Thursday, December 14, 2006

Around the Calendar We Go

Another year is about to begin
of a story that doesn’t grow old
of the way we met, the lives we left
the things we learned and we know

For you are my wife, the love of my life
the one with whom I’ll grow old

So these words are written for you
though they may only be a few
they share a tale of love and hope
found in our heads and our hearts
of the dream of a life without end
where we will be more than friends

Where we will walk with
the apostles of old
and we will ever be bold
To run to our brother and kneel
and thank him for what he had done
to give us a chance to live and to grow

So around the calendar we go
to wait and hope to the end
that the world will come to a close
and the glorious day will come
and we’ll bow and we will rise
when we too can look in his eyes
and thank him for his precious gift
of love and of grace


December 14, 2006 22:41
Around the Calendar We Go


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,230+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ears Revel

Ears Revel
oh they sure do
at the utter joy
in her war cry
charging into battle
bucket in hand
ready for the onslaught
the drenching
But no fear, no worries
just sheer joy
and a blood cuddling yell!


December 14, 2006 22:26


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,320+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Eyes Marvel

at the wonder of creation
of the fingers of her hand
of the laugh in her smile
bubbles in the corners
of her cheeks
the smell of her changing
the starched newness
of her bib, her small
perfect outfit, still creases
from the store
perfect fingers,
furrowed brow
in slumber in the back yard
nine days home
their little daughter


December 14, 2006 22:23


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

minds wander

in the early morning fog
the bible verses ooze into my subconscious
bleed their message into my soul
bypassing my conscious self
not yet awake for conversation
for focused insights.
no these are the moments of slow
osmosis, across a more dense membrane
drinking in the nourishment
through a screen, into the tissue
behind the veil of sleep
not yet relinquishing my self
from its grasp


December 14, 2006 22:20

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Poet's Journal - Heart Quake

Check out Jim Claghorn's site - A Poet's Journal - Heart Quake, at http://jclaghorn.blogspot.com/


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

In a Manger Lay

In a Manger lay
the savior of the world
who came to die
so we would live
in a manger lay
the hope of all creation
the lord of every nation
in that manger lay
our servant king
who would feed the hungry
cure the lame, the blind
in a stable bed
he rested his weary head
and we are safer yet
because of all he said
The hope of all the ages
was watched by animal gazes
in that little manger


December 14, 2006 22:04


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Perfection is a Rose

A red, red rose,
posing in the vase on the counter
a reminder of the beauty of summer
of the smell of a full bouquet
the effortless, flawlessness
the perfection of a rose
supple petals, thorns to protect
even color, deep burgundy red
rich saturation of red
soothing red, passionate red
enshrined in the bloom
the bud opening in its glory
look at me!


December 14, 2006 21:59

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,710+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God Came Again

The babe in the manger
was not the first time God
walked on the earth,
shared breath with creation, with man
It was the Garden, the holy garden
when God and Adam, and Eve
were together, able to see
and be seen, to feel the warmth
of God with them in person
before the fall, the shame,
the stain of the first sin
breaking the bond
the iniquity plain
Never the same
until the Father was the Son
and Jesus was born in Bethlehem


December 14, 2006 21:54


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Speaking with Power, Authority

Watching her eyes, in worship
as she preached from her heart,
not merely from the words she crafted
oh so carefully; watching her
watch the congregation, read their mood
their reaction to the hope, the exhortation
the call in the words she was given
urged to speak by our loving God
hearing the rush of adrenaline in
her rising voice, impassioned pleas
from deep within her soul,
grounded in the scripture, in a life
of reading, gleaning, sucking the marrow
from the old, old stories, the lives
of our forebears, the saints before us
woven all together, a tapestry
of power, of authority,
empathy, grounded in love,
in hope, in faith
as she stirs the congregation
from its slumber


December 14, 2006 21:28
about my wife preaching this summer
at the 8:00am services at our church


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,710+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Messages in the Wind

A quiet cold woods,
crunch of ice and snow
under the snowshoes,
hear the ski pole pierce the skin
of the layers of frozen ground
down through the white
slide silently as you can
moving effortlessly, seemingly
feel the tug on the muscles
the warm wool scarf,
above the turtleneck
lost in thought and reverence
out in the woods
listening carefully
for the message in
the whisper in the wind

December 14, 2006 21:21



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 27,390+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Under the Blanket

A wonderful Christmas
lies poised, ready,
wrapped and bowed
labeled and marked
a pile of presents,
separate paper for each one
hidden from view
out from the car,
into the basement
away from prying eyes
nimble fingers
hard shakes, and
subtle peeks
Need to wait
for the wonder
Christmas ‘morn


December 14, 2006 21:13

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The Creativity Blog

http://thecreativityblog.blogspot.com/
Check it out when you get a chance.


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Remembering that Day

Two years almost gone by
of the day we wed
on the stone bridge
in the park
in the snow
A handful of friends,
our daughters
and the cold wind
Your blue dress,
my snowflake tie,
a beautiful silk bouquet
words we wrote together
to share
Scripture with deep meaning
for us, to read together
through the tears
Two rings, a kiss, a toast
sealing the moment
we wed


December 13, 2006 22:07
December 17, 2004


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,020+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Taillight Soup

The clouds sank down
down to the pavement
between five and seven tonight
taillight soup, headlight soup
we were swimming in fog light soup
down the highway in a daze
watching for the dim light
down the road, in the distance


December 13, 2006 21:55


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Marsh Ice

A gray patina, a wash over the day
the colors of my vision
cold, waiting for December rain
rushes, ancient pine, marsh grasses
little tufts of dead life
amidst the frozen pools, dark centers
aerated edges of opaque ice, cracked
pulled away from the land
cold, December before winter
waiting for rain to chill the world further
gray coating over all, muting colors,
edges of objects, landscapes
marsh ice, wanting freezing


December 13, 2006 12:15


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Christmas Acrostic

Christ came into the world
Hear the good news
Rejoice that the Savior comes
Imagine the blessed scene
Sing His praises all the earth
That God came to that little place
May we be changed by the news
Amen and amen again, the
Savior lives


December 13, 2006 7:25



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Words I Needed to Hear

The Lord placed words in my heart
this morning in devotion, words
to sustain me, to guide me,
in the choices I have to make, in
leading the life he has laid out
for me, here, now
Help me Lord, to take comfort
in your words, see the path
you have laid out for me
and take it


December 13, 2006 7:01
Philippians 4:4-7 and Philippians 2:1-5,
in Alive Now and Upper Room


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 27,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

God Has Provided

Give us this day our daily bread
that line resonates so well for me, for my family
as we end the year, approach the Christ Child
on our knees in humble prayers of thanks
we have reaped the harvest of God’s good will
the bounty of our sustainer’s grace
humbly walking with the Spirit’s aid
so we can all serve where we are called
can touch lives in big and small ways
change for the better the realities we see
not bend or bow from the challenges
but fight for God’s will, the right
because God has provided
and always will


December 12, 2006 22:42


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Bringing Us Home

Two thousand years and more ago
God spoke to the prophet
told him “ I will bring you home”
what a wondrous promise, a hope
for us all, for those who follow the word,
the way of God, who hear the Master’s voice
faithful sheep of the flock, children of the promise
doing the work in the vineyard
until the time of the harvest,
the gathering in, the bringing home
when we can have our rest from toil
share in the family time, with our father,
our mother, our siblings beside us
those who like us, have kept the oil at the ready
remained awake for the coming
of the bridegroom,
ready to go to our home
just waiting for His return
and the final fulfillment
of the promise so long ago


December 12, 2006 22:30
Zephaniah 3:14-20


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Recent Visitors

One of the amazing things
in writing the poems, the posts
for this blog,
the numbers of lives touched
people who see the words
given to me,
spoken through me
sent out into the ether
the little tendrils of thought
Do they evoke feeling
on the other side of the world
in far off lands and time zones?
What a wondrous world
where prose poems gain wings
and flit around the globe
in the blink of an eye,
click of a mouse,
search string
and worldwide web


December 12, 2006
http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=sm3lawstudent&r=79



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

She Did It Herself

A sick ten year old
thought of me, before herself
this afternoon, in the quiet of the house
knowing my need to work on cases, files,
to put the client before myself
She acted in kind, and got her own
seconds on the soup I made for her
shut off the timer, agreed with
her younger sister
on the show to watch
left the house quiet
so I could do my work,
not asking, demanding attention
doing it herself
as a gift to me
One I acknowledge then
and memorialize now
Nice job Erica
Thank you


December 12, 2006 22:10


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Oh What a Wonderful Feeling

Oh what a wonderful feeling
that God saved me
Me, yes me,
and all I had to do
was agree;
How about you?


December 11, 2006 22:17


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 30,880+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Meeting Him for a Reason

I shared a word of grace,
in the sanctuary last night
of a client who is seeking
looking to change her life
to find the means to turn
away from her past to see
another way, to find God
again to live his ways and
be who she knows she can
be. Finding strength within
the words, the living words
of the Psalms, of scripture
Unable to give her these
books, devotionals, tracks
I went in alone, to see her
in the cellblock, but I was
not alone, for he was there
in the waiting room, the
same Chaplain I spoke to
in his church last night to
be the hands I could not
be, the hands to carry that
hope to her, to place them
into her hands, give her
another lifeline. So she
can change that life for
good, for real, for God
and for her little girls


December 11, 2006 22:12



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Into the Water

Down he fell, trusting, falling backward
into the tank, immersed by the waves
down into the cleansing waters
of the baptismal pool
telling the people
this was his
way, his
choice
being
saved
He rose
out into the
congregation
joining family
newfound church
His place of belonging
Where he can drink the word
heed the call to service to action
to change in his life, be born anew
Reclaimed by the sustainer, redeemer
the living God, creator of all, savior of all


December 11, 2006 22:05


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Shining City

I saw a glimpse today
of the shining city on the hill,
the city with the streets of gold
high on the horizon on the mountainside
the sun a flaming ball perched there
with tongues of orange and yellow,
rich crimsons and purples on the hills,
the living clouds
as the sunset filled
my peripheral view
Seared into my memory
of the beauty of the moving color
the fleeting scene
before it fell behind the distant hills
melting into the darkening sky


December 11, 2006 21:55



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 26,950+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

PATRICIA

Pray without ceasing
Always trust in the Lord
Teach the children and grandchildren
Rely on God
Ignite your faith with prayer
Call on the better angels of our nature
In all things do them unto the Lord
Arm yourself with the Armor of God


December 10, 2006 21:50
by Ruth and Ray
for our mothers


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Nodding to the Sermons

I was swaying, nodding to the words
to the words of the pastors,
different styles, different books, different verses
but oh the richness in the meanings
the truths they were milking, gleaning from
your holy word, the bible, the Word
telling stories of men and women,
how lives were changed, how we are changed
by the saints who went before, who were
faithful stewards of the good news,
faithful followers, disciples for Christ


December 10, 2006 20:13



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 36,080+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Hold the Rope

Saul was held safe by the rope
attached to the basket
allowing him to live, to escape
to be the apostle Paul, the man
God used, transformed, the man
of God, who turned from his roots,
the sins of his persecution, became
the man God needed him to be
To go and evangelize, to lead
to lead others to God, to the
saving grace of Jesus Christ
Held safe by a rope, holding a basket,
lowering him down the wall
the city wall of Damascus
What if that rope had failed,
what if the people
holding the rope failed, let go,
grew weary
Praise God they did their job
did it well, to the best of their abilities
How much richer we are, how much
greater is the bounty he harvested
because they held the rope
That we hold it still
in his service
sowing the Gospel,
the Good News of Jesus Christ
the Risen Lord,
whose birth we again await


December 10, 2006 20:02
Acts 9:23-25
Inspired by the sermon tonight by David Carlson,
Pastor of Gospel Baptist Church, 456 Beech St.,
Manchester, NH.

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,030+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Crèches

Our house, our home
blessed with more than one
a glass crèche, a solemn crèche,
a crèche of clay
waiting for the Christ child
on Christmas Day
Reminders, representations
of the holy story
of his holy birth
the parents, the animals,
the wise men, the shepherds
the star in the heavens
and the change here on earth
by the glory of his birth


December 10, 2006 15:11


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,050+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Visions of Christmas

We who sleep a little later,
ventured from our slumber
found a fairyland of Christmas
of trees, angels, villages, greens
and the feel of Christmas
throughout the house, making it
a home for our joy, our hope
in the Advent, the coming
of the Christ child


December 10, 2006 15:05



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 21,190+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ornaments

One by one, lovingly,
Reverently, they came,
out of storage, out of their cocoons,
their safety, to be placed
ever so carefully on the tree
One by one, retelling their stories
of what life was like when they were bought
given, received, shared in the family
among treasured friends,
lovingly sharing the stories
the memories of Christmases past
and in the knowing that they would
be remembered in the future
from the telling,
the remembering


December 10, 2006 14:36


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Silence was the Remedy

Not a punishment, not in so many words
that wasn’t what Gabriel had in mind,
not in this case, unbelief was the problem
silence was the remedy.
Think of the change in a life of speaking
of preaching, of counsel, of verbal service
now having to listen, to think, to write
everything down, to say in writing
what was verbalized before; but not punishment,
not disability, this was a gift, a grafting
of gifts together, providing grace
for insight, for reflection, for listening
for deeper meanings, messages
preparing him to speak in wondrous ways,
to speak a prophecy of saving
for the whole people
made more profound
by his silence


December 10, 2006 14:15
Luke 1:5-23 and 1:57-79


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,010+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Talk about Expectations

Wow, thanks Dad, no pressure here
oh no, I can choose my own way,
decide what I want to do with my life
I can decide to be a fisherman, a landowner,
a shepherd, whatever I want to be. Not!
You told the world I was going to be a prophet
and not just a prophet, the prophet, the one
the one crying out in the wilderness, fulfilling
the prophecy of old, all those centuries before
that I would be the one to proclaim the healing
the good news before the coming of
the Messiah, the one to baptize in water
the cleansing before the baptism
of the spirit, the turning to God
in the message of the Christ
Fine, so it shall be


December 10, 2006 13:30
Luke 1:58-79


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Nine-Month Teachable Moment

Waiting for the birth, the coming of a miracle baby
the son he never believe would come, a son to redeem
would wipe away her shame, the son to bear his name
No, not this son; he was to be named John, a son
for another purpose, dedicated to God, to be God’s
voice in the wilderness; but not right away
He would come in due time, and his father waited
the people amazed, aware that something had happened
when their priest was silent, silent for all those months
not speaking in the Temple, not in the gate, not giving
comfort, relief, as his lot would normally be
No he was a silent priest, mute, listening, writing only

He spoke when the time was ripe, appointed by the Lord
when he needed to speak, when the words needed to be shared
when the people would marvel and be in awe
for the mute spoke, after nine long months,
not in small talk, not in greeting, not in common, routine matters
No, he spoke first, in prophecy, important words of comfort
of hope, of foretelling, of saving for the people,
in fulfillment of prophets of old, and his son’s yoke
to be a prophet to the people


December 10, 2006 12:52
Luke 1:58-79



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Prophecy Broke the Stillness

His name is John.
He will be the prophet we have been waiting for
the leader to tell the good news, that the Lord
the Christ, the Messiah is near!
What a revelation, what a reason to speak
what a marvelous occasion for celebration!
Spread the news, the silent have spoken
let the people rejoice!
The nations declare, the wait is over,
the Christ will come, the prophet
will prepare us, wait for us,
baptize us, make us clean,
ready to greet our Lord
and reap his goodness


December 10, 2006 12:45
Luke 1:5-23 and 1:57-79


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,320+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Listen When the Silent Speak

Nine long months of silence
unable to preach, to pray aloud
to lead the people as he had done
his whole life, a priest broke a silence
a silence of holy purpose, to prepare him
to prepare the people, for an extraordinary
a miraculous message, a message of hope
they and he waited for hundreds of years
that the Messiah was coming, that he
was near at hand
That Zechariah’s son, his son John,
would be Elijah, the one crying out
In the wilderness, the message of hope
revealed, now, through his very son
Wow, stop the presses, put it on the
front page, in bold font, make every
tongue repeat, rejoice, for God
has sent a prophet, anointed by
the words of the silent priest
struck dumb by the hand of God
Given voice by enormous Good News
Let the Gospel begin


December 10, 2006 12:39
Luke 1:5-23 and 1:57-79. Amen!

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Zechariah’s Silence

Poor
Zechariah
An old priest,
struck dumb, mute
by the word of God,
the holy angel of God
because of fear, unbelief
uttered in the holy of holies,
the place priests alone could go
where holy sacrifices were made
year after year, to atone for the sins
of the people, of priests, of the chosen
the people of God; he took his turn in that
holy place, was touched, visited by God’s
The Angel Gabriel, messenger of God
Told of a son, to him, Elizabeth; Son
to be a messenger himself, to tell of
the one who was coming so very
so very soon, the cousin who
would save, save us all
if we would believe
where Zechariah
couldn’t didn’t
Believe


December 10, 2006 12:30
Luke 1:5-23


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.