Guitar Riff

Music became life
On a full-size bed where dance
Was called by my brother
On his electric blue Fender
With white highlights and magic.
I was just little
He was my hero, and is,
Though we had our downs,
He has gone ahead, but I
Think of him often and all
The talent carried
In someone I could see, touch,
Have play songs for me,
I guess he jams with those who
He could play in such detail.
I still love the sound
Of music turned up a bit loud
My dancing is less
Beautiful and precise, but
The songs bring me back to life.

Eschew/Renew

We sketch our lives in
Invisible ink on these walls
Of air, earth, fire, flesh;
We pass like roses, beauty,
Only present a short while.
Our hands busy, selves,
Creating foundations for
Futures never ours,
Generations we offer
Our best gifts, accomplishments.
Now, we sing against
Doubt, fear, insecurity –
Fighting shadow blight
Where the fruit will flourish, brave,
In gardens of delight, saved
From degradations,
We erase with consistent
Labor over years
Paying in earnest, never
Letting faith, hope, slip away.
Love, our guiding light
Though we fade in brightest glare,
Almost completely
Unknown, contributing hearts
To lives, we wish to see free.
Words cannot bring
Every dream into being,
But speaking, a tool,
Purpose-built to encourage
Change within lives reached, inspired.
Plentiful, we, examples
Scattered over time, what minds
Mend, creating more sublime,
Love, part an art, taught hands-on
Driving history toward grace
Still, counting every life, face,
A precious gift to embrace,
With confidence, each person
Has meaning, purpose, reason,
Position in time and space.

Heart/Soul

Adding Up

Did you stop to hear the bird sing,
See the beauty of a rose,
Wonder at the singularity of humans,
Have your face licked by a dog?
Do you know with these things
Beloved, God pours out His love?
He counts you precious treasure
And has filled life with His riches,
You are the child He smiles upon
Be confident in the Savior’s heart
You exist with infinite worth.

Departing – Run

The roses in my
Tomb bloom with little violence
Crimson as innocent blood;
I realize others are
Insecurely fragile as well.
This life
Is living proved
Without consequence beyond
The limit of thought
Within minds much overwrought;
Where love requires vacation.
Creativity
Once solid shelter from storms
Becomes a tantrum,
Storm, its own, without control
Each issue written larger.
Isolation is
A rock in the cityscape
Sudden harsh breaking,
Force unleashed to destroy all,
But tattered souls in shadow.
Putting together
Strength remains monumental,
For teaching oneself
Swift to walk on, abandon,
When patience begs, continue.
Stately dragon lies
Upon ashes, abject ruin,
Indeed the phoenix will not
Rise because hope has farther
Flown than ever before known,
Death, dying, fear, sadness roost.
Still, the sky above
Declares itself an instrument
Of God’s inception,
A ceiling painted with wonder
Under which humans flourish.