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Maryland
Blue crab
Cheesy appetizer dip
So many tasty recipes
Yummy!
Choptank
River’s name
Crab hunting paradise
Jimmies and sooks invite
Maryland
Elfchen Series #5
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Category Archives: Poetry
Preserving His Saints
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When life’s eventual calamities gather and appear
Providing safe refuge, God emerges without fear
Our Lord remains sovereign over His domain
Assembling Christians to worship in His name
Rock of infinite refuge and mighty fortress to see
Hearing God’s Holy words, coming to rescue thee
Dark and evil situations linger and wait to thrive
Offering worthless promises, the Enemy strives
His hollow assurances hide a dishonest net
Waiting to capture us, continually a threat
Righteous wisdom and truth reside with our Lord
Witnessing our sinful afflictions, like a river to ford
God never gives up on anyone, never makes a fuss
Standing between the Enemy and his devilish lust
Our Lord commands us to deposit trust in Him
Allowing His countenance to shine through sin
Abundant goodness will reach out from Heaven
Hearing our supplications and prayers, so driven
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes to save
Defeating forever sin’s darkness and the grave
His glory spreads to cover each corner of the earth
Saving our resurrected lives with a heavenly berth
All confidently march in spirit to accept His grace
Seeking Christ’s salvation, with rich mercy to taste
Our Lord comes again to preserve His saints
Prompting all Christians to be faithful mates
God stands ready, listening to everyone’s cause
Sacrificing Jesus for us, we kneel without pause
Our Father wants His children to be saved
Desiring that all will return to Him one day
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The foundation for this poem comes from Psalms 31 and 51. Here are a few of my favorite verses from them.
- Psalm 31:3-4: “You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me.”
- Psalm 51:2-3: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”
Do you have a favorite verse or verses from any of the Psalms? You are invited to share it in the comments.
Waterfront View
Maryland is a welcome location to visit, and the city of Cambridge provides several beautiful and relaxing waterfront views. Big Sky Buckeye’s bride grew up on the Eastern Shore. Enjoy the poem as well as the photographs.
Maryland’s Eastern Shore beckons one and all
Traveling to Dorchester County as its final call
The immense Chesapeake Bay patiently awaits nearby
Inviting the spacious Choptank River to always drop by
Choptank refers to a former Native American tribe
Assimilating into society, today they no longer thrive
Night’s darkness transports stillness into the chilly air
Raining lightly as water flows into a creek with care
Cambridge Creek stands ready around the clock
Creating a home for numerous small boats to dock
The inner harbor used to play host to larger ships
Processing seafood and more to load at a fast clip
Morning light arrives at the peaceful creek
Waking up waterfowl and people who greet
Canvasback ducks convene at their winter home
Sharing space with seagulls, never being alone
Activity stirs up quickly around the picturesque creek
Preparing crab boats, for delicious treasure to seek
A small sailboat motors quietly down the water’s chute
Passing beneath the raised drawbridge with a salute
Peace and tranquility return there every night
Illuminating the calm harbor water with lights
While the impressive Choptank drives its waters along
Advancing always toward the majestic Bay, like a song
You are invited to read a previously published poem dealing with nature’s waterways:
Grace-filled Rain
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The Bible mentions “rain” many times in scripture. God’s creation finds multiple uses of rain. Perhaps you can think of a few more after reading this poem.
Waking up to see another blessed, rainy day
Witnessing as God brings us grace this day
God creates rain to descend upon the earth
Bringing rain to produce yields from the land
The heavens’ water brings awesome worth
Allowing for existence by woman and man
Rain arrives by the word of our mighty God
Sending vital water to the crops and fields
God’s creation brings early rains with a nod
Providing late rains to fulfill a farmer’s yield
God brings rain in abundance with His hand
Opening the dry earth, salvation springs up
Skies raining down righteousness, is His plan
Showering our lives with a grace-filled cup
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Rain nurtures spring’s new green, tender sprouts
Providing seed to the sower, bread for the table
Harvest arrives again on time by fall’s usual route
Filling grain bins as hardworking farmers feel able
God shines sun on both the Good and the Bad
Sending rain on the righteous and unrighteous
Rains from heaven fill hearts, never to be sad
Earmarking fruitful seasons for the righteous
Remember the incredibly prudent man
Constructing his house upon solid rock
Rains fell, floods came—over the land
Preserving a faith as steady as a rock
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Another Cup Please
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My morning coffee may appear mundane
My tastes never vary and remain the same
Black with a bit of Stevia fills my cup, absolutely fine
Others whisper, “He drinks boring black every time”
A dozen years ago, coffee seldom came my way
But, my better half changed my tastes one day
Now, one cup will never satisfy this urge
My caffeine addiction, never to be purged
Even though humdrum, black coffee tastes great
I can appreciate preferences many others taste
My father turns his coffee into a tasty milkshake
Adding flavored creamer and sugar, no mistake
Others search for sweet, unique flavors to add
A shot of this or that makes them awfully glad
Excuse me for a quick moment please
This poet needs a refill, so don’t tease
Never heard of a Barista until a few days ago
Their creative coffee requires much to know
Many coffee lovers appreciate special brews
Espresso, Cappuccino, Mocha to name a few
My eyes view endless coffee menus and ask
Americano, Café Latte seem like such a task
Visiting certain cafés to satisfy my caffeine fix
But always, black with sweetener does the trick
Photo by Rafel AL Saadi on Pexels.com
Looking for a Tim Hortons or a Starbucks
Serving simple, black coffee brings me luck
In traveling to places farther down the coffee road
Das KaffeeHaus and City Brew create it very bold
Hopefully, all of you appreciate coffee each day
Perhaps there is a favorite that comes your way
More coffee thoughts certainly do exist
But no more for now, I’m sure you insist
Your hot cup of delicious brew
May seem exhilarating to you
While this author writes a view
About his “boring” cup of brew
Do you have a favorite coffee brew that you absolutely enjoy? You are invited to share your wishes in the comments. Perhaps you can convince Big Sky Buckeye to try something a wee bit more exciting than boring, black coffee.
No Longer Lost
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From Matthew 28:20, Christ is speaking to the eleven disciples at Galilee following the Resurrection: “. . . And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Do you have a favorite Bible verse that has stuck with you this week? You are invited to share it in the comments. May God bless each of you in the coming days.
Walking down an empty sidewalk all alone
Feeling lost when no one calls his phone
Facing the final sunset of a life
Remembering past sinful strife
Rubbing together his chilly, worn hands
Warming a cold heart of a humbled man
Recalling a strong home built brick by brick
Wiping away tears when she became sick
Losing his loving bride to illness
Asking, “Why God, is this meant?”
Battling the raging, turbulent cosmic powers
Creating lonely darkness that sadly towers
Living without a daily dose of hope
Trying to understand his life’s scope
Reciting scripture as Christ says, “I am with you”
Witnessing the bloody Cross, coming into view
Testing his faith, builds continued endurance
Removing sinful chains at every occurrence
Loving us, God guards our hearts and minds
Smiling, the old man knows he has more time
Bringing Salvation, our Savior conquers the Cross
Blessing another life, this man no longer feels lost
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Writer’s Void
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Sometimes a writer’s well of words runs dry
Just as a wildcat oil well yields none this try
A writer’s words can be challenging to find
Why won’t more words be a friend of mine?
Life brings distractions that take away
Gone for a while is the freedom to say
Perhaps memories of the past come to bear
Ambushing a desire to write without a care
Searching for inspiration to write
A morning walk clears one’s sight
Reading others’ blogs charges the mind up
Their words arrive to fill an exhausted cup
Viewing a distinctive, older film brings bliss
The storyline relaxes a mind, to foster a list
A list of impressive ideas begins to churn
Now feeling more confident at every turn
Thankfully, this sorry condition won’t last
Soon words will be flowing, what a blast!
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If your appetite is ready for more about the challenges of writing, check out these previously published poems.
God Remains True
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My Lord steadies me like a solid rock
From the horizon, His devotion walks
As soon as dark clouds form, He stands tall
Leaning on Him in moments, large or small
The Enemy menaces nearby, keep me safe
Free me from wickedness, that’s never late
You bring light to a world so all can see
Grasping my hand, offering rescue to me
You brought me forth in awesome birth
Saving me when I stumble on the turf
As my strength wavers, you remain true
Never tiring of me, needing to lean on you
The text is inspired by words from Psalm 71. From Verse 4: “Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and the cruel.”
Haiku Series #10
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Love Is . . .
Lasting promises
Always unconditional—
Till death do us part
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Stewardship
Stabilize our earth
Honor God’s great creation—
Denial no more
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Motivation
Needing to write more
Reaching for novel ideas—
Keep the coffee hot
If you are in the mood for another Haiku series, check out a previously published set at Haiku Series 9.
Elfchen Series #4
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Fatherhood
God’s gift
Brings three daughters
Daily blessings from all
Legacy
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Abraham
Civil War
The Great Emancipator
Saved a grateful nation
Lincoln
If you wish to read another Elfchen series, check out Elfchen Series 3.
