Here on My Knees

I know it's been a long time since I've posted here, but there's been a lot going on, not the least of which is putting together my seventh book of poetry "Here on My Knees."

Contained within the pages of "Here on My Knees" you will find poems of faith and inspiration in Section 1 - A Growing Faith, and Section 2 - This Man Called Jesus. Poems based on family, love, everyday happenings and humorous verses are included to lighten your spirits in Section 3 - Penny Poetry.

The poems in "Here on My Knees" reflect my faith and realization that God is worthy of praise and faithful to hear our prayers, a sensitivity to everyday events, a love of family, and the knowledge that happiness and laughter contribute greatly to everyone's well-being.

I hope you will check it out and thank you for your interest.

Amazon paperback

Amazon Kindle e-book

Author's web site

Ruth

Age

Age

They say maturity
Comes with time
And experience,
But age comes like
A thief in the night
Or an uninvited guest,
Unwelcome and unwanted,
Using up your resources,
And stealing your most
Precious possessions.

Of all the things age
Has stolen from me,
I miss desire the most.
I miss the longing
In a lover’s eyes
And the gentle caress
Of his touch.
I miss feeling his
Urgent need
And watching his
Patient control
As he brings my need
In sync with his own.

Age then lingers on
Turning life into
Long, sleepless nights
And lonely unending days
When your only companions
Are nostalgia and regret,
Bringing painful memories
Tumbling unbidden down
The broken staircase
Of your life—
A squatter on what little
Land you have left,
Unwilling to leave until
It is dispossessed
By death.

Gentle Spirit

Gentle spirit
spread your wings.
Your home awaits
in eternal spring.
Do not look back
or to life cling.
What I have promised
you will receive.
Some tears will flow
and some will grieve;
but have no fear
for those you leave.
I will lift them up,
make right the wrongs;
for your loving heart
has made them strong.
So come my child,
the way’s not long.
I’ll walk beside you.
My peace I’ll bring.
So, take my hand
as the angels sing…
Gentle spirit,
spread your wings!

What Happened?

What Happened?

What really happened in Orlando?
Did they get it wrong or right?
Does Casey have any regrets?
Do her tears really flow in the night?

Was Kaylee looking down
Wondering what went on,
Wondering “Why Mama, why?
Are you happy now that I’m gone?”

What really happened in Orlando?
How was justice served?
Was the verdict just or jaded?
Or was Casey judged on a curve?

No One Wants to Hear Me Sing

No One Wants to Hear Me Sing

No one wants to hear me sing
for my voice is so unreliable.
No one wants to hear me sing
My lack of talent – undeniable!
No one wants to hear me sing
yet the birds in the trees grow still
and join right in to sing along
when I begin my howling trill.
I sing for the joy of singing
on any day cloudy or fair
and if no one wants to hear me sing,
well you know… I don’t really care!

God Can!

God Can!

What do you have in your hands?
Has it cost you heartache and pain?
Has it robbed your life of joy?
Has it made you a tormented man?

What do you have in your hands?
Do you need to just let it go?
Has it filled your nights with tears?
Let it go, for God understands.

What do you have in your hands?
Is your burden too heavy to bear?
Think you just can’t take anymore?
When you think you can’t, God can!

What do you have in your hands?
Does it look like it’s not enough?
What may seem so little to you
May be great in God’s holy plan.

So take what you have in your hands
And offer it up to the Lord.
He will turn it from bad to good
And he’ll love you as only God can!

Awaiting the Sign

Awaiting the Sign

Noah made one Ark to carry the righteous
with a blueprint from God’s own hands.
It had just one door to enter in
and only one window looked out.
Only one wood could build it
for only one family worth saving
who awaited one sign of forgiveness,
a covenant rainbow of promise
over a world wiped clean
and renewed.

Our Ark today is the same,
a blueprint from God’s own hands.
It has just one door to enter in,
only through Jesus Christ.
There is only one window, the Word,
with sixty-six books of instructions.
From only one wood is it built,
wood hewn from Calvary’s cross.
Christians of faith and courage
must come and knock at the door,
and await God’s sign of forgiveness,
a few life saving words of promise,
“Come in my child.
Welcome home!”

Here on My Knees

Lord, I have so many prayers to send –
wishes, needs, cares without end.
How does one know where to begin?

There are folks in disasters everywhere,
disease and illness too much to share.
How do I know you even care?

But then I’ve been told you know it all
and all I have to do is kneel and call
if upon your strength and love I’d draw.

So take a good look Lord. Here I am.
I opened my heart and got with the program
Hold out your crook Lord and pull in your lamb.

For if you can save a sinner like me,
I’ll spend lots of time down here on my knees
and all of my prayers will flow up to Thee!

Writing...

Write a leader or a follower poem
Or a follow the leader poem
Take the lead or walk behind
It doesn’t matter to me.

Just put your pen to paper
Or click about on the keyboard
Spell it out in Scrabble letters
Your choice is totally free.

We’ve spent so many days in thought
We’ve delved below the surface
We’ve chased our muse around the block
And filled so many pages

And yet we find ourselves bereft
Of just one more poetic idea
Don’t guess I’ll ever follow the masters
With the next great poem of the ages!

Home

Home

A home is not made of a nice big house
with four fancy wheels on the ground.
Home is a place of the heart,
a refuge for the troubled soul
where love can grow unbounded.
Home is a place you want to return
again, and again, and again.
It’s a place of ease and comfort
where life’s music and dance can blend.
Home is where memories linger
in the darkest night’s unrest.
Home is a place where the sun still shines
and welcoming arms hold your tight,
and you know that you will still be loved
when you wake to the new day’s light.

Some Days

Some Days

Some days are better than others.
You arise with a smile on your face.
You hug the dog and kiss your mate
and walk out into the sunshine.
You raise your hands to God above
and thank him for his care and love.
You see the flowers on the vine
and the weeds peeking out of the soil.
You hear the melody of the birds
and swat at the pesky gnats.
For along with the beautiful things in life
also comes the stress and strife.
We must realize as we grow older
that it's enough to just be here,
breathing in and breathing out,
alive for one more day,
blessed to have family and friends
who supply love and hugs without end!

Bitter

Bitter

He speaks again of his childhood.
The stories I’ve heard so often
come pouring forth like vinegar
from a bottle, his words sour,
briny memories… bitter.

Resentful towards his father,
an indignant recounting of
pain and punishment,
unjust demands on his time,
unpalatable thoughts… bitter.

Remorse that he left his mother
behind to live and cope with
what he could no longer bear.
Dreaming now of the great farmer
he could have been… bitter.

Hatred, simmering, growing,
boiling over year after year
within his mind and heart,
hatred for the abusive father
who controls him still… bitter.

Confused

Not paying attention
My thoughts wander
Unable to focus
Confused

What did you say?
Repeat it again.

My senior moments
Come way too often
Now where was I?
Confused.

Which Is Better?

tell it like it is
open mouth, insert your foot –
or remain silent

Jesus Christ the Servant

I came to be a servant – to teach you how to live.
– to give all I had to give.
– to show you right from wrong.
– to fill your mind with glory
and fill your heart with song

I came to be a servant – to promise you a home.
– so you’d never be alone.
– to pass along God’s grace.
– to show how much God loves you
— any time — any place.

I came to be a servant – to change the ways of man
– all according to God’s plan.
– to be sacrificed, misunderstood.
– to bleed and die at Calvary
upon a cross of wood.

I came to be a servant – to live within your heart.
– to set my own apart.
– to offer hope and conquer sin
– to give you everlasting life
– if you will just invite me in!

Room for Rent

a bird house hangs there
robins flitting in and out
hungry "peeps" within

a bird house hangs there
fluffy chick in the doorway
mother on the ground

a bird house hangs there
silent, motionless, empty
vacant until spring

***


No Vacancy

bluebird at the door
mama is checking it out
papa waits nearby

wrens flit in and out
today a flycatcher too!
same house, same springtime

I think they've joined up
to form a birdie commune -
chillin' at the pad!

Americans

Americans


A nation under God
M oving always toward peace
E nriching the lives of others
R aising awareness
I nviting confidence
C aring for others
A nnouncing our faith
N eighbors worth having
S trong and courageous

A Different Love

Our love began to fade
the moment we said “I do.”
And I never found again
the passion we once knew.
And yet there grew a different love
eventually, over the years,
as passion became unimportant
and togetherness allayed the tears.

Be A Star!

Be a Star!


Nothing is ever perfect,
for perfection just doesn’t stay.
As soon as we think a thing’s perfect,
new upgrades are underway.

And when we acquire
the next perfect thing,
We’ll find it is really
not good enough bling!

Maybe Susie has better
or Joey has more.
If we try to keep up,
we soon may be poor.

Jane and John may be skinny or tall
or athletic or incredibly smart.
But, that doesn’t make them better
than you with your loving heart!

Everybody is different.
Over time we all will change.
So why should we even join in
this silly look-alike game?

Happiness doesn’t come
from everyone being the same
For in time even Jane and John will age
and their bodies continue to change.

Just be happy with what you have
or happy with what you are.
Be the best you can be today —
Be yourself, be unique, be a star!

Do You Ever Wonder?

Do You Ever Wonder?

After leaving here
just where will I go?
The answer to that question
we all would like to know.
But God, in his infinite wisdom
will send us up or down
according to how we’ve lived
and if we’ve turned our life around.
He’ll look for Jesus in our hearts
and count our every good deed.
And if he finds us lacking
we might as well concede
the route that we’ll be taking
though it be lined with fire
will be the only route we’ve earned
when against him we’ve conspired.
But if he finds within our hearts
his own son shining through
he’ll take us by the hand
and give us life anew.
There’ll be no need to wonder then
just where we’ll be going,
for his paths are lined with gold,
shining bright and glowing.
We’ll have no need for GPS,
no need for Google maps.
for God will have taken full control
with his “Angelic Apps!”