"Poison Ivy"

Puffy,
Oily,
Inflamed
Skin—
Oh,
Nemesis...

Itchy
Vengeance
Yours!

"Boredom"

Bowed
Over,
Repeating
Endless
Doldrums
Of
Midafternoon

"Two Trees"

Two trees, twisted together,
Entwined, envined;
Appreciated, adopted, adored,
Called and caressed,
Held by the Holy;
Mystically, mercifully,
Evermore embraced

Two trees, twisted together,
Only other-focused;
Adorned as a
Beautiful bride
In Immanuel's
Divine dwelling,
Embraced evermore

"The Yearning"

I have rediscovered a yearning
that was hidden at the depths of
     my soul
Beneath the scabs of father-,
     mother-,
     and ex-wife-wounds

It is a yearning for You, O Lord
You have waited with such patience
     and seen the wounds

The wounds are healing
The scabs are flaking
And the Yearning is uncovered,
     awakened,
     ignited,
And You, Lord, You satisfy
Like never before,
Or maybe just like before,
But in truth, like nothing else can

My yearning for You is overshadowed
by Your love for me,
not because I am loveable,
but because You are loving—
     Love itself!

You see me
You know me
     my lusts,
     my obsessions,
     my midnight habits,
     my proud arrogances,
     my depravity
And still You went to the Cross

From my mind,
     it doesn’t make sense
From Your mind,
     my sense is preempted

I am back
You never left

All I can do is
     bask,
     wrap up,
     stare amazed,
and thank

"Keep It Up"

Holy Spirit poured on them
A-sounding like a windstorm
He gave them all a tongue of flame
And powered them for service

Holy Spirit, keep it up
Holy Spirit mighty
Lead the worship and the praise
and with the truth teach rightly!

Eunuch worshiped in ‘Salem
Then pondered on Isaiah
Philip ran and taught him well
And baptized him in water

Holy Spirit, keep it up
Holy Spirit mighty
Lead the worship and the praise
and with the truth teach rightly!

Inspiration of the Lord
He breathed on writers olden
So then they penned it on a scroll
And they were so emboldened

Holy Spirit, keep it up
Holy Spirit mighty
Lead the worship and the praise
and with the truth teach rightly!

---

adapted from "Yankee Doodle"
Public Domain