Passion, Purpose and Purity: A poem

To say I know someone
Because I have heard their name spoken.
To say I love someone
Because I know what they have done.
Is to deceive myself,
Cloud my vision
So that knowledge can not increase
and love begin to grow.

To know is not the possession of facts
To love not some casual feeling.
To know is to anticipate what they'll do.
It takes time, determination, a passion.
A desire to learn more, a striving to this purpose.
To love is to desire their will above yours,
To strive to please them and to seek to know them more.
It is a passion, a passion which provides a purpose.

Knowledge and love, passion and purpose
Interwoven; each driving the other.
Passion giving us purpose, and our
Purpose increasing our passion.
One purpose, one passion, pure uncomplicated.
Turn your thoughts, single minded
To that which you'd love.
Seek that love, strive to find it
With a passion and as your sole purpose.

Always and Only - Wife: A poem

The second part of the two part post - the poem my wife wrote for me.

Always and Only

Always and only, you have my heart,
Always and only, we never shall part.

The ‘always’ comes from our view of life
We shall be one, husband and wife
For the rest of our lives, till death us do part
Always and only, you have my heart.

The ‘only’ arises from the Lord that we know
You and me together, daily we shall grow
Our wedding and honeymoon are only the start,
Always and only, we never shall part.

Me and you, and you and me
I'm so happy that this is the way it will be
For the rest of our lives, not just in part,
Always and only, you have my heart.

The love that we share will build and build
Just the thought of that makes me thrilled
Thrilled to know you are my sweetheart
Always and only, we never shall part.

Always and only, you have my heart,
Always and only, we never shall part.

Always and Only - Husband: A Poem

This is a slightly unusual two part post - comprising two poems. I have recently got married to the most amazing woman I know and I wrote this poem for her as part of my wedding speech. At the same time my now wife wrote a poem for me which was surprisingly similar.

Always and Only

My eye caught you
And would not let go
My amazing fish
Juggling in the snow

Many things join us
Our life intertwined
Linked as polar bears
Our story to find

Always together
This life we will walk
Growing together
As we play and talk

Whatever life brings
As one we will strive
To paint a picture
Of Christ and his bride

My promise to you
Never be lonely
To work love for you
Always and Only

A heart of thankfulness: A poem

Praise Him, mine soul,
Mine lips, mine heart,
From dawn to dusk,
Days end to start.

Praise Him, thank Him,
Exalt and proclaim Him,
For laughter and joy,
Days full to the brim.

What thanks mine all declares,
For times of chat and laughter,
For quietude of heart,
And exuberant joy thereafter.

The heart, which beats
First slow, then quick,
This languid soul,
Accelerating tick.

This heart which beats,
This voice which sings,
Thankful to Thee,
For what the new day brings.

Praise Him, mine soul,
Quickened within,
Mine lips, mine heart,
What joy to bring.

Words: A poem

Sitting, writing, thinking, making
Words congeal together.
Pondering the many mysteries
For hour after hour

Why the words so hesitant still,
Whilst thoughts flow unencumbered.
Why the need to strive and will,
To voice those thoughts unnumbered.

Transitory thoughts of this and that,
Of things so great, so transcendental.
That if on that I thought all year,
Learning would be but incremental.

Not all thoughts so high exalted,
Humbler musings far abound.
Oft of matters unimportant,
Whirling in my mind around.

Yet still the words they fail to form,
The thoughts seem inward bound.
Chained and fettered in my mind
They strive to make a sound.

Seeing: A poem

I have recently had a holiday in the lake district, a national park known for the beauty of it's surroundings.  It inspired me to write the following poem.  I hope that you enjoy it and, possibly, that it make you think.



Seeing

What do we see when we look around?

The mountains, the trees, the lakes, the ground?

What do we see as we travel this road?
The swallows and swifts, the frog and toad?

How can we see while we bustle around?
Crowded and speeding through life’s vibrant sound.

What do we see when we look around?
The cars, the buildings, the concreted ground!

What do we see as we travel this road?
The trouble, the burden; our so heavy load!

How can we see, around us so little?
Ignoring the awesome, the precious, the brittle.

It is time to stop and stare,
To shed the worry and the care.
Time to look around and see,
That oft forgotten tranquillity.
Time to see creation’s splendour,
Mighty, awesome, yet so tender.
Time to let that burden slip,
And from a new cup now to sip.

What do you see when you look around?
What do you see as you travel your road?

What am I? A poem

What am I, that I should be
Upon this earth at all?
That light should fall
And trees stand tall
Whilst I, alone, seem small.

What am I, that he should make me
With his potter’s hands?
And not reject me,
Not consign me
To the heap among the sands.

Who am I, that he should love me,
With a love so great?
A love forgiving,
A love redeeming,
A love that’s never late.

Who am I, that he should die
Upon a cross for me?
To take my place,
Undeserved grace
For a wretch to see.

Child, brother,
Friend, lover,
Such are names he calls.
What am I?
Who am I?
Abba, Father, I am yours!

Silence: A poem

A while ago now, I was with a group of friends when one of them complained about the silence. This started a train of though and the first stanza of this poem. It is about the fast pace of present day life - not really leaving anytime for contemplation and reflection.

Silence

What is this silence we sit in,
To hear that dreaded drop of pin.
Oh for murmuring music,
And that ever present life filled din.

Oh for noise to drown that voice,
That voice, accusing from within.


In this mad and rushing world
Where silence is so rare.
To be entombed therein,
That doesn’t seem so fair.

To hear that ever droning note,
The voice within declare:


“Halt and stop and stand and stay,
Listen long and hard this day.”
Now; unwanted prompting,
Calling, wouldst thou go away!

Wouldst thou voice, fall silent!
Reluctant, let I have its say.


I hear that long forgotten voice,
That fought so hard to win.
That voice who tells me right from wrong
And how to live therein.

Give thanks for quiet, to hear that voice,
That voice accusing from within.

Devoted: A poem

It has been a while since I last posted anything here, but it's a new year so I'm going to try and get back to posting more. Here's a short poem, which I hope will be thought provoking, I just hope that I haven't tried to be too clever.

Devoted
Down he came, to earth to dwell,
Eternal Lord, thy presence tell.

Voice proclaiming love and grace,
Often troubled, in that place.

To a tree, we nailed him there,
Exquisite pain for to bear.

Died he for me, my sins to take.

Serenity: A poem

The soft babble of a lock,
A spider jumping fast.
Sitting doing nothing
The afternoon did pass.

The sun upon my neck,
A view unto my eye.
What a world is this,
Such majesty to a-spy.

Softly guided by the wind,
A butterfly a-floating.
A painting just for me,
Flowers tall a-growing.

To sit, and wonder,
To stare and never bore.
To rest and ponder
What this life is for.

Confusion: A poem

Lying awake at night,
Doubts a-lingering,
Was that decision right,
Fears a-strengthening.
Was that decision right?

The wood of this life,
Dark and enclosing,
Full of wonder and strife,
Which path am I taking?
Full of wonder and strife.

As one who is blind,
This path I must tread,
Knowing not what I’ll find
The next step ahead.
Knowing not what I’ll find.

How long to decide,
Which way to go,
I’ll take the next stride
And trust, you know.
I’ll take the next stride.

Was that decision right,
Full of wonder and strife.
Knowing not what I’ll find
I’ll take the next stride.
Knowing not what I’ll find!

Friends: A poem

Sitting silently,
No need to talk.
Pleasant company,
in silence wrought.

Friendship needs
no words to tell.
Of the feelings,
that inward dwell.

No fear of loss
if words don't please.
No advantage gained,
nought to seize.

Deep and true
that friendship grows
if company keeps
through highs and lows.

To sit and be
with one another,
living life
to grow together.

Sitting silently,
No need to talk.
Pleasant company,
in silence wrought.

Raise a Cry: A poem

Raise a cry,
Sound a trump,
Lift your voice on high.
Lift your voices,
Praise to sing,
Of the one who came to die.

Shout it loud,
Sing it long,
Tell it to the crowd.
Tell to all that
Cross upon,
Jesus died for death to cow.

Sing well, men,
Loud and strong,
Not yet story end.
Sing sweet, women,
Long to tell,
Of the one who rose again.

Of the one who came to die,
Of the one who rose again,
Of the one who reigneth now,
Upon the throne of Heaven.

Love: A poem

Last night I felt inspired to write a poem. It’s quite short and doesn’t rhyme but I will still call it a poem. Bonus points for anyone who spots the un-obvious element.

Love:
A mere man, me,
God: glorious and great,
Amazing, astounding
Paternal passion,
Everlasting, earnest, exuberant Love

All alone: A poem

All alone I sit
Darkness surrounding
Cut off from the light
Impurity growing

“Help me Lord” I cry
Heavy hearted, grieving
Cleanse anew my robes
Restoring, healing

Out reached a hand
Strongly caring
My once dark prison
Cover removing

I gasp in wonder
Staring, seeing
For all around me
Lights a-gleaming

On many pedestals
Far and near in
Sit lamps uncovered
Glowing, shinning

But near and far out
Lights a covering
Bowls upon some sit
Still, un-moving

I, alone no more
Standing, rejoicing
Let my own light shine
Burning, praising

Home: A poem

In the desert a voice is calling
Faint and soft it comes to me
Loud the sound of world surrounding
“Come home”, a faint yet persistent plea.

I look and see, yet in the distance
A tree, a great and glorious sight
And all around me falls a silence
“Come home”, a voice that’s clear and bright.

“Me?” I say surprised and startled
Yet my feet they draw me near
“But I’m a sinner, torn and troubled”
Maybe I doth simple mishear.

“You!” the thunderous voice resounded
“See upon the tree he hung”
“My son delivered to death unbounded”
“That your misdeeds be none.”

With mournful glee I run unhindered
Through the desert round about
A sentence, just, has been rescinded
“Coming home”, I cry and shout.