A Miscellany of Verse
On The Ten Commandments
The first commandment clearly sets the pace:
When God is first the rest will fall in place.
Since there is only One whom we adore,
Before no idol bow down anymore.
Our heav'nly Father -- he of holy name --
Commands our words and deeds will speak his fame.
Six days God worked and then he took his rest;
When we pause once a week it's for our best.
Obey your parents' voice when you are small
And care for them with love when you grow tall.
God will not hold you faultless: rid your heart
of anger; love your brother when it's hard.
One man, one woman and one bond for life;
God first, then love your husband, love your wife.
The love of money, once it stains your soul,
Will discontent you as it takes its toll.
Both lying and statistics reign, it's true,
But only one is damnably in view.
Avoiding theft, adultery and lies?
You covet, showing that it's all inside.
On the Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor and empty
they shall have the kingdom heav’nly.
Blessed those who find in mourning
comfort in Christ’s grace each morning.
Blessed are the meek and lowly,
they shall win the world, if slowly.
Blessed is that holy hunger
satisfying old and younger.
Blessed mercy, (hearts forgiven),
warms our hearts t'ward mercy-giving.
Blessed are pure hearts who love grace,
they’ll see God one day in Christ’s face.
Blessed are the peace-purveyors
called by God his sons forever.
Blessed when the world reviles you,
when you’re under persecution,
like the prophets you were righteous,
joy in heaven crowns what’s proven.
Christmas
Theotokos (On Mary, the God-bearer)
He kicked you in the belly
from the inside out.
You knew he heard your singing --
soon you'd hear his shout.
You were the first to greet him
after his first breath.
He'll be the first to greet you
after you meet death.
Christ came first to a mother,
then to us as a brother.
Christmas 2025
On Luke 2
Before the rush of Christmas guests, and, feeling like pariahs,
the tired couple finds some rest
and hears again
the angel when
he promised a Messiah.
Before gift-givers found a way
to frenzy through the season,
the weary two feel on this day
postpartum joy
to see their boy
whom God has called the Reason.
Christmas 2021
"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
On John 1
Glory hides, where it resides,
within the newborn's flesh;
Wisdom's breath to make the earth
cries out from in the creche;
Truth and grace - the infant's face -
point to Emmanuel;
Word divine, the Father's sign
will death and dark dispel.
John 1:14 (December 2020)
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth."
Incarnation
The shortest day
The darkest night
Then formed in clay
The birth of Light
Winter Solstice 2020
But First, the Good News
A fetus was first to acknowledge with joy
the Christ as he leapt in Elizabeth's womb;
The first to declare that the Christ was God's son
was the hangman, a Gentile, a soldier of Rome.
A woman was first to proclaim he arose
when Mary rushed back to the hushed upper room.
As Jesus was firstfruit to rise from the grave
so we'll all arise to new life from the tomb.
The world's way of thinking was turned on its head:
the last became first when Christ rose from the dead.
Holy Week
"Maundy" from the Latin "Mandate"
Maundy Thursday and the New Mandate
(A Sonnet Meditating on John 13)
They huddled in an upper room to eat
(With dust of earthly striving still replete)
No mood to serve, each sitting in his seat,
Then Jesus stoops to wash their soiled feet:
"Mandatum novum do vobis - A new
commandment I am giving all of you
To love each other as you've seen me do;
Through service others will see me in you.
Though you betray me love will still prevail,
Though you deny me love will never fail,
I well remember you are dust, as frail
As flowers, yet love roots you in the gale.
You cannot serve me if you do not love,
Nor love me true if not born from above."
Jesus loves me, this I know
O Jesus pity me a sinful man
Who loves that which you cannot look upon.
Regard in me through bloody-tinted glasses
Your own goodness. This is love: which passes
Merits from itself to me. I throw
Myself on God and pardon's peace I know.
As darkness clouds my skeptic mind, just so
My rebel heart beats mad and makes me slow
To bend my knee. But conscience tells against me:
Christ the Word—a Bible inwardly—
Attests the Truth, and graciously grants sight;
For in his light I fin'lly see all light.
My poor heart aches to rest in his embrace—
To feel one smile of grace from him whose face
A little child would trust. Can I belong
(They easily accept it) with the strong?
Who are the saints? Where is their secret power?
My will is weak but he remains my tower!