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The Jevlir Caravansary

Category: Poetry

  • What Was It Like?

    What Was It Like?

    When God said, “Let there be light!”
    What was it like?

    An explosion of sound
    Like rolling thunder
    Clashing cymbals
    Booming drums
    Or a wildly cheering crowd?

    Or maybe it was glorious music
    An engaging ballad,
    An organ performance
    A symphony
    A marching band
    Perhaps an explosion of rock and roll.

    Perhaps it was a sweet solo,
    A Capella words with power
    A soprano reaching star high notes
    A bass rattling the foundations
    A rich contralto
    Or a rapper’s energy and rhythm.

    Or maybe the Word had no sound
    An explosion of light and color
    Beauty illumined by soundless word
    Dreams of mysterious symbols
    Sculptures of thought and design
    Even substantial structures of emotions.

    Even that might be insufficient, so
    A blueprint stretching infinitely
    Connections intricate and planned
    Mechanisms carrying unresisted power
    Measurements of incomprehensible precision
    A song, a picture, a word, an action, divine.

    Or just God’s Word.
    “And there was.”

    Dedicated to James Kristian McClellan. Maybe it’s you!

  • Gentle Words

    Gentle Words

    Gentle words bring life
    Perversity comes in
    Living spirit smashed.

    (Based on Proverbs 15:4)

    (Images used: Open Mouth and Warning Sign from Openclipart.org.)
  • Neither – Nor

    Neither – Nor

    There is, says Paul …

    Neither Jew nor Greek
    yet they have different histories
    different ways of life
    different languages
    different cultures

    Neither slave nor free
    yet they still have different backgrounds
    different economic status
    different concerns
    different ways of living.

    Neither male nor female
    yet we have different physiologies
    different psychologies
    different interests
    different ways of relating.

    And now, perhaps …

    Neither black nor white

    Neither rich nor poor

    Neither gay nor straight

    Neither left nor right

    Neither north nor south

    For we are all one in Christ Jesus
    in all our diversity
    in all our debates
    in all our differences
    in all our wrongness
    in all our rightness
    in all our strengths
    in all our weaknesses.

    For it is not of works
    no works of greatness
    no works of charity
    no works of worship
    no works of knowledge
    no works of belief
    no works of knowing
    no works of understanding
    no works of writing
    no works of speaking
    no works of silence
    no works of anything at all.

    It is the gift of God.

    By grace.

    Because Jesus is faithful.

    — Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:9

    (Featured Image credit: Openclipart.org.)

  • A Path Goes By

    A Path Goes By

    A path goes by
    Along a gas line bare.
    Short grass grows or dies.
    Garbage gathers.
    The pole stands alone.

    Does the pole dream
    of rows of poles
    carrying telegrams
    then phone calls
    or perhaps electricity?

    Does the pole wonder
    why gas flows below
    why a person walks by
    why a truck dumps trash
    why trees grow and die?

    It’s just a pole.
    It doesn’t care.
    I walk on by
    and wonder.
    And probably forget.

  • Vines

    Vines

    Luscious vines spread wide
    Branches trimmed fall far apart
    Leaves withered, fire burns.

    (John 15:1-8. Picture credit: Openclipart.org.)

  • Give the Creator the Credit Due – A Poetic Response to Psalm 148

    Give the Creator the Credit Due – A Poetic Response to Psalm 148

    Give the Creator the credit that’s due.

    Shine forth

    Distant galaxies
    Glowing nebulas
    Giant stars
    Blackest holes.

    Go out

    Angels bright
    Seraphim flashing
    Winds blowing
    Flames burning.

    Since God is the maker, the builder, designer,
    Our lifegiver, ruler, sustainer, refiner.

    Learn of him

    Scientist
    Physicist
    Astronomer
    Chemist

    Tell of him

    Historian
    Sociologist
    Theologian
    Philosopher

    Give the creator the credit that’s due.

    (With additional credit to Psalm 19 and Psalm 104. Featured image credit: Openclipart.org.)

  • Tick

    Tick

    Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick—
    Steady constant beating drum.
    Break your step, find peace.

    (Featured image credit: Openclipart.org.)

  • Destruction and Beauty

    Destruction and Beauty

    Galaxies collide,
    Produce untold destruction,
    And wondrous beauty.

    The featured image is a Hubble Telescope image of Arp 148, the aftermath of two galaxies colliding.

  • A Splash!

    A Splash!

    False calm hides danger.
    A rock breaks surface smoothness.
    Ripples spread outward.

    (Featured image credit: Openclipart.org. No aspersions are intended on the pond pictured!)

  • A Sonnet in Response to Psalm 65

    A Sonnet in Response to Psalm 65

     

    By strength you founded mountains high and grand.
    You still the roaring seas and streams abate.
    From dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn your hand
    Brings forth rejoicing, glory crowns your gate.

    Your awesome deeds, your valiant acts so great.
    Sustain our life, and give your servants care.
    A pathway to your temple you create,
    All people walk within its pathways fair.

    Iniquity, the deeds we sadly dare,
    They overwhelm us, past our strength to face.
    Yet you forgive us, take us in your care,
    Providing joy and welcome in your place.

    So praise to you will always be our song.
    All glory, honor, strength to you belong.

    (Image credit: Openclipart.org. Every so often I like to play with poetic forms. This one is trying to be a Spenserian sonnet. And no, I don’t imagine myself an actual poet.)