"You Won't Get It"

Intelligent conversation
Nose bop reparation
Sock-a-doodles
Ira’s snack and Noodles
Don’t forget your lunch
Exploding onesie

Jungling balls
Ooof and Shoe Falls
Kibble breath sin
Exploding onesie strikes again
Szzzzt…repent!

"Colors And Conundrum"

Black ink
Blue ink
Green ink
Red

Taking notes
Writing verse
With multicolored
Pen

Favorite pen
No problem then
Favorite son
This is sin

Love them all
For who each is
And what each brings
This...is fathering

"A Sage's Christmas Wish"

Changing bulbs
On a ladder
Have to pee!
Need a bigger bladder

Grandson crying
What’s the matter?
Must now wee!
Wish I had a bigger bladder

Dramatic movie
Could get sadder
Missed that scene
Really need a bigger bladder

Better hurry
Just might splatter
Had to wee
Should’ve had a bigger bladder

"Poetry"

Purposefully
Orchestrated
Emotions
Thoughts
Reactions
Yearnings

"In The Woods"

I’m walking through a forest
Everything before me is fresh, lively
Behind, the trees are winter-dead
With each step, something beside me dies
I turn to look at what I’ve accomplished

There’s One following me, several paces away
With each step, something beside Him lives
After Him, all is radiant
The forest more glorious than ever it was
Leaves sing with blazing light

I stop
I consider
He overtakes me
Embraces me
And all things are made new

"Baby's Delight"

Button nose
Rosy cheeks

Bright blue eyes
Three new teeth

Leaning in
For kisses sweet

Almost there
SLAP!

"Coffee And Women"

Hot and steaming
Sweet and creamy

Bitter and cold
Or black and bold

Instant and crude
Or carefully brewed

Good one's worth waiting for
A treasure from the Lord

"Good Advice"

Look before you leap
Sow before you reap
Give before you keep
Pray before (and after) you sleep

"Devotion"

The earth and Sky converse
Words in red ever speaking

Heart hymns sung in secret
Sweet whispers of love and truth

A shining sword sharpened
Day's marching orders unsealed

Coffee stain on pages worn
The Son rises early each morn

"Still Not Awake"

Beep, beep, beep!
    Snooze
Beep, beep, beep!
    Snooze
Beep, beep, beep!
    Up!

Feet to floor
Aim at bowl
Soap to hands
Lather, rinse
Hands to face

Bowl, spoon, milk, mug
Cereal, coffee

Soap to hands
Hands to hair
Lather, rinse
Lather, rinse
Soap to sponge
Sponge to parts
Lather, rinse

Hair brushed
Teeth combed
Clothes, kiss, keys

Wait
Where are my sneakers?

"Hello, My Name Is Milk"

My name has been changed
More than once, in fact
The first was when I wed
The second? Just before he’s fed

Baby needs comfort
Baby needs love
Baby needs food
Baby needs me

I can comfort
I can love
I can feed
I can be

Day and night
And night and day
I give my best
While Baby's at breast

Daddy's for fun
I am for food
I'm no longer Mommy
My name is Milk

"Revival"

Azusa, Jon Edwards, ooh I want revival
Like George Fox and the Quakers, come on Holy Spirit
French prophets and Cane Ridge, people why don’t we pray
With God’s holy Word?
We’ll need to fast
And then He’ll come in pow’r
That’s how we need to flow
To bring God’s Kingdom to earth

Topeka, Toronto, ooh we need revival
As at Tulsa and Brownsville, can you hear the Spirit?
He’s speaking and leading, oh we need to follow
With a thankful heart
He’s met our needs
And now we’ll share the Word
That’s how we need to flow
To bring God’s Kingdom to earth

    People on the floor
    Heavenly drink flowing from His heart
    We’ll be sharing God’s love
    To the rhythm of His unveiled grace
    Just like at Pentecost

---

adapted from "Kokomo"
the Beach Boys (1988)

"The F Word"

It’s often an option
At times, it’s just not

We've all done it
I’ll do it again
And so will you

But it’s not a person,
Rather, an event:
A prelude to achievement,
An opportunity to work harder
     practice longer

It need not be the end
Especially if you try, try again

"Once, At Sea World"

Orcas are dolphins
Dolphins are mammals
Mammals have hair
That’s why we missed Shamu:
She was gone, using shampoo

"If I Were Super"

If I were an alien raised in Kansas,
I’d lift the roofs off bicameral houses,
Speak to those below arrayed:
“Truth, justice, the American way!”

If I wore the flag and raised a shield
I’d rush to assemble on the field
With my remaining brothers,
Remembering the honored others

If I snooped with winged fangs
And a billion was pocket change,
I’d bam, oof, and pow my way;
John Q’s insurance would be paid

If I burned green with atomic rage
And bullets bounced off my fleshy cage,
I’d bust down the doors at House White
Smash sense into stalwart pride

If arachnids biting or steel claws fighting,
If altered genes or colored rings,
If armored suits or a thousand troops;
If I were super, if only I were super

However, there is one thing:
I can fall down, call on the King,
Use my knees to bow and pray;
Trust that real power’s on the way

"Purple"

Mountains speak
of knightly deeds
A king in robes
inspects troops—his own
More than one has fallen
Honor them
  their courage
  their sacrifice
  their final cries
Prepare your hearts
and carry them home

"Fulfilled"

Ancientest laws:
Waving of grain,
Wilderness feasts,
Meeting in tent;
Jesus concealed—
   Later fulfilled

Ancient of Days,
Lifting love hands:
Holiness Lamb,
Temple is bod,
Christ is revealed—
   I am fulfilled!

"If It Were Up To Me"

Spines ripped, rusty blades
Throats plugged ‘til they wheeze
Limbs lopped off and tossed
Eyes grated like cheese

A dissecting tray,
Flatten their limp pricks
—A pin here, one there—
What makes these guys tick?

My dearest Wesley,
Dread pirate you claim,
Please, please consider:
Render them The Pain

Screams of innocents
Blaring in their ears,
Boil their bloody hands,
Magnify their fears

If it were up to me,
Karpen and Gosnell
Would burn infinitely
In the very hottest of hells

If it were up to me,
If judgment was mine
—But it never will be;
Any mercy must be divine

"With This Armor"

Surrounded by truth,
Knowing it deep down inside,

Covered with God's righteousness,
For my own heart deceives,

Standing on the Rock,
Steady and unafraid,

Protected from accusations,
For it was
  finished,

Knowing that
I am in His arms,

And grasping His Word
  with hands
  with heart
  with lips,

I stand ready for battle
I stand ready to defend
I stand ready to stand

"Pieces"

Here an eye
There a foot
Everywhere a piece of me
Not assembled as I should be

What will you do with that part?
I could use it one day
  to walk
  to drink
  to talk
  to think

Maybe you need it more than me
Keep it safe
  in a jar
  in a fridge

Can you hear me?
  CAN YOU?

I know things you don't
  You'll never have the chance
And me?
  I'll dream but never dance

Cut me up
Suck me out
Mother doesn't want me

"In The Belly"

It is utterly dark
I am utterly alone

I have no space
    no freedom
    no food

I am food

How long has it been?
  Two days?
  Two hours?
  A year?

I am lost
I am blind
I am afraid

It is utterly dark
I am utterly alone

I smell like fish

"Quiet Observation"

In the waning light of evening,
  I study him
My eyes caress his cheek,
  kiss his head
  (my lips are jealous)
Chest rises,
  falls in rhythm
Tiny fingers clutch
  at nothing
He sleeps
He is innocent
He is my son

"Little Miss Watson"

Little Miss Watson
lived in Manhattan,
mod'ling her days away
Along came a Goblin,
nabbed her—What a problem!
Spider swung in and saved the day

---

adapted from "Little Miss Muffet"
Traditional (1805)

"Inspiration"

A divine whisper
A voice in the storm
Either way
  Holy Spirit blows on my soul

Inspiration
God breathed

"Daddy's Lullaby"

My baby blue
I do love you
And Jesus, Lord Jesus
He loves you too
My baby blue

"Fido's First Fourth"

My humans stayed home today
I still woke them in my cold-nose way
But they went back to sleep!
After Bacon, we stood by the street
I didn’t get to play—or sniff
I had to sit, stay—quite stiff
A long line of strangers
Smelled a lot but no dangers
They waved bandanas on sticks
(Should’ve played fetch for kicks)
Later, stood around Box That Burns
Smelled so good—drooled and yearned
Tasted one: not at all bad
Just wish they wouldn’t call them that
Finally played—at the park!!
Chased a ball, tried not to bark
Big Yellow Ball went away
(They call it “night”: end of day)
Thought we would leave soon
Instead, bright lights and big booms
My people liked—even howled!
(I whined and...wetted a towel)
Home at last, Boy gave me a treat
Curled up on my bed—time. to. sleep.

"Sir Dumpsalot"

Hero du jour is Sir Dumpsalot
He's a knight but not of Camelot
He coveted the crown
but all he had was brown
So, resigned himself to think a lot

"It Once Was Lost"

There was a man who called himself Dale
Enjoyed fishing with rod, reel, and pail
One day he caught a shoe
"Oh boy, now I have two!"
His wife never did believe the tale

"A Request Sandwich"

Make your desires known
Some get it done with one
Others require two
  slices of please

"May I" on the side
Fill it with what you want
but always, always garnish
  with a sprig of thanks

"At The Sycamore"

Two for Rome
  (One for me)
The rest for you
Good luck!

Three for Rome
   (Two for me)
The rest for you
Good luck!

(A man has to make a living)

Profits are up!
  clink
  clink

Hey there, you didn’t pay!
Come back here!
(Drat this crowd!
  What is this, a king?
    Thinks he owns the place!)

Move aside!
Make way!
I want to see!
(Can’t get through
  they hate me
  O look,
    a tree!)

(Who is this guy?
  They love him)

Who me?!
You want to what?
  (O, my
  He loves


    me)

It has?!
  O praises be!

Hey there! You people!

You know the old me
But now
  I too
    am sick of more
    (Here’s four!)

"Daily Dose"

An apple a day
keeps doctors away

(or so they say)

A poem a day
makes creativity stay

(for poets anyway)

"Oh Deer!"

Two cervine trophies hung on a wall
One asked the other, "What's this place called?"
"It's a barbecue buffet:
People eat red meat all day,
But you'll be fine—long as you don't fall"

"Shakespeare Lied"

The Bard, ever enshrined
in the world’s collective mind,
dared so boldly to declare
that which I now contest:

Pair of star-crossed lovers
gaze deeply—twilight hovers,
hireling guards on their patrols
To leave, she says, is best

Not all pairs are this type—
one may love without the hype:
connections grand, strangers met
cov’nant friends—both sides blessed

The Bard, ever enshrined,
placing ink in front of lie;
From the sorrow of parting
Nothing sweet can e’er be wrest

"Peristalsis"

Peristalsis, peristalsis
(Swallow food, swallow food)
Even upside-down now! Even upside-down now!
Go bolus. Go bolus.

---

adapted from "Frere Jacques"
Traditional

"For Something So Simple"

Is it a scope to see quite far?
Or a bugle to sound a charge?
Tunnel where hamsters can hide,
Or a dagger in Christmas sword fights

Is it Princess Mini’s tower?
Or a stick to drum for hours?
Baton in a friendly race,
Or a fun new way to scratch your face

Could even model a knee joint
Really, dear reader, here’s the point:
When kitchen’s towels are done,
The fun has only just now begun

"Harvest Time"

It’s harvest time!
Bringing in the crops
One diamond at a time
Soon a pile of hundreds
 or thousands
Jewels for my King

Soon to be given
One stone at a time
Twisted and braided
His brown locks sparkle
My Lord’s hair shines,
 radiating His glory

"Eastward Is My Heart"

A rusty gate,
Renewed by oil,
Broken by
Blazing blade
Light, life return
  Lub-dub

Fountain of fresh
Gurgling, happy water
Crystal clear
Overflowing life

Ordered rows
Carrots they look
Carrots they are not
Gems in bloom

Cavern looms
Echoes boom
Someone else's empty tomb
Hidden: treasure room

River flowing
Orchards growing
Arched bridge of stone
Winepress made known

Carved seat
Where fish leap
Catch an idea
If you can
  While you sleep

Roses with no thorns
Enveloped
  Passion incarnate
Dew on my lips
    Refreshed
    Remade
    Undone

Vines and pines
Steep, steep steps
Up, up, up
Following the river

Kangaroo
Eagle too
Tending what grows
While I am away

"32"

The old can get away with crazy,
The young, with being lazy,
And here I am, stuck in the middle,
Thinking of what's amazing

"A Shepherd's Witness"

So long ago it was foretold:
a savior would be born
Just listen and I’ll tell the tale
before this sheep is shorn

In Caesar’s reign it was decreed:
all men must register,
so Joseph took his virgin wife
to Bethlehem, yes sir!

This virgin carried holy child
despite the fear and shame
She said yes to the Spirit’s will
and Jesus was his name

Twelve years and now the child had grown
into a strapping lad
His parents thought he’d run away,
but they could not be mad

They found him in the synagogue
a-teaching the old men
He asked them why they fretted so
his Father’s work, not sin

In Cana Town, a friend was wed
The steward called for wine
There was none left, for all had drunk
Declared his mom, “It’s time”

He told the waiters what to do
They filled the water urns
The steward tasted wine and said,
“First place this groom has earned!”

This wine sign was the first of more:
he healed and raised the dead
The greatest thing he ever did
was one that he would dread

Gethsemane! Gethsemane,
the garden of distress!
The place where Jesus did cry out,
“Don’t make me take this test!”

He cried and sweated drops of blood:
he was in agony
The Father heard his “Ne’ertheless,
your will not that of me.”

Judas Iscariot did plot
his own financial gain
Betrayed him with a sign of love
That night was filled with pain

Our man endured a mocking trial:
he heard them testify
The governor did wash his hands
and let them crucify

He gave his breath upon a cross:
a painful death, it’s true
Though he had died, they pierced his side
He bled for me and you

Three days did pass and he was mourned
His friends gathered in fear
An empty tomb was all they found
“He is no longer here”

Disciples, they were shown the proof,
for forty days allowed
And then, outside Jerusalem,
ascended he in cloud

I have my lamb, my yarn is done,
but this is not the end;
as John declared on Patmos Isle,
our King shall come again!

"The Narrow Path"

In ancient times, all of Egypt did grieve
Failed to recall what Joseph had started
After ten plagues, king demanded they leave
Moses did pray, led through Red Sea parted
On a more recent night, long before morn,
For an answer, Nicodemus quested
Then spake the Truth: you must again be born
He went away confused and perplexèd
Two months after most recent December
I witnessed again a momentous joy
(The other two I clearly remember):
Blood accompanied arrival of boy
 Nation, spirit, person: births unfolded
 Narrow path unveiled: Beauty beholded

"Midnight Diaper"

i cannot yet squat
i squirm
i squiggle
i squirt and squizzle
squeal

wait for it
wait for it

diaper's fresh
repee

squirt, squizzle
squeal

turned red like a t'mater
do it again
three hours later

"Reactions"

Momentous first breath
Breathtaking moment
Tears, smiles mingle

Silence shattered:
Hello, world!

What’s his name?
Dappled, bright fame

I didn’t know
I could fall in love
A fourth time

Pixels distilled
A century of likes
Coupled with salutations:
 Congratulations!

Flowers and Hi!
Kissies and smiles
Son of my right hand

Little fire
After school
Covered ears
Overcame fears

O how cute!
O how big!

When will life resume?
Never
It’s been changed
 Forever

"A Dozen Roses For Rissie"

Rose by another name
Just might smell as sweet
But soon they die—that’s just lame

Could cook a meal to eat
Food you really like
But the clock, I could not beat

Don’t own a tandem bike
(With basket for cheese)
Someday, wouldn’t that be nice?

Maybe: circus trapeze?
As Cupid takes aim,
This reminder on the breeze:

Love is never a game
It’s also not neat
Hard work, sacrifices made

But the reward is sweet
Better than “creamed ice”
That you and I like to eat

Children we’ve had, soon thrice
(Growing fam’ly’s trees)
Waiting eagerly for Bryce

Makes me weak in the knees
To think of the Name
Who loves much better than these

Marissa, you’re my dame
You make me sing, tweet
Love by you—better than fame

Please accept this new feat:
Poetry rules—mine
A little rhyme and some beat

I really hope you like
“Roses” made with ease
And one more request this time:

Though I laugh when I sneeze
(You love me the same),
Once more, this year, be mine—please

"Die, Mysterious"

I received today a gift
Thoughtful student
Purchased it with thrift

Addendum to my collection
Many ‘hedrons
For randomized selection

A spin like gimbals
Yields one of ten
Markedly peculiar symbols

Asked around but no one knows
“Maybe Hebrew?” says one
“Certainly not Egypt’s hieros”

Hours of searching low to high
Finally! Conundrum solved—
Numbers from the land of Thai

"How People Know Me"

Armada!
Church (Marissa)
Bus
Class
CHURCH
Branson!
Marissa (Church)
Gaming
CRU?
Scouts
Moo

"The Jesus Question"

Where will you hide?
His question demands answer

Often, we deny the already learned:
 Deity enfleshed
Often, we forget the already revealed:
 “You are the Christ, son of the living God”
Often, we don’t see the already dawned

Use more than eyes, ears, fingers, mind
Spirit calls unto spirit
And deep to deep

You must answer,
There and then or
Here and now:
 Alpha and Omega?
 Triviality for others to consider?
 Insane “prophet” no rationale can decipher?

Almost out of time
Make your decision

"For Fingerprints"

I cannot see

Sacred glass suddenly marred
Translucent obstacle in vision’s path

Tempted to alarm

Remember the source:
Bouncy, yea, flouncy,
Post cleansing,
Towel wrapped,
Flying smiley greeting

Forensic evidence
One of the begotten
Case closed:
Joy of boy

I can see

"For Cardinals"

Wild garland on Christmas spruce
Flying reminders of new life soon
Red crests through winters long
Down the lane
Leading us in song