how I long for days gone by.
Bob was right, the times they are a changin’.
Day by every day it’s harder for a man to try to live-
To do his duty to his home, his God… O why???

A world insane hits with a thump upon my doorstep,
The morning paper is ablaze with lawlessness;
What answer is there for the shame of sin and evil deeds,
What can I do to right the things God just won’t bless?

O common sense today is so uncommon,
Our sensibilities have flown so far away,
I hope perhaps that they’re just somewhere resting for awhile,
And pray they’ll come back soon to America to stay.

If all the churches preaching Jesus
Would just agree about what he said in His book;
He’s the source of all there is of Love and Goodness,
His common sense to me’s the only thing that works.

It seems that forces are arrayed against the good man
To keep him from the good he wants to do.
And the luxury and pleasures of the evil man allure-
Seducing those who will not guard their hearts.


[This one could be a song, Country Song?, with the middle stanza as the chorus]





Everything That Was Made
written 6/22/2005

The eye was made for seeing,
and something it's going to see.
The desire behind your eye today,
whatever will it be?

The ear, it was made for the hearing,
and hears what it likes or abhors.
To what will your ear be attuned to today
in your precious few minutes and hours?

The nose - 'twas made for smelling
the dinner, the rose and the dung.
Alas it may sniff out men's troubles
the necklace like albatross hung.

The nerve it was made for the sensate,
to taste, to handle and touch.
Most of us bow to it's pleasures,
and most of us partake too much.

The tongue, o boy- need I SAY it?,
was made by our God up above.
He gave it to us for to praise him,
and to speak to each other in Love.






The Fly and the Flea




well i look an' dere dis fly,
he be buzzin' roun' my head.
i say "Lawd ..... Lawd Lawd Lawd!!!"

an’ de Lawd, He answer me.
He say "fly?, .....dat fly? why
yoo blame dat buzzin' critta on me?"

i say, "Lawd, .....Lawd!
i no like dis fly.
He be buggin', yas he buggin' is me."

an’ da Lawd He say, "well,
you got dat mos' all right,
cause YOO is da fly I see!"

i say, "Lawd, ....WUT ?!?
wut CHoo mean ta say?
dis fly be buzzin' roun ME!"

He say, "son, if yoo wan', I makes yoo a trade,
instead a be a fly, yoo a FLEA!"

i say, "Lawd, ....WUT ?!?
o Lawd, dis be bad
don' wanna be a fly O a flea."

i say, Lawd ....PLEASE !!!
Yoo is confusin' me.
be a fly, o Yoo is makin' me a FLEA?"

an' da Lawd say:

"Dat absolutely how it gonna be!!!
yoo gonna be a fly o a flea!
Gonna fly away to Heben on dat bes' good Day,
o ta Hell yoo gonna flea, flea, FLEE !!!!!"





Two: to Women

1.
I’m weak as any Muslim man,
Don’t want the public looking at her
The way I've looked at some.
She could be my wife or daughter
But I don’t want men and lesbians
Drooling at the sight of her.
Wife – Daughter – WOMAN
cover thyself modestly, please.

2.
Help save men,
MARRY them.





The Trial of TRUTH

We’re putting Truth on trial today
To hear what he will say.
Can he hold his ground against
Our fine post-modern way?

Quite likely we will mock him,
Our view of Truth is dim;
An old idea, not relevant,
Outdated, tis but a whim.

He takes the stand, a sober man,
He seems quite confident.
Lets listen to him now. He speaks
The oath with raised right hand.

Then, “ I today will speak my heart,
The all not just a part.
For nothing but the Truth is there,
Where would you that I start?”

His countenance disturbs us,
He looks so stern and just,
Yet compassion seems to dwell in him,
I feel him I could trust!

“Away, away!”, we cried aloud.
“we’ll not this man allow.”
“ He clearly has no word we want.”
“Away, away- go now!”

Truth left the stand and court today,
He did not get to say
The all or even part of that
Which might have saved the day.

And we returned to warring o’er
Our wretched silly things;
And Truth above our heads did soar
On golden silver wings.







(untitled)

After the last clatter of democracy
and the final rattle of the republics
echo off and out the unhinged halls
of humanism, what remains for man?

Progress / reform / dissent / debate/
we cry……...
as if in the mind of any
better can be found than has been found.

Our children are “the future”—
so we must be the now.
O that we would now look to the Origin
of Truth and species all, and bow,
and be found complete, confident,
confirmed in a common will and consecration.

We cannot draw today’s guidance from tomorrow.
Some of tomorrow’s mistakes will surely show
how poorly we paid attention to our Guide.
Too, they will reveal false sources and false voices.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

living water

living water, living water
flows from God’s Son, drink and live everyone
living water, living water
flows to the thirsty land

there is no price, there is no fee
God pours it out for you and for free

living water, living water
flows from God’s throne, unto His own.
living water, living water
flows from God’s throne for the dry and thirsty

a very Holy Flood from our Father above.
all from His love to you

living water, living water
precious and pure, immerse and be sure
living water, living water
water without which we die.

living water, living water
flows from God’s Son, drink and live everyone
living water, living water
flows to the thirsty land

11.
Ecce Homo


A man to be known
From above came unto His own.
They were expecting someone else....
They wanted freedom from other men,
He would free them from themselves.

In a prison of tradition
And in chains of vanity
Two worlds asundered could not comprehend
This One who walked on water
This One who would not sin.

He burst upon their scene
And everything changed for them.
In three short years so many healed.
In three short years so many offended
And tested and failed to see.

By His works He wooed them.
Sure they were impressed and blessed.
Yet great currents swirled.
Was He? Was He not?
“If He is,” some said, “OUR THING will END!”

And so a nation gone astray
In the grip of an empire’s sway
Which had made them bitter (and also had made them rich)
Was not moved from the status quo,
The comfort zone so deep so old some cold.

What man today can take it in?
A man like me who NEVER SINNED?
A man like me miracles?
A man like me… well not really…
A man like me they crucified.

Have times changed?
Are we different now?
Do I have what I need?
Can I climb every mountain?
Any mountain? Seriously???

People and I need the Lord.

Book II

Index:

1. I See
2. the greastest of these.......
3. JESUS
4. REACH !
5. EXALTATION
6. beauty
7. ETERNAL SAVIOR
8. Meant To

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I See

Jesus in Gethsemane
Sweating blood on bended knees

Jesus kissed by Judas now
A kiss betrays His fevered brow

Jesus picking up an ear
Wonders aloud why Him they fear

Jesus meeting Peter’s eye
Sees him leave with bitter cries

Jesus asked “Are you God’s son?”
Declares it so and His judging’s done

Jesus with Rome’s Governor
Telling gently why He was born

Jesus sent to Herod then
Silent, robed…. He returns again

Jesus scourged by Roman hands
Fulfilling prophecy’s demands

Jesus on the pavement next
Pilate looks for a pretext

Jesus comforts Pilate some
The man’s afraid, somewhat undone

Jesus stands as they cry out
“Crucify him, crucify him…”

Jesus… Pilate caving in
Fulfilling the law’s demands of sin

Jesus, garbed in my own clothes
Wearing insults, stripes and blows

Jesus bears the heaviest load
Down the Dolorosa Road

Jesus stumbles, Simeon nigh
Forced to help his Savior die

Jesus climbs the frightful hill
There His Holy Blood to spill

Jesus meek as any lamb
Naked, pierced in Feet and Hands

Jesus lifted up from the earth
Giving us our second birth

Jesus coat upon the ground
Despised the shame without a sound

Jesus speaks, lo, seven times
Words without a need of rhyme

Jesus promises the thief
New life with Him and no more grief

Jesus light has fled away
Comes the darkness at mid-day.

Jesus gives His Spirit up
Unto His Father... He’s drunk the cup.

Jesus riven is his tent
Like the Temple veil now rent

Jesus dead upon the cross
My precious hope ! at such cost!

Jesus pierced now once again
Water now on earth He sends

Jesus’ loved ones stand aghast
They thought His rule of love would last

Jesus’ friends now bury Him
The rich cool tomb He enters in

Jesus passes from human view
Almost as if they never knew……..yet

“Jesus, Jesus we saw You,
We touched You, we loved You…. Where are You?”


Jesus setting captives free
And taking captive captivity


Jesus preaching to those who slept
Before upon the earth He wept



Jesus, flashing, breaking out!
His disciples, filled with doubt,
See Him now, again, What’s this?
It’s Jesus, yes! It really is!!!!!








the greastest of these.......


I love Father and I love my enemy,
I love Jesus because he set me free:
to love all men, and neighbors
who knock upon my door,
and to clothe the naked and the poor...

I love God and the many now deceived,
Oh that they might hearken to His Voice,
That they might see Him as the Truth
and read the Words in red
and believe it all is just as he has said...

I love You Holy Spirit, Dear Spirit teaching me
How to be like Jesus, God my Savior
How to mortify my ill doings
How to speak the truth in Love
As I hear it spoken from heaven up above...

I love my brothers and sisters in the Lord,
Jesus is our Savior and our KING,
He sets us free from the power of sin
to love each as He loves
and end the dark of enmity...

I love You Jesus, You gave your all for me,
Your the bravest man that ever
it's more than we deserve
So I'll love you in endless eternity..........................
"...and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."



JESUS

Jesus.
He makes a way in the wilderness,
Jesus.
He makes a way where there is no other,
Jesus.
He’s the only way to the Father,
Jesus.
He’s the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all who believe.


Jesus.
He speaks the Truth to the inward part,
Jesus.
He speaks His Truth and there is no other,
Jesus.
He prays for you to His Father,
Jesus.
He’s the way, the Truth and the Life for all who believe.


Jesus.
He is Life and Love for the soul of man,
Jesus.
He came to give us Life abundant,
Jesus.
Let’s lose our self life and live in His Life
Jesus.
He’s the Way, the Truth and the Life for all who believe.

D. Severy Autumn 1996


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REACH ! lifting up Holy hands without wrath or doubting

Reach above the idols of today.
They’re very short, put next to God our King;
They can do for you not anything,
But lead you from Him far away to stray.

Look o’er the top their heads of dry hard clay,
To the now and to horizon’s bounds,
And then beyond to Christ in Majesty,
To His throne where praise and laud resound.

Put away the makings of dead gods.
Lend the sound of your own speech to prayer.
Put away the stone and clay and wood,
Away! The tools that formed the things we’ve dared.

Our hands and minds have plied the elements
With brilliance that could come alone from God,
Yet all the glitter, glamour is pretense
‘Til mind and hand and head to God do bow.

From obelisk to gate of Babylon,
From images of totems of the north,
And images that now do speak and move!
From these now all hell’s evil does pour forth.

The landscape once so clean is littered now
With gods all false and purposed to distract.
Now men do worship these and to them bow
And plow and seed to reap not looking back

To see the Truth of God they’ve left behind,
Preferring self to Him and Good and right.
With thoughts of self for self by self in mind
They darkly with deceit do walk the night.

So reach above all idols e’re were graved
And look to Heaven’s heights where now does sit
One Alive Who Was Will Be And IS
Forever : God Alone : our God : no hand e’er made !







EXALTATION


O Lord, what is man?
What have You wrought in us,
who bow before Your Throne,
who are Your very own,
we who believe in Your Word?

O God, please, who am I?
Yes Lord, hear my cry,
O, may I kiss Your Son,
I long that every battle be won,
I do believe in Your Word.

Once a man was with You,
in a way we’ve never known,
no sin had Adam done,
and even then the Victory was won.

Christ was our Victor,
before the world was made,
our Father had prepared the way,
for the dawn and our everlasting Day.

O thank You my God, my King,
to You my heart I bring,
make it the thing that pleases You.
Let every fiber there be True.

The world must fade from view,
as I patiently wait on You to
work Your Will and Pleasure in me,
to set me apart and make me free.

So gently do you carry me,
I often of your presence am unaware,
o that my heart would learn and be still
to behold You and know You my God.


Where are Your rivals, O God O King,
who has accomplished things you’ve done?
Who would dare to compete with you?
There is no person compares with Your Son.


A man in our likeness yet More than we are,
our God and our Savior, He came from so far,
to seek us, to find us and save us from sin,
our Faith is our Victory, O in Christ we win !


This song cannot end as ahead lies the Day,
when the Lord: He is coming to take us away,

to Heaven:
our home as Eternity rolls
into unending life for
our unending souls.



Ten thousand ten thousands,
of angels and years,
will be awesome and beautiful
With nothing to fear,


except for God: our Counselor,

He our
Great King,

ten thousand ten thousands,

but none
fairer than Him.











beauty

All I see is beauty,
every where I look,
where e’er my eyes fall open
upon Creation’s book.

Beautiful expressions
by a Master hand,
formed from thoughts ineffable,
of a Master’s plan.

Just to joyfully be and do
with Him: my present Friend,
I find true worth and second birth
in whom my Father sent.

The purpose that I’m made for:
is to be like Him in Love,
all my life Christ I’ll adore
as I soar with the Holy Dove.

He’s never going to lie to me,
He’s never going to sin;
if I’m hurting it’s not the fault
of Him whom I must win.

The Lord’s been O so good to me
there’s not much left to say;
except to praise His Holy Name
again!- again!- and
once again!
And each and every day,
And until the clouds He parts:
each day to always pray.




ETERNAL SAVIOR

Eternal Savior, when were You ever not
destined for the cross?
When had You never saved us?
Your infinite Grace visits me
in my times.

Revealed, anointed, immersed with us
in death,
Your cruciform Manliness in time,
A divider of us all, and all our thoughts,
calls me forth.

Source and only Answer, our explanation.
Father: Our tremendous Imaginer.
In You: His Fullness —
as Son of Man and God You are,
with Your Holy Spirit.

Being— this is how we can say Your name:
“I AM”
YOU ARE above, beyond, unseen.
YOU ARE without our perimeter.
But YOU vISit with us.

O Divine Being, stay, and stay forever
and now in my infirmity,
assure me.
Please bless my hard, dark clay
with Your Holy Water and Strong Hands.

O Master Potter, soften, prepare
and turn me.
Make me different than all I’ve known.
Create me for Your pleasure and purpose.
I resign my will and design to thee.

O Master, what You have suffered me
to have made of myself till now,
seems so ugly and useless —
though I have survived my many sins,
and those obstacles You order or allow.

O Lord, my excuses
are very foolish.
The pain I avoid might surely heal me,
breaking my vain affections;
purging my lusts.


Holy Holy Holy Only Thou and yet…..
So must I be:
Holy. How, what can I ever do to become
Like You? O Holy and Humble one,
You became as You formed me!

Miracle God Man, Jesus; Eternal Jesus,
I’ll not object. My plea: Refine me in fire,
PLEASE! Burn off the dross.
Cast me in Your ever living Image
and call me Your own.
Amen.






Meant To

Lord, you said it’s better
to give than to receive,
and Lord I want to tell you
I do believe, that
getting things for pleasure
indeed cannot relieve
the phony lonely feeling
there’s something more I need.

The truth is pure and simple,
and clothed within this Man
who came into our sin worn world
so we might understand :
that all we need is He, the Lord,
and our daily bread,
some sandals and a goodly cloak,
a hat upon our head.

And as we labor for Him
and seek His Kingdom just,
He adds to us that we which we need,
He promises, He must.
What’s more we often prosper,
for abundant life He gives,
and teaches us to share our wealth,
It’s how we’re meant to live.





