For My Friend John

Hear Hear
Raise up a cheer
For this day
When John is King
Let all within this hallowed hall
His praises gladly sing

With an eye that’s clear
Undaunted
He trains his lens on one
And all
He was there at the ready
At our every beck and call
No one ever charged
“Where were you when it counted?”

Though some may doubt
His royalty
Or dispute the rank thereof
Why twas only yesterday
While we were in the pharmacy
When the man behind the counter
turned and said,
“Your prints, John!”

RWOz2

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Faith That Fragile Herb

With joy
For You we wait
Knowing
What pleases You
Is faith.

Faith, that fragile herb
Springs forth at Your Word
Bowing its head down
Straining to hear the sound
Of Your glory under Heaven

And round
The rock of truth
It clings
And midst the clods
Blooms and sings
Your praises under Heaven

Though as neat
As a mustard seed
By it You meet
Our mountain of need
And make our joy
Complete
Under
Heaven.

RWOz2

For My Wife on Her Birthday

A little something I wrote quite some time ago, but nonetheless still true.

Not many know you like I do
That sweet knowledge is mine alone
For like a pocket to a shirt
So my heart on yours is sewn
True, I sometimes forget about ketchup
And syrup and such
When I pour them on
You turn and chide me
– But never too much

For it’s when I think
(Without thinking)
That the one I like best
Likes what I like too
So, please, don’t be insulted
When I bracket the things
I like with you

Not many see the treasure
That is by my side each day
Few, indeed, know the pleasure
Of your impish teasing way.

Thirty-seven years of age
And sixteen of them with me
Three kids, two homes, four cars
An apartment on an alley
So it should be with a life
That is shared
Only we two can remember
As we celebrate together
On this joyous day in December.

RWOz2

Our Obedience

Were we to see
The fruits
Of  our
Obedience
Even
A glimpse
The tiniest
What behind
The veil
Is marked
By radiance
Our eyes here
Would swim
With tears
Of joy
That are endless.

RWOz2

The Builder’s Son

Measure once, measure twice
Only to have it right
Will suffice

He who transformed
A rock
To water
And water
To wine
Come transform my heart
To wholly seek You
Let me not wander
Nor ever wonder
About Your love for me

Let me run, let me run
To the side of the Builder’s Son
There is none, there is none
Like unto the Holy One.

RWOz2

Forever Him

In the days of lonely sorrow
Down dark stretches of tomorrow
Set your mind on things above
Forever Him
Forever love

Hemmed in by troubles large and small
Pressed and squeezed past any recall
Look to Heaven’s sweet release
Forever Him
Forever peace

Hung in tangled webs of madness
Look up from dead-ends of sadness
Choose instead His praise employ
Forever Him
Forever joy.

RWOz2

 

The Flesh

Anéanti, anéanti
The flesh invites destruction
Anéanti, anéanti
The flesh has earned destruction.

One is either deceived or
One further step
Confused
When wickedness,
Sweet to the taste
Is hidden under the tongue

But you can trace it back to a moral choice
As to why you won’t leave the things you love
The things that will destroy you.

RWOz2

The Really Real

Filled up with longing
For the really real
The clock tick-tocking
Down until I feel
The earth beneath me
Spinning like a wheel

Stalking belonging
A creature by half
Shunning the taunting
And the cruel laugh
Me plus I is no-
thing- so says the math

Until I enter
Into the quiet space
And take the time
To take a breath
And give it back
In songs of highest praise
No longer half, I’m whole
Again.

RWOz2

le mot juste

To use a wrong word

To worship the Word

Is in a word

Reckless

RWOz2

love LOVE

love – ours the feeling

LOVE – His the doing, dying, living

RWOz2