Dared Evil - Special Edition

Dared Evil

In a drifted lucid state

Shadow bled into darkness

Cut by the reflection of light

With a sword blameless

Fierce and chaotic

A creature without eyes

Rumbled toward my position

As lightning pierced the skies

 

Within rows and rows of trenches

They emerged from brimstone

"We are Legion!" they bellowed

With a volley of fear like hailstone

 

They launched boulders of anger

Fiery darts of lies and indifference

Taunted the faith on which I stood

Nearly all deflected with vengeance

 

I felt the tug of the waking world

Just as earth erupted the dragon

Who belched forth narcissistic jeers

To make me forget I am forgiven

 

But I laughed as I dared evil

Raised my shield in defiance

Shouted accusations

For all the injustice

 

With sword in hand I prayed, until --

From a figure clothed in pure light

I heard a firm, yet gentle voice

"Get behind me, this is my fight."

~

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
- Ephesians 6:12-13

"Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation!'"

- Psalm 35:1-3

~
I'm thankful I have Jesus the Christ, the greatest champion over evil, on my side! Sometimes I get so angry at all the injustice in the world, I want to lash out at the enemy. But, I know that he already won!

Shadowland - POEM of the MONTH!

Shadowland

Shadow to shadow
Desperate for rest
Weekend to weekend
A soul distressed

Window to window
Stationary or mobile
Distraction in action
Drama gone global

Pillow to pillow
Temple is trampled
Hollow narcissism
Left disemboweled

Memento to memento
Sacramental reliance
Left with barren branches
Unobtrusively religious

Sorrow to sorrow
Dollar to dime
Sickness to sickle
Wealth by crime

Tomorrow to tomorrow
Where nothing is new
The journey is blurred
With or without a view

Windows of tomorrow
Hollow and anxious
Mementos of sorrow
Shadows to darkness ...


(Click here to read the Epilogue.)

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Shadowland (Epilogue) - POEM of the MONTH!

Shadowland - Epilogue

Stop, before being stopped.
Turn, from hollow to hallow
Under the arms of the Vine
In whose rest has no shadow

(Click here to read the first part.)

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Creation's Applause - POEM of the MONTH!

Creation's Applause

Rock towers above the tree line,
The balcony of the valley --
A forest, an audience in anticipation
Of an ensemble staged daily.

A waterfall reflects the sunrise,
A marmot scurries and leers,
A bear stands poised to roar
As the wind breaks into cheers!

The river's course is destined
Through granite and meadow
As a coyote howls from his heart
A love song from Heaven's window.

A trout is released from the catch
As an eagle declares their freedom;
A child shares with her little brother
In the sunlight of God's auditorium.

The crescendo presents a gift
To the inspired and awed,
And by the late afternoon breeze
The quaking aspen applaud!


~


Inspired by the beauty of Hope Valley, California. While observing and listening to the aspen quiver in the wind and gentle breeze, it appeared as though they were clapping. 

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Invisible Ink - POEM of the MONTH!

Invisible Ink 

It wants to appear on the scroll

While turning my pacing feet;
I look for the magic keyhole
With fingers of meager control,
Opening to a page incomplete.

From my blood-filled cartridge
To the bottom of a pen point,
I narrowly miss the vestige
Of my thought’s passage,
Hoping the two will be conjoint.

I fill the page with verse,
But my eyes smudge the lines;
If only life were in reverse
I could understand the curse,
And follow the sign.

When your mind is quiet,
And you pause -- pause to think
From the well within your spirit,
The Truth will illuminate,
As you write with invisible ink.

Hold Your Line - POEM of the MONTH!

Hold Your Line

"Hold your line!"
An opponent shouted;
A line on repeat
Dangerously threaded.

"Let your yes be yes,
And your no be no."
To avoid a crash --
Fast or slow.

From corner to corner
Or mountain and valley,
Hold your line
To maintain integrity.

Used by cyclists, "hold your line" is a phrase one rider shouts to another when the receiving rider makes abrupt lateral movements -- which increases the potential for a crash. All riders want to maintain the integrity of the pack. May the same desire be true in life.

This Page Intentionally Left Blank - POEM of the MONTH!

This Page Intentionally Left Blank

And, I turned the page and read,
This Page Intentionally Left Blank.
Unless the prior text was irrelevant or droll,
I suppose this page is of the lowest rank.

There was just nothing there,
Except the words relieving my despair.

I opened the door, looked in and saw
An empty room with four white walls;
The sunlight provided the only interest,
As I heard the echo of my footfalls.
There was just this space,
But imagination enlightened my face.

I awoke one morning and opened my eyes
To a blank square on the calendar.
No matter the busy week’s history,
I now had only possibilities to ponder:
Anything – not everything –
Today perhaps, nothing.


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