Hungering
For Father
Whole heart prays
Finding Him always near
Faith
Coming
To Father
Focusing on Light
Following His trusted wisdom
Peace
Gathering
With Father
Restoring tomorrow’s hope
Climbing up mercy’s steps
Love
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.
Browsing life’s sketches
With another day
Searching for patterns
Something waits to say
Framing every word
With another thought
Discovering joy
Something ties each knot
Tasting sweet moments
With another page
Blending heartfelt dreams
Something comes of age
Leaving nest empty
With another flight
Seeking novel themes
Something waits to write
Plotting new sketches
With another scene
Finding new patterns
Something stirs, unseen
Every morning I take a few quick minutes to complete a mini crossword puzzle. The short journey helps to focus the mind on my next task. Of course, my thoughts may be pulling together a theme for a new writing sketch as a poem or short story.
From Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
Rising up every morning
Forgetting life’s messy side
Praying for much brighter day
God’s grace reverses high tide
Believing in God’s goodness
Guiding life’s vessel shoreward
Conversing with Lord Jesus
Blessed daily steps forward
Spending one more hour with God
Finding tomorrow’s new hope
Feeling seed of faith growing
Life discovers ways to cope
Walking away from dark past
Accepting changes through God
Witnessing grateful mercy
Life no longer feeling flawed
From James 1:17-18: “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures.
Morning’s dawn arrives
Hilltop meadow’s peacefulness—
Ancient voices speak
Enchanting flowers
Saying “hello” each sunrise—
Precious day’s escape
Stunning scenic view
Quilt of so many colors—
Daylight’s mountaintop
Sunrise at Walnut Woods Metro Park in central Ohio.
Every day, filling with precious moments
Life’s simple pleasures, love-filling treasures
Never again, take any for granted
Traveling life’s long road, each step measures
Darkened dawn sky, erupting with bright hues
Granddaughter taking first tentative walk
Life sometimes slows down, bringing a replay
Neighborhood sidewalk, hopscotch drawn in chalk
Neil Diamond lyrics, harmony through song
Mother calls, reminding me her love cares
Favorite novel, author’s words smile back
Trio of daughters, sweeter than a pair
Evening sunset, brings awesome pleasures
Tomorrow, witnessing simple treasures
Sunset in Columbus, Ohio.
Originally published April, 2020.
From Romans 5:5: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Without love, faith remains empty
Absent of faith, all hope dries up
Lacking hope, tomorrow grows dark
Grace waiting to fill every cup
Man’s works never earn salvation
Imperfection fills heaven’s eyes
Seeing dimmest light on one cross
Christ’s love opens faith’s new franchise
Holy Spirit pours into hearts
Love cascades from Living Water
Witnessing Father’s endless grace
Mercy’s hope for sons and daughters
Father’s love rescues each sinner
Debts paid in full through Savior’s death
Unlocking redemption’s closed door
Love’s faithful hope stirring each breath
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Springs of faith rising in each heart
Sharing their spontaneous love
New hope’s energizing restart
From 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.”
Love
Inspiring tomorrows
Trusting Father’s vision
Today, suffering no more
Faith
Faith
Overcoming darkness
Endurance molding character
Jesus filling another heart
Hope
Hope
Pouring out
Patient Spirit prevails
Fulfilling faith’s daily peace
Love
Someplace beyond morning’s rainbow
Hidden behind radiant sun
Residing in distant chateau
Tomorrow’s dreams forever spun
Clouds pushed aside for open door
Daily invitation calls out
Stirring every eagle to soar
Higher and higher, sky’s lookout
Opportunity always waits
Passage to high heavens above
Flying over more open gates
Treasured gifts, overflowing love
Visions transforming into night
Moonlight shining, fully ablaze
Dancing stars, filled with neon lights
Darkness anxious for sunny rays
Rain shadows early daylight’s peace
Sunrise waiting, shrouded in clouds
Rising colors, set to release
Morning’s rainbow, sweetness endowed
From Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”
Wandering, undisciplined
Enslaved to darkness of sin
Unlikely heirs of God’s kingdom
Seeking Jesus, Scripture’s linchpin
Flaunting rebellious spirit
Indifferent to God’s Word
Fallible, filled with weakness
Finding Jesus, redemption stirred
Warming frozen hearts with grace
Light rising from blood-stained tree
Adopted as God’s children
Choosing Jesus, forever free
Breaking loose from evil’s chains
Deliverance, God’s design
Forgiven, more disciplined
Praising Jesus, mercy divine
Proclaiming Gospel’s viewpoint
Epiphany of God’s joy
Disciples, called to follow
Serving Jesus, mission deploys
From 1 John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Shared through countless scenes
Multitude of pages speak—
Creator crafts script
Nature’s adventure
Invited by Creator—
Endless dynamics
Each cherished landscape
Mother Earth sharing her gifts—
Creator’s vision
Big Sky Buckeye 