"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!