Category Archives: Poetry

Tranquility’s Home Base

Posted on by
13
U. S. Highway 33 travels through the heart of the Ohio’s Hocking Hills. (Courtesy of Pinterest)

Excited for weekend

Highway’s invitation

Stopping in Laurelville

Morning’s breakfast station

 

Greeted by big blue sky

Hocking Hills calling out

Tasting landscape’s beauty

Daffodils set to sprout

 

Battered red pick-up truck

Pair of windows rolled down

Offering scent of spring

Backroads leading from town

 

Coffee Emporium

Partnered with sweetest treats

Gathering up goodness

Harmony’s faithful beat

 

Old Man’s Cave reigns ahead

Tranquility’s home base

Sharing nature’s spirit

Creator’s blessed place

 

A view inside the landscape of Old Man’s Cave at Ohio’s Hocking Hills State Park. (Courtesy of Pinterest)

 

My wife and I stop in at the Coffee Emporium once a week for fantastic coffee, warm and friendly hospitality, and delicious food.  It is located between Logan and Old Man’s Cave. (Courtesy of Pinterest)

Each Unique Breath (Haiku Series #372)

Posted on by
10

Surprise

Landscape glistens white

Winter gift-wrapped for one day—

Melting tomorrow

Melodramatic

Calendar page turns

Blistering heat dome moves in—

Spring’s ironic script

Summoned

Thunderstorm descends

Torrential raindrops blossom—

Floodgates spring to close

Heartbeat of Father

Posted on by
18

From Exodus 20:2-3:  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before Me.”

Photo by Anuja Tilj on Pexels.com

Each day’s beginning

Scheduling His Word

Moments with Father

Embracing what’s heard

 

Any given hour

Pausing for prayer

Spirit nurtures trust

Erasing despair

 

Daily worship time

Praising Lord above

Uplifted in faith

Witnessing His love

 

Blessed fellowship

Caring for others

Never too busy

Serving another

 

This day now ending

Resting in His grace

Heartbeat of Father

Transforming hope’s place

 

Photo by Manuel Aldana on Pexels.com

From Romans 8:28:  “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”

Focus Refreshed (Elfchen Series #295)

Posted on by
2

Disciplined

Expecting

Faithfully listening

Seeking Father’s guidance

Immersed in His Word

Direction

Gathered

Mentoring

Mercy transcending

Counseling with righteousness

Savior’s grace upon thee

Instruction

Transformed

Surrounding

Peace forgiving

Promising Calvary’s light

Thorns of sin crushed

Redemption

Fed From Above

Posted on by
8

From Proverbs 3:1-2:  “My child, do not forget My teaching, but let your heart keep My commandments, for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you.”

Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com

New dawn harvests light

Sowing truth from God

Embracing His peace

Each faithful seedpod

 

Heart keeps commandments

Following God’s flight

Honoring His Word

Joy grows in His sight

 

Every path straightened

Accepting God’s grace

Forsaking darkness

Faith climbs each staircase

 

Refreshment prepared

Offering God’s love

Healing man’s fabric

Trust fed from above

 

Radiant wisdom

Planting God’s next seed

Cultivating hope

Christ forever leads

 

Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

From Proverbs 3:11-12:  “My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves the one He loves, as a father the son in whom He delights.”

Monday Memories: Buried Faith

Posted on by
12

From the words of American pastor and Christian author, A. W. Tozer:  “Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”

Photo by Brady Knoll on Pexels.com

Winter’s lost, snow-covered faith

Father’s presence, long frozen

Buried faith, under deep drifts

Lack of any hope, blows in

 

Christ melts each frozen glacier

Ice turns to living water

Holy Spirit flows with hope

God’s Word molds, as faith’s potter

 

Spring arrives, God’s Holy love

Maturing into life’s fruit

Flowering trees, witness faith

Hope emerging, each new shoot

 

Resurrection brings new life

Hungry faith springs with fresh growth

Spirit warms forgotten hearts

Faith then hope, Christ unearths both

 

Photo by Secret Garden on Pexels.com

From Proverbs 3:3-4:  “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people.”

Originally published February, 2021.

Emotions

Posted on by
10
Photo by Michalis Venetsianos on Pexels.com

Salty seas

Cascading moods

Some moments serene

Others rise, stormy brewed

 

Angry waves

Gathering tides

Timeless, rushing in

Next generation guides

 

Gloomy clouds

Hiding danger

Ships’ rock-filled graveyard

Guarded by new ranger

 

Fortunes change

Rescuing peace

Peril uncovered

Lighthouse opens eyepiece

 

Quiet light

Building up steam

Tranquility flows

Spirit redeems moonbeams

 

Emotions

Flowing away

Gentleness breathes

Illuminates this day

 

Photo by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels.com

This poem is inspired by the words of American poet, Martin Buxbaum (1912-1991):  “I have seen the sea when it is steady and wild, when it is quiet and serene; when it is dark and moody.  And in all its moods, I see myself.”

Spirit Awakens (Haiku Series #371)

Posted on by
14

Warmth

Radiant sunrise

Landscape springs forward with hope—

Goodbye winter blues

Life

Refreshing rebirth

Creation’s blessed treasures—

Spring’s salvation blooms

Transformation

Spring’s welcoming breath

Waking from winter’s slumber—

Freshened with color

Ember of Hope

Posted on by
15

From Psalm 130:7-8:  “O Israel, hope in the Lord!  For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is great power to redeem.  It is He who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.”

Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels.com

Entering empty valley

Lifeless without form

Yet, ember of hope breathes

Escaping from every storm

 

Waiting to hear Father’s voice

In depths of despair

Hope filled with steadfast love

Praying for His divine care

 

Standing tall in His presence

Father’s promised grace

Tender morning rises

Redeeming hope to embrace

 

Fulfilling spirit of hope

Found in Father’s Son

His peace granted to man

Leaving all darkness, as One

 

Believing in risen Christ

Truth revealed at dawn

Resurrection breathes life

Sending hope, faith draws upon

 

Photo by Joerg Hartmann on Pexels.com

From Romans 8:10-11:  “But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you.”

Always Out Front (Elfchen Series #294)

Posted on by
15

Constantly

Jesus

Always first

Easing life’s burdens

Grace fills another moment

Faith

Totally

Messiah

Offering light

Mercy’s navigational compass

Comforted through His love

Trust

Absolutely

Savior

Destiny’s truth

Shaping every step

Each worry set aside

Righteousness

This series of poems (written in the German-inspired style of Elfchen or Elevenie) shares a total of eleven words in each poem, with a sequence by line of one, two, three, four, and one words.