Planted

The hidden treasure

drink of the rain of heaven

planted in good soil.

From Mark 4: 13-20

Crimson Victory

Satisfied

Satisfied Gods justice

Astonished

Resurrected

Imperishable and life

In a crimson victory.

Connected

Connected in Christ

Invited

Provided

Finished and free

In a crimson victory.

Seated

Seated with him

Enthroned

United

Eternal and alive

In a crimson victory.

Pains Eyes

Helpless voices fail

Love absorbed plainly touched

pains eyes wide opened

(From 1 Corinthians 13:12 )

Crimson Act

Safe in Christ

Freed from bondage

The fear of death

Freed from slavery

The power of death

Destroyed

By a crimson act

Of self sacrificing love

The bondage to boring, self-preservation

Is broken

Freed to love Christ

With everything I have ever needed

Forgiven sin

Unmerited favour

Clothed in the righteousness of God

Safe in Christ

Come Near

A painful despair

a lamentable disgrace

drawn to your mercy

From Isaiah 41 v 1

Last

I see the King, Alpha and Omega

Sweet consummation echoed in his voice

Living word, incarnation fulfillment.

I see the volleys of comets red fire

A rich crimson stream of love and mercy

Stains the shore of the crystal diamond lake.

I see the last rainbow through clouds burning

Loves consuming smoke dispersing evil

Shudders the ravaged cluster of the heart.

I see the mountains slide into the sea

Amethyst shreds strewn, bled and ripped apart

The last and the first his reigning beauty.

I see love captured in pure white linen

Purchased stars washed clean in sacrificed blood

Eternal praise radiates heavens light.

-------------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Calvary Road

We meet him on the Calvary road

Where he bids us to take up the cross

Where he calls us to come and die

And be immersed in the river of grace.

We meet him on the Calvary road

His words have a terrifying effect

His words are sobering, calling us to follow

And usher us towards the Kingdom of grace.

We meet him on the Calvary road

His hands bear the scars of love

His hands outstretched and open to all

And offer us forgiveness through his grace.

We meet him on the Calvary road

Where we reckon ourselves dead to sin

Where we enter through the crimson gate

And revel in all the glories of grace.

Wine

Celestial breath

tenderst nature of love

Spirits divine wine.

(From Ephesians 5:18)

Crimson Pattern

A patience endurance

In loveliness and meekness

For suffering reflected in love

For not returning evil for evil

In pardoning with an act

For servant hood and its substitute

The crimson pattern

In the divine once and for all death

He took my place

Infinite worth

Gave me salvation

Life to a condemned man.

Remembrance

The sprinkled altar

remembrance to get home

crimson assurance

(From Hebrews 9:24)

Comfort

The sky with its colours of light and dark

As shadows on the road of silver rain

A step ahead to my destination.

Faith is the comfort planted in my soul

The breath of sweet air and the flame that burns

inside and provided in that moment.

Melted the stubborn fear that locks my heart

Eternal words ignite the certain hope

And through the long wilderness towards rest.

Grant to me the everlasting healing

The breath of love poured out in crimson wine

That all is well and I am kept, forever.

------------------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Promise

Evening crimson sun

precious divine treasure

the promise of Christ.

(From Psalm 97:6)

Today

Light and dark divide

separate destinction made

Lord gave us this day.

(From Genesis 1:5)

Earthen Vessel

Earthen vessel crack

cloud the gloom inbred my soul

Your gracious new dawn

 

(From 2 Corinthians 4:7)

Crimson Words

All it takes

For the foundation of acceptance

Harmonized with zeal.

Christ’s great treasure

Purified glory

By grace

The colour of mercy

Written in crimson words

The zeal to love others

With infinite passion

Drops of compassion

Life transforming treasure

Surprised by depth of forgiveness

Is all it takes.

Odor

Scent of hearts hatred

breeze mixed deaths violent odor

crimson white fragrance


(From Romans 7:24)

Canvas

Ash and skins veneer

your flames cross the shappire sky

once burnt scorched canvas


(From Isaiah 60:1)

A Crimson Tree

This was the picture

Of a beautiful union

Loves display

From beyond time

Past distance stars

Of glorious galaxies

Given

To each other

To eternity

To love

For release

Forever

This was the picture

Of sacrifice

Loves declaration

Crimson tree

Where mystery cried

In nails

In tears

For love

This was the picture

Of intimate union

Loves desire

Interwoven in flesh

Born in the spirit

Called

For each other.

Crimson Ransom

A new creation raised with him

In your love now I live

No longer held in sins snare

Open to your fullness ever aware

Christ sustained

Christ inhabited

Christ strengthened

Christ centered

Trusting Christ moment by moment

Living in the crimson ransom

This powerful union enabling me

Imparting all I need to be.

Altar

The rain turns to sleet

With words of faint hope

The harsh granite sky

With a thousand cries

I watch from the dark doorway

I now see it disappear

So mauve and dark blue

Certain of the storm

I came here in cold winter

I climbed the white marble steps

Hoping I would find

All that time has held.

The days of past bloom

With hopes now fashioned

Heals the seasons chill

As I step forward.

The fragile hope in my hand

With love now finally found

The awakening of truth

With the colour of your grace.

------------------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Wait

I sit here and wait

My bruised and battered heart

Tells tales more fearful

As hungry seconds slowly pass

In frightful moments

I didn't fall.

Essence of life

Truth is dying before my eyes

What am I to do?

 Love greets me as a stranger

Conspires with me to escape

Gracious, each time.

No memory stays

A Teflon heart wasted away

Come to me and gaze

Move over time, dance on the surface

Find me racked with guilt

Come for me, now.

------------

Written for the Mag - 189

Follow

Do I dare follow?

Why is it so hard?

Living with lies

Carrying the wounds.

I tell you the truth

As I stumble on

To a deeper life.

With the quiet whispers

Assailing my mind,

The call is clear,

The trumpet sound

And now this realization

I haven’t arrived,. but I’ve left.

I haven’t arrived, but I’ve left

And now this realization

As the trumpet sound.

The call is clear

Assailing my mind

With quiet whispers

To a deeper life.

As I stumble on,

I tell you the truth,

Carrying the wounds,

Living with lies

Why is it so hard?

Do I dare follow?

--------------

Written for Poetry Jam and Poets United

Dust

What should I do with the watered dust?

Soak its colour

Smell the rust

Such unforgiving powder.

So I scatter

While eyes look on

To a heart that matters

Pages under rain.

But in the time that is left

I do not remember

The taste I once kept

Paid in milk and honey.

I will cherish the light

Touch the rough splinters

Hammer nails with might

Into the cross of answers.

--------------

Written for Poets United

October

The sky had a returning chill

It danced autumn’s desire

Stretched taut over the trees

On the October canopy.

Giant visions of immortality

Thundered rugged into darkness

An overlay of black cloud

Crept careful towards tomorrow

Into light’s remaining prism.

A flash of lightening

Fearful thunder

Rain and wind

Visitation of fear.

On such a day

I saw your grief and pain

Unassailable sadness

The emotions in the air that day

Soul’s estate.

A vision of tomorrow

Birthed in a sleepless night

Of rugged truths,

An eternal chasm,

A portrait of power

In a living psalm.

-------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Just Past The Center

The cold air

Swirls like cotton

Rain drops

Slowly to the ground

Threads of colour

Dance down the creases

Of black umbrellas.

The Vicar’s words

Shatter hushed silence

And curiosity rises

A quiet fascination

Held in spun sound

Hushed words of life

Spilled in sorrows ground.

A disturbing thought

Slips into my mind

Perhaps the grief

Mingles with time and age

Just past the center

Close to midnight

Is buried together

On the stroke of hope

Beams of light

Lift darkened tears

With the colour of life

That spins its threaded chart
I treasure the promise

Around my trembling heart.

--------------------

Written for Poets United and Theme Thursday

War

I never understood

When the darkness came

That I could live

Without blindness

That the more I saw

I could accept the peace

Which passes understanding.

The world got darker

Without light

Shadows of evil

Of souls oblivion

And binding.

How did I let this happen?

Was I not ready for the battle?

Was I not aware of you?

Perhaps I was blind,

Closed my eyes,

To your light

And kindness.

-----------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Crimson Flame

Crimson flame alight

Gentle glow loves emerald sea

Grace within my heart

The Lost Coin

She searched

By candle light

Stretched out her heart

And hoped

Relentlessly

In every place

In every nook and cranny

Until she found it

And she knew, that in her hands

Was the answer.

So gently, she held unto the lost coin

Tightly,

She lovingly, kept it safe,

-----------

Written for Poetry Jam

Crimson Tree

I love to boast

In the cross that saved me

That purchased my ransom

That paid the price

And in his suffering

There on the crimson tree

Everything that I enjoy

Was freely given to me

I died with Christ

It was my corpse

Raised as a new creation

Raised into new life

It was all obtained at the cross

He took what I deserved

Now awaken to the truth

Alive to all his grace.

Rust Never Sleeps

A gift hidden from sight

Am present for this moment to connect

For the day which passes into night

For each touch reaches sadness

The power to heal

And bring love and acceptance.

For within its burnt sapphire realm

Rust slowly moves

And captures the forgotten dreams

Perhaps this occasion to meet

Thought and prayer

Expressed in hope

For rust never sleeps in our hearts.

--------------

Written for Poetry Jam

* Inspired by Neil Young's album - Rust Never Sleeps.

Without Vision

The lights come on

To the eyes of the seeking

By clear sighted captives

In oceans of dreams.

To see far horizons

And travel into expanses

With unglimpsed fragile shores

In realms of paradox.

Without revelation

In the fountain of precious moments

Everything is dispersed

In rooms of the perishing.

The lights come on

Loves bright illumination

Shards of hope shine

In the hearts of redemption

-------------------------------
Written for Poetry Jam

Visions of this room

Curtains closed together

As secret as reflected freedom

And the quiet ticking clock.

Within these solid walls

Meaningless moments.

In memories that hang

From tattered threads

On polished rails

Entwined,

With dust

Left unfulfilled.

A congregation of dreams

Held with wasted tears

And on the edge of silence

With visions of the future,

Treasures of the past,

It would be wrong to argue.

Pull back the curtains

And open the windows

Doors to nowhere

See heaven

In the glory of the mind.

--------------

Written for Poetry Jam

The Sound of Silence

Scattered at peace

On an endless breeze

Drift into life

The heartbeat still of every seed

Between the cracks of lush meadows

Where

Hard, dirty little rocks

And stones abound.

Now is the time

to remove the warm sleeping thorns

The wakening worried weeds.

Listen

Softly rises passion

Where

No weeds grow

No lies abound

No birds to steal

Amongst my dreams

I hear the silence

Of roots being grounded

And nourished within the soil.

--------------------------
Written for Poetry Jam - The Sound of Silence

My Neighbor

I saw my neighbor

Slowly shuffling

Cap on head

Bag in hand

Out the door

Across the street

I sat and waited

and drove off.

-----------

Written for Poets United

*Luke 10:30

Superman

Listen

Just be quiet and listen

You can hear the sound

If you will only listen.

That’s right. You can hear it on the wind

From above

In the sky

And in seconds, he could be next to you.

His voice like a flowing river

His words to quench your fear

His presence carries hope

The answer to your prayers.

Listen again. The supersonic rush

When you need him

When you call out

Even when you are unaware.

What is he saying?

It’s the same for everyone

The words you can hear

“Do not fear. I am here.”

‘S’ is for Superman or is it for salvation?

-------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Trust

Fruit grows naturally

On a

Tree

Engrafted

Connected

We have died

To the

Law

Resurrected

In him

He is present

And real

Rises

Within

Our spirit.

Love of Christ

Bids us

Come

And just

Trust

1985

1985

Springsteen

U2

On my Sony Walkman

Cassette tape

A certain song

A variable taste

My very own expression

I was

It must be said

Very wet

In rainy Bournemouth.

Back to the future

In a glorious car

Super-charged, plutonium-fuelled,

You’re never sure what decade you're in.

A perfect evening

In comfortable seats

In the cinema

Sheltering

From the rain

On holiday in Bournemouth

The trouble is

I remember

Live Aid

St, Elmo’s Fire

A Room with a View.

And permed hair

Bright green track suits

Warm beer

Dancing

In a hotel in Bournemouth.

I think you understand

Those memories are not so clear,

And that is why,

In time,

I choose to recall your smile

The touch of your hand

The smell of your perfume

The happiness

Of our first anniversary

Shared with each other

In rainy Bournemouth.

----------

Written for Poetry Jam

Chasm

A chasm of remembrance

A river

All my strength

From its source

Believing

Love will heal.

A flow that overpowers me

I take this sign

Such fragments of life

The gift of clarity

The source of abundance

A touch that overwhelms me

A chasm of remembrance.

---------

Written for Poets United

Furnace

Your light

Molten furnace

Intense beneath the heat

The light of hope shines in the face

Your fire

Reach out groping for the last chance

Rescue from destruction

The awe of grace

Your love

------------

Written for Poetry Jam and Theme Thursday

Crimson Act

Poisonous pleasures enthrall our minds

Pleasures of beauty take our time

Trick the good into a crimson act.

See and savour Christ’s infinite beauty

Infinite value bathed in radiant glory

Value of suffering in a crimson act.

Just and good is the imprint of nature

Imprint of God served with divine value

His life a ransom in a crimson act.

Christ is given in this act of grace

Act of dying for this fallen race

Supreme honour in a crimson act.

The Letter

Stained tears

Ink kissed paper

The regret dried  slowly

I cannot find your faith or hope

Lost words

The heart stretched across the kind page

A cry in the darkness

For forgiveness

In tears

-----------

Written for Theme Thursday

Bonding

A blackbird sings out

His voice breaks

Surrounded by branches

Hidden…

Not really.

A tree drops a leaf

Floats away to freedom

Butterflies flutter off.

My eyes quiet and still

Fall into a mischievous trance

Life and health

Fill the air

I feel free

Taste the visible

On a wooden bench

In the shade

I touch life

A connection….

---------------

Written for Poetry Jam & Poets United

Crimson Redeemed

There was no escape

No way to be free

Condemned

Cursed

Crushing gilt

Crimson redeemed

We belong to Christ

Died to the law

Set free

Raised

With him

Crimson redeemed

Expression of his love

Made right with blood

Hope rises

Within

Spirit’s life

Crimson redeemed

The Traveler

He traveled far and wide

Discovered unknown oceans

Crossed solitary deserts

Allowing relentless time to pass.

He kept an ancient compass

Rode a sad camel

Flew with aimless vultures

Till time ceased to matter

He drew a curious map

Talked to hidden crocodiles

Argued with smuggled snakes

Allowing time to stretch inside

He searched in a cold climate

Inhabited by lost strangers

Caught within a lonely void

Till time dissolved into love.

-----------------

Written for Theme Thursday

Appetite

With everything offered

Anticipation

From the fountain of desire

My heart longs

For the promised dream.

Taste

The sweet cup

Of forgiveness

Over possibility

As I savor the rich nectar.

Every mouthful, breaking crumb

Every drop from your chalice

Every sip.

Open to me

Anticipation

Is your temple

Satisfying my appetite

By your touch.

----------

Written for Poets United

Birth

A piece of light

A living breath

Beneath heaven

Life is happening

The heartbeat warms

When life

Is imparted

Time is not important

Exploding tiny cycle

The words form

In fullness

The gift

A source of beauty

A hallowed soul

Child of the divine

Sealed with the Spirit

Bestowed with love.

----------------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Crimson Baptism

I died

At the cross

United in his death

A crimson baptism in blood

I died

Crucified with him

The death I deserved

A crimson baptism of sin.

I died

Now born anew

Raised to eternal life

A crimson baptism of power

Omniscience

There were footprints in the clouds

That split through a sapphire heaven

That lit the firmament in rising flames

And consumed where darkness triumphed,

Where time and dust kissed in vain

And held each other in respected awe.

There are lightning bolts in the sky

From ancient thrones where justice reigned,

From ages past in colored adoration

And lined the road to redemption.

The everlasting love song echoed

Where crystal rivers split mountains

And praise rang through the universe

Where footsteps mark heavens presence.

----------------

Written for Poets United

Knickerbocker Glory

He put his spoon into the cream

And felt about for the fruit

Strawberries

Raspberries

Perhaps a cherry

Seconds passed as he swirled

The metal chinked with the glass

Past meringue

Ice-cream

Even a cherry

Promises! Promises! He muttered

And proceeded to clear the contents

And he found the fruit

Deep inside

The realization of pure delight

Discovered in depths

Hidden in ice-cream

Set in jelly

Where eyes could not see

Its soft caress

Of joyous pleasure.

----------------

Written for Poetry Jam

Crimson Exchange

Rescued from the guilt of sin

Rescued from the power of sin

Rescued from the bondage of sin

Rescued from the stain of sin

The beauty of mercy

Liberation of trust

Crimson exchange

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Goodness

Faithfulness

Self-control

Gentleness

Freed by God’s glorious grace

Freed by God’s overwhelming love

Freed by Christ’s amazing display

Freed by Christ’s transforming power

The difference of mercy

Provision of trust

Crimson exchange

Released

I wanted you to know my joy

Not just a touch of it

To feel the sun, because pain will destroy

More than love can reach, a glance

Towards the Father’s palace,

Yet when the night is past to now enjoy

The hope of treasure in your dance.

You can fill a vacant heart

With yesterday’s words

That hides outside wraths chart,

Better the smile filling hopes space

Enriched with the peace

That brings us here, once you released the hurt

Sown in crimson, healed with grace.

---------------------

Written for Theme Thursday

Stones

Ancient stones cry out and silence answers

From that deep foundation placed into time

It claims the cold, and woven through the years

Mercy softens the heart, found in granite

And cast within a seam of forgiveness.

----------------------------

Written for Poetry Jam and Poets United

Father's Day

You run to greet me

Welcome me in

Put your arms around me

Celebrate my return.

Foolish and arrogant

My headstrong soul

Wanders and drifts

But you never fail.

Loving and merciful

You will never leave

Gracious and close

Safe in your embrace.

Crimson Petals

Love is a seed

Not just for today

Sown in our minds, randomly.

Sometimes planted

By a hidden smile

By a reaching touch

Or by an act of kindness.

For love slowly grows and blossoms in time,

Nurtured by tears to flower.

Never letting go

Held tight in a clasp

With a swooning beauty

Crouches in wait to move

In a crimson petal.

Love flows

Through deep forgiving scars

Willing and brittle

We watch in awe at the wonder of creation.

For hope moves into every whispered heart,

Whilst the beauty of love gloriously flowers. 

----------------

Written for Poetry Jam and Poets United 

Place Your Hand

If you place your hand

Silently

Into the grasp of love

Try not to fumble

With words that weigh

Heavily

Fondle the dream

Tighten your cold fingers

Let blood enter your wrists

And hold to the touch

Embrace

In moments of quiet

Rise from your lovers sleep

Strike the experience of pain

And grasp the dawn

Towards the breaking light.

Evolve

Don’t blow your breath on worry

Grasp the air

Surging up

Pushing into

A clouded mirror

Make your way

Towards light

Begin to stir

Reaching out to touch your presence

Struggle to connect

Drawn to light

Open up

Find the brightness

Discover wonder

Break out

And evolve

Into new life

Don’t blow your breath on worry

Set your spirit free

Worship

------------

Written for Theme Thursday

Inspired by a line from a poem by Brian Miller

I Remember

I remember

Your eyes,

Your hollow stare

Of an Empty day

As deaths white horse

In shadows and light

Transforming eclipse

Nothing is real.

Convince me

Touch the past

Alter my face

With squandered breath

And chosen grace

Peer through windows

Stranded awe

Into a world of dangerous intent

Your peace

Each step unseen

Brings me life

Colors my soul

Cleanses my temple

In moments of stillness

Reveals time shape

I remember.

---------------------

Written for Poets United

Journey

How I love the long winding road

That snaked between dry stone walls across the moors,

Golden shadows restless in the breeze

And dance in the forgotten refuge of loneliness.

Now I remember the dark, chilling place

With rolled up sleeves, a fierce resolve

That the journey on all I have staked

Should find my soul finally at peace.

--------------

Written for Poetry Jam