We live in what we deem
Sunlight bright
But it’s just the glare of night
We do not see clearly at all
We peer as through a veil
A glass of deepest hue
There is a certain kind of light
We perceive beyond the night
Faces close as can be pressed
For but a glimpse
A drawing near to
the figure of one blessed
Who dwells within the light
Of His own eternal glory.
Passing the angel art on the fence yesterday, the poem from this day in 2009 immediately came to mind:
Sephiroth Sonnet
Dear Yahweh send an Uriel this night
From the southern heavens fly our way
From your Holy presence flaming light
Take our prayers to your heart we pray
On heavenly heights one mighty stands
With precious healing sent from our God
Grant us mercy to our outstretched hands
Bud anew upon this dry and withered rod
Come Michael, O warrior of God grand
Smite this plague that thirsts to kill
Blood of the Lamb, cover this dark land
with celestial healing may lungs so fill
Come Gabriel, Come Michael, Uriel do sail
Oh Holy God, may your heavenly glory prevail!
One night stands
John Clare Stokes
For one night we allowed ourselves
to return to the field of play
bringing the ball up the court
for the brothers in red
Galloping down the field in
the loose fitting jersey
Splitting wide in the homespun
Cheerleading uniform
Heading up the hill in the Charger
out to ghost light frights
Not daring to ask her out in our shyness
Taking a half century to muster courage
But by then what does one do
when all the places to go are gone
even the very school and the home room
to return to on Monday
Your friends anxiously waiting to ask
What did you do
How far did you go
And you lie and of course say
All the way to State.
Upon the 50th high school class reunion
Little Pan
To us he will always be
Our Little Pan
He will grow into a man
Put aside flying with
Tinkerbell
In a far off land dwell
But we will never
Cease to tell
Of the magical dust
Little Pan once
Sprinkled over us.
Swing Lo, Swing Sopchoppy
My brother Lewis years ago swinging into the Sopchoppy
River across from our parsonage in Sopchoppy. Lewis wasn't born until we moved from Sopchoppy to Monticello in November of 1963. My sister Paula and I both learned to swim here. It was quite an accomplishment we thought to be able to swim to the dock across the black waters. My father rarely swam, the only time I recall him in water was at Blue Springs and even then he wore long pants in the water. My mother likewise was not a swimmer, only once I recall her getting in the Sopchoppy with me in her black one piece and black inner tube. We were probably the only kids not allowed to swim on Sunday when all the town seemed to gather in front of the house. Now the swimming hole is grown over and totally unseen from the road. What then seemed a large river to a child, is to an adult a mere creek.
Some free poetry
Don't make life more difficult than it is,
Like don't shake the bottle,
It won't fizz.
Be kind to ma, who can't hear or see,
She put up with you,
When you were ugly and smelly.
Appreciate your pastor, give him a Mac,
And when he's attacked,
How bout 'gettin his back!'
And settle down,marry her and quit the beer,
And quit talking deer,deer,deer!
Tell the bride she's mighty pretty,
Not too fat, not too skinny(in all sincerity)
And you will live a long life and not at a young age croak,
And by the way,
Slow down and only pass when them yellow lines are broke.
When Tuesday looks gloomy
I return to Monday
And the memory
Of leaving the bike
To watch a bee....
When you think
Life stinks
And you’re in a
Class four sink
Think how great
You did think
To have your
Paddle and kayak
For just such times
In the brink...
Would the pieces fit
The modular man
Eyes from a Keller
Ears from a deaf fellow
Tongue from poison asp
Nose of Jimmy Durante
Mouth of Navy sailor
Brain of one insane
The Rollei
When one wants to see anew
Take something vintage
And through it view
A vision intended
Big Shoals
It’s a nice hike
Best when waters low
For if you go
Along the Florida Trail
And you don’t want to
Walk an extra mile
Up the hill
To the beam bridge
You can hop across
Robinson branch
That is
If the waters low
Or, just get wet
Either way
It will do you good
And btw
When you get to the
Shoals
Be sure to sign my card
In the tree notch
That way
Next time I come
I’ll know you’ve
Been there too.
