Promise

Every fleeting breath

Knows the joy

Of wonder

For drifting songs

Sung in a symphony

Wakes the world

Heralds the promise

Just for me

Unpacked Suitcase

Unpacked suitcase

Chestnut shadowed curves

Small perfect window

Innocent silhouette

Hidden year on year

Unpacked suitcase

Honeysuckle malice

Blistered passion

Solace of hope

Past becomes the future

Unpacked suitcase

Mistress of crimson

Mania or despair

Legacy `filled chest

Ransom’s treasure

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life on My account will find it – Matthew 10:39.

My Headstrong Heart

Flowers of harvest rust

Loveliest crimson

For two small sparrows

Comfort and conquer

My headstrong heart

As the thickening atmosphere

Sheds its natural dread

Where shadows turn

And flickering light melts

My headstrong heart

Everything is laid bare

There is nothing left to say

No sound, no movement

Just the forgiveness offered to

My headstrong heart

Another Life

Under white leaves

Orange evening grass

Unravelled Stitches

Drizzle silent love

In the light of another life

Psalm 13

A vacuum within realities

Threatening rumblings

Growing more intense

Deep within me

Wars take place

After the last door has shut

The liquid of experience

Asks each question

And offers freedom

From regret and despair

Listen to your promises

For the sharing of your blood

Is the reason why I saw,

Forgiveness in your love

Psalm 12

I have seen justice

I have watched as others escaped

I have cherished goodness

I have seen weakness burn.

On falling leaves and rising suns

On something as lifeless as rock

On a far away persistent clock

On a granite boulder sealed to hold

A time when things were made to live

A furnace heat to purify silver

A fragment of a splintered heart

A place that once meant nothing

You remain faithful now and forever

You protect all that are oppressed

You reveal yourself in scarlet nails

You provided everything in your sacrifice

Psalm 11

The night is over

The air is calm and still

Through misty silent valleys

Gleaming water drops

Dance in anticipation

Shimmering

Tender, profound, forgiving love,

Rising into waves of praise

Imparts the perfume of heaven

Omnipotent grace

Dissolving beams of light

Infusing every heart

Shining within

The sun of righteousness.

---

Psalm 11 - New Living Translation

Psalm 10

Dust sparkles in the sun

Small gleams on the bank

Gemstones silent in the moonlight

Angels on the ramparts

This piece of eternal sky

This place beyond today

For arms ached

Hands blistered

Leaf stains as thickened wine

Distant memories.

Written in a century of dreams

Hopes rise as a watchman

Beyond the guilty stains

Marble fire possessing veins

And wonders at the eloquence of love

For mercy melts granite hearts.

----

Psalm 10 - New Living Translation

My Father

My Father, knows

what I need

understands me.

I am connected with Him

to enjoy His life

feel His delight

share His presence.

whispering

calm assurance

to each of His children.

Psalm 9

Benches adorn a square of grass

Asleep by a public fountain

A tree stands as great as heaven

Chequered pattern dancing in the light

And not far from the old stone wall

Where paths and narrow porches

Decorate the shadows

And dance submerged in flint and glass

The earth lies flooded with glory

On a clear calm evening

In an act of praise

Abbey bells ring

For the dream becomes reality

Taste the bread of life

Accept the gift of grace

Sweet the moment immersed in love

For worship bursts with desire

In radiant shining glory.


----

Psalm 9 - New Living Translation

Psalm 8

Vermilion sky

Radiant heavens brightness

Rainbows blossom in a dance

Rich clouds and warm rain

Floating feathers of light

From enchanting stars.

I wonder at the sovereign splendor

Mountains high and rising tides

Kiss the shores of diamond lakes

Reflecting the beauty of creation glances

A world of sweetness

This amethyst dawn shakes free

As warm sun-fingers

Are wrapped in hidden reverence

Declare to life the glory of love

Immersed under a banner of treasured grace.

---

Psalm 8 - New Living Translation

Psalm 7

The mountains call

Flickering rainbows of light

Chasing the clouds

Onward in anticipation

Transported beyond

Fragile rising storms

Unsuspecting arrival

Contemplation of joy

Dangled before my eyes

A covenant of awe

Somehow understood

In the moment of participation

Reserved for me

An undoubted pleasure

Eternal protection.


Psalm 7 - New Living Translation

Psalm 6

Between lost and becoming

Echo so intense

Meandering like shadows

Into a drowned future

Drifting dreamily towards

Old scenes

Old friends

Old days

The joyful praise of a vision

Room and roofs of refuge

Have become my dwelling

In the doorway of your house

Where I find your unfailing love

And weeping

And tears

And hopelessness

Of a suffered life

Is healed

In the promise of rest

And held with the shield of love

---

Psalm 6 - New Living Translation

Kissed

Unparalleled passion

Infinite worth

Word became flesh

Divine gift of grace

Unfathomable love

Kissed our birth

Absorbed our pain

Died in our place.

Morning Dew

Pictures of the heart

Paint pastel beauty

Joy and praise

Forever

Encapsulate

Love is real

You

Our morning dew

Psalm 5

Who will bear testimony to

This life-renewing discovery,

Falling transcendence

Love, forgiveness, renewal,

On an empty hillside

I never heard a sound

Failure, loss, despair

Hung from a single thread

Pardon, glorious certainty, union,

Everything has changed

-----

Psalm 5 - New Living Translation

Psalm 4

A golden leaf spins

Dances in the autumn wind

Drifts of marble rain

Sweeps across the path

As clouds so low I can barely see

The bright morning light

As I silently stumble

And trust the harvest

Spring follows winter

Joy comes after pain

Loss turns to gain

Death changed to life eternal

And after that moment

The peace of dreams

Your face in the mirror

Beyond hope

Sown in a crimson thread

For when I call on you

You declare me innocent

And shower me with your abundance.

-----

Psalm 4 - New Living Translation

Psalm 3

In the coolness and freshness of the morning

Step into the garden

Breathe the fragrance of the breeze

The light of beauty

And find refreshment

And renewal

And in creation’s aroma

The presence of His mighty power

In deep awareness that He is good

His blessings abound

And in the heart and soul

Of abounding love

I am forever secure.

Psalm 3 - NLT

Psalm 2

Remove the bandages

From this chasm of pain

The prism of separation,

For with freedom of vision

One word is infinite

to exalt all things

 And In dancing sunlight

I see things whole.

Speak the word

Listen to the truth

His planned expression of love

For He who paints the sunset

So gloriously in the sky

Enraptures my soul

Captures my heart

And declares,

I am Precious to Him

He has promised

To turn my crisis into an oasis

Of goodness and mercy.

Psalm 2 - NLT

Psalm 1

Golden glory

Delighting the eye

Captivating the heart

As the seasons glistens

In rich white blossom

and emerald river banks

exploding

in a blaze of graceful yellow chains

responding to the brightness of the sun

with eyes wide open

to the imperceptible river of grace

flowing

overwhelming every second

dissolved with the joy of love

and held in my Fathers embrace.

---

Psalm 1 - New Living

This Rest

Sweet the moments

Immersed in heaven

Constant praise

This love

So much within

This rest

Joy released

Constant grace

Fire and Air

Today

I pierce the world’s skin

Crimson coloured fluid

Oozed from giant wounds

Our spirits

Danced in livid rage

Blood anointed scared knives

Clashed

Our skin is icy

Violet crystal within the veil

The wound

The silence

The wretchedness

The desolation

In the place of death

At the heart of legend

I will say nothing

As voices fail

And grace is shared

And come to live with us.

(Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion) – Hebrews 3:15

The Foolish Man

No time to stand still

Brick upon brick

In the worst possible place

In the calm before the storm

Freedom

Visions of growing old

Outside

Swathes of water

On the roof, shining

Creak of wood

Pounding

Heavy as stone

Anger

Rage

The little word

Never had time

To stand

To age

To resist

And after the rain

The sky is clear.

My heart is made of stone.

My name is chalked upon the rock.

Written for Poets United (Susan’s prompt of foolishness) but also works with Mary’s prompt of time at Poetry Jam

(But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. – Matthew 7 v 26-27).

Trust

Small bud of trust

Blossoming flower of laughter

Small bud of trust

Faithful confidence never rust

Grasp your hand joyous forever

Knee-deep through life gripped together

Small bud of trust.

(Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much – Luke 16v10).

Drown In The River

 A soft feather of divine bliss

Living fountain, transcended joy

Sweet fullness to dismiss despair.

Consume ecstasy life’s pure delight

Kiss the miracle of answered prayer

Glistening diamond, unfathomable peace.

From the everlasting waterfall grace streams

Intense presence quenches the fever of life

Drown in the river and be renewed.

(Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4v14)

Alabaster Bottle

No words of self defense

Nothing uttered

No attempt to justify

Nothing to defend

No explanation

In the face of criticism

An act of extravagant love

Shameless, selfless

Broken alabaster bottle

Forlorn grace

A legacy of devotion

With drops of matchless beauty

Tears of tenderness

The light of love in the

Darkness of sin

Brokenness

The costliest perfume

Spilled, poured,

Compelled by tears

Expression of selfless worship

Whispers the heart of love.

(A woman came with a jar of special perfume. She had given much money for this. She broke the jar and poured the special perfume on the head of Jesus. – Mark 14:3).

Written for Poetry Jam

Promise

Cleansing rainstorm pure release

Nourish my soul and with grace

dance as colourful sunbeams

Promise of your love.

(Not one of all the Lords good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled – Joshua 21:45).

Eternal Promise

Night has passed over

Embrace your strength and refuge

Peace and rest for weary souls.

Eternal promise

Your comfort now fills my heart

Allow your spirit’s leading.

(Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God – Deuteronomy 7:9).

Boundless

Boundless provision of rest

strength overwhelms holds my heart
taste the sweet divine nectar

infinite heaven

(The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night. – Numbers 11 v 9)

Promise Of Life

Promise of life

Hallowed father’s heavens pure grace

Promise of life

Kingdoms compassion heals my strife

Forever you took my disgrace

Love consumed was carved in your face

Promise of life

(Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name – Matthew 6v9).

The balm of encouragement

Filled with compassion

The balm of encouragement

Within the eternal agenda.

In your still small voice

Quiet words in the time of need

Allows my heart to remain soft.

(but exhort one another daily – Hebrews 3:13)

Awesome Tree

In you I find

Love and kindness

My mind in grace

Mercy placed

Encased in such selfless love.

Hope at the cross

Grasp of loss past

From dross set free

Awesome tree now

Set me on the path to your great love.

(But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared – Titus 3:4)

Heart

Scarlet candles, going nowhere

Hidden chambers, forlorn angels,

After midnight secret despair

Scarlet candles.

Tears of passion through life’s trials.

For spent pleasures never compare,

Where hope shines bright, through pure vials,

Loves desire, each beat aware,

Beautiful grace, tender ripples,

Divine tremor each vein prepare

Scarlet candles.

(Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow – Isaiah 1:18)

A Roundel Written for Poets United – The Heart

Steel

Hot reinforced steel

Shines stainless on your spent sun

Heat scorches the heart.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds – 2 Corinthians 10:4)

Possession - Sedoka

In a net of stars

A place of light and darkness

Rest in a moment of prayer

The struggle for peace

Felt inside with each heart beat

Life at last released in love.

(It shall be, in regard to their inheritance, that I am their inheritance. You shall give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. – Ezekiel 44:28)

Complete Union - Sedoka

Every vein in me

Affirms with recognition

Recreate you deep inside

This worn crinkled mask

Curtains of pleasure and pain

Life in complete union

(As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him – Colossians 2:6)

Every Morning - Sedoka

Sweet soft intrusions

Lengthening shadows in light

As rains scarf burdens the air

I lie listening

Awake as faint tears drizzle

Alive to the wings of dawn.

(Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23) 

The Architect

One whose heart can never alter

One whom change cannot affect

Glorious, gracious, life’s creator

One whose heart can never alter

Rapture of love, heaven’s altar

Holy, righteous, architect

One whose heart can never alter

One whom change cannot affect

(You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever, - Psalm 104:5)

No Accusations

Let the accusations, have no grounds

Let words no longer condemn

Let guilt be cast aside

Listen to the whisper

Christ has cancelled our debt

Forever with his death

And Satan has no grounds to accuse us.

Let this truth disarm

Every lie

Harsh and unforgiving

That would try to condemn us
Hear the eternal cry.

Let our hearts agree

It God who justifies

Christ is our righteousness

The case is closed

Our accuser is disarmed

Bold and free

Eternally redeemed

Free from condemnation.

(having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. – Colossians 2 : 14-15)

The Vinedressers

Time drew near

And the vinedressers

Of a far away land

In fields that are dark

Beat and stoned

And killed each servant.

On ritual ground

An impossible tower

Entangled in the poison tree.

The master’s tears

Born in hope

Dissolved in despair

Stepped back to mercy

His only option

To offer his son.

Compassionate blood

Poured out on the wild vine

Dashed over a stone.

They took his inheritance

With poison and lies

Rejected

Crushed the stone

Demolished

His precious son.

And broke the heart of the master.

(There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country – Matthew 21:33)

Written For D’verse – Where Brian asked us to write a story forbedtime!

You Are There

Bring to memory

precious words that stamp my heart

prayers you have answered

wonders you have shown

your presence with me

you are there

("Christ in you - the hope of glory" - Colossians 1:27)

Written for D'verse - Grace's prompt  - Inspirational words that change our lives

Crimson Chalice

A wine from a pure vine

Shared in tender beauty

Poured out from a crimson chalice.

Taste the sharpness of the fruit

Strong sweetness entwined with goodness

Scarlet blossom, delicate richness.

From a rich nectar ruby drops seep

Delicate tears cascade, overflow, so

drink the dew and be thankful.

(I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:6)

Equality in the Eyes

Leaves rust on branches

A hope of expectation

Ashes steal the light

Child's silent shadow

A threshold of hidden grace

Perish on the edge

Moment of your truth

Crackled and burned around me

All born to perish

Hope veiled in heaven

Rumor of freedom wings flight

In love’s gracious eyes.

(Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God – Romans 15:7)

Written for Poets United - Equality

Clap

Life spirit of praise

Sycamore and cedar sing

Nature’s joyful dance

Welcome summer sun

Each leaf shines with your release

Freedom’s first chorus

(For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills

shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12)

Swept Away

Swept away forever

The measure of dread

In flaming fire

The smoke of torment

A consuming fire

Sins contamination

Poured out at the cross

A fury of fire

Drink the wine of Gods wrath

From the cup of anger

Grasp the sweetness

Crimson savoured

Once and forever

We have been redeemed

The price paid for

Perfect atonement

In holy union

That brings us now

To perfection and joy.

Anthem

Inscribed galaxies

Declare the song of mercy

Heavens grace anthem

(For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him – Psalm 103:11)

Scars

Written in scars

Afflicted wounds of sorrows past

Written in scars

Precious love his sacrifice ours

Grace to me, infinite and vast

My name was in crimson streams cast

Written in scars

(Isaiah 49:16  Behold, I have carved you on the palms of My hands)

A Rondelet for D’Verse - Meeting the Bar: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Stars

Stars placed before time

Flicker with pure silver light

Glorious kingdom

(The Lord has established His throne in heaven,

And His kingdom rules over all. - Psalm 103:19)

Lifted

Lifted up to the end

Led captive by the weak

Angry taunts carefully made

Curses ground in nails.

Fixed upon a patch of land

Pain and sorrow mingle

A mutilated promise hung

Consuming the flame of wisdom.

Watch the soul of grace expire

Power displayed revealed in wonder

Love saluted with surrendered passion

Transmuted in sovereign sacrifice.

(And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. – John 3:14-15)   

Restore

Glorious beauty

immense ocean, drop of love

stainless acceptance

from Isaiah 49:8