Saturday, January 06, 2007

Agape Cafe

The 11 poems posted today were all written last night at the Agape Cafe, a monthly coffeehouse at our church. Last night we had about 35 attendees and there were performances from 8:00 to 11:45, and then we started going around for a second time. It was another wonderful night out.


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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Frozen Soldier

Long ago, long ago
the green metal of the statue
in the nearby park
was a man in faraway lands,
living flesh of our nation’s best
sent into harm’s way
fighting in San Juan, in Manila,
forgotten fields of a little war
frozen in the park


January 5, 2007 22:30
Bronstein Park, Manchester, NH
Spanish American War statue

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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Turn of the Wheel

His foot on the pedal,
turning the wheel, faster, faster
spinning the clay, the potter
molding me, shaping me
creating me, with your hands
giving me life, with your breath

Thank you for the glimpse,
my slice of creation, my time
on this mortal coil

Drink the water, the word
wash over me, make me clean
bring me home to you
at the end of my days


January 5, 2007 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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Guardian Angel

A warm feeling filled me
on reading the words she wrote
for me, written in her prison cell,
sent to me with love, with thanks

Touching me in ways
ways I cannot really explain
For coming into her life,
the life of her mother, her children
going before the courts, the agency
those who would stand in judgment
wag fingers, look down on them all

Take up her cause, fight for them
find a way through, to sanctuary
a new home with her
with her loving arms
ready and able to hold them


January 5, 2007 20:49, edited 22:13


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.

Another Coffeehouse

Listening to their harmonies,
the blending of their voices
really listening, feeling their songs
pulled me back to other nights
long, long gone bye, earlier days
lost but to memory, and these lines in reflection

Other voices, other guitars,
six and twelve-strings, strumming, singing along
Kevin, Mike, Jim, Diane, and more
with the familiar folk songs,
our shared ones, of our time too

We were there, thrown together
dorm mates, classmates,
roommates, future groomsmen
guests at our weddings
people in special places
special times of our lives
echoing in the old songs they too
sing tonight in another place


January 5, 2007 21:36


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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

But you never said anything about Outside

She had sugar, little bits,
unauthorized pieces, shards,
of the gingerbread house.
Our centerpiece no more.

We were outside in the warm January night
having burgers on the grill
chatting with the neighbors
A cackle heralded her joining
a war cry from the house
bursting outside,
around and around the yard
Boundless energy
of our littlest princess
Wild laughter in circles
where the snow should be

Burn it off, Girl!


January 5, 2007 21:25



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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

No Running

Earnest, nodding heads
a trio of repentant souls
agreeing with the restated rule,
after cleaning the debris,
the drying eyes, the healing hurt
leg up on the pillow, ice pack in place
A hushed admonition
There will be no running
in this house, right Shanequa
Yes, Daddy.


January 5, 2007 21:20



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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Frozen Corn

After the chaos, quiet
the cascade of injuries
quiet reflection on facts of life –
She cannot fly, and
thank God for frozen corn
and a clipped bag.
It is great for a bump
on her leg and for snacking

A welt growing on her five-year old leg
when she didn’t clear the table;
another on mom’s knee,
from the flying tumbler,
the shower of cola across the room
A third on dad’s foot
where the frozen lasagna landed
while searching for frozen corn


January 5, 2007 21:06


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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Critical Minutes

Retracing steps, replaying in her mind
moments of the day, a Saturday
like all others that fall
and no other they ever knew
mete out the moments
task by task, child by child,
room by room, shards of time
Critical minutes, time matters
between guilt and accident
How decisions were made,
frozen, when the police arrived
with the news they didn’t want
lives changed, that instant


January 5, 2007 21:02


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 19,070+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Familiar Faces for a New Year

Smiles in the greetings, the easy feel
a family gathers, another night
of the Agape Café. Song and words
Stories, laughter, long pauses
of familiar voices.

Home again in the hall
cup of coffee in hand,
pen at the ready
finding voice again


January 6, 2007 20:39, second stanza 21:05


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 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Researching

Above the noise in the room below
the sound of the television, the game,
the laughter of our five-year old
entertaining herself alone
Looking for precedence, for the case on point
a winning parallel for my case
looking desperately, seeking
arguments in synonyms,
someone else who had gone before
blazed their way, before
Before the change in the law
Back when fertile ground remained,
when you could argue, fight
more services, more gain,
more balance, for them
seeing futures, opportunities
in the words of the law, regulations
mandatory authority
precedent, winning precedent,
elusive; but may be there still
for the tenacious.
Keep searching.


January 5, 2007 20:32


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.

Into the Fog

Pulling out of the lot
falling into the fog
enveloped by its stillness
its wet blanket
lost to the noise in the houses,
the people on the street

Lights on, with little effect
wiper blades needing replacement
too weak for the thin film
the hint of rain remaining

Melt into the night,
down the highway
lines, edges all muted
in the still wet night


January 5, 2007 20:26


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 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

A Constellation of Stars

Across the room
under sticky, greasy,
fresh fingerprints,
the static-held dust,
a constellation of stars
little white lights
of the Christmas tree
flickering, shimmering,
muted amber light
in the silent cathode tube


January 3, 2007 20:07


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.

Eating Edifice

Spots opened
without notice,
without attribution
the candies, elements
of the gingerbread house
disappeared
clapboards, gutters
shrubs, roof,
dismantled

Stealthy fingers
giggling eyes
sugary teeth
colored lips and tongue

Evidence
and conviction
elusive


January 3, 2007 19:51


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.

Refuted Facts

Ways to agreement
beyond the sparring
the minuet of debate
of advocacy, of winning
findings words
of compromise
uncontested claims
irrefutable facts
incontrovertible evidence
without malice
or capitulation
face-saving words
are illusory


or at least elusive

January 3, 2007 19:59



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 29,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Her Face in Prayer

Sitting on the couch
her head leaning on the arm
eyes closed, face lit
by the glow of incandescence
cares lifted, falling into prayer,
peaceful while waiting
for his words
musings to the creator
personal, reverent words
of hope, of faith,
in thanks, in love
and supplication


January 3, 2007 19:44


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.

Statement of Fact


An
unproven
fact
isn’t

A
fact

Allegation
assertion
contention

Is
not
fact



January 3, 2007 19:39


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.

The Faces of the Wolf

a Wolf Moon on the rise
a feeling in the air, on the
roads, the attitudes
something different with
warm winds, southerly breeze
where cold should be
Disquiet in the difference
the pull of the moon
on us still


January 3, 2007 19:36

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.

Shades of

How do you capture
living, changing color
the shades of
sunset, across the dome,
the panorama, the full circle
catching sight of the horizon
between the buildings,
around the compass dial

Shades of lavender, of plum,
of lilac, of heather

Floral shades as the blue
becomes darker, as the yellow
fades, loses strength
dies before the night


January 3, 2007 19:31


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.

Rising and Falling

Rising and falling together
undulating across the sky
from left to right
out over the river,
just feet above me
rising and falling in unison
as if tethered
like points on a cotton sheet
flapping is a summer breeze
the geese heading southward
this warm December ‘morn
pulsing in the wind


January 3, 2007 19:26


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 19,060+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

WikiHow - The How-To Manual That Anyone Can Write or Edit

Saw this on the Google homepage -

http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page

On the pages of the WikiHow, you can find such practical advice as:

"To prevent accidental bites, it is best to feed in a separate container. This way your snake does not associate your hand entering their home as feeding time every time you reach in. " on the page for How to Feed Frozen Rodents to a Snake (http://www.wikihow.com/Feed-Frozen-Rodents-to-a-Snake).

and:

"Don't overaccessorize" on the page for How to Put an Outfit Together.


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.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

What's Your Theological Worldview?

Wouldn't you know it, I got something right...

You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan. You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.

Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan

82%

Neo orthodox

79%

Emergent/Postmodern

68%

Charismatic/Pentecostal

64%

Roman Catholic

64%

Reformed Evangelical

50%

Modern Liberal

50%

Fundamentalist

21%

Classical Liberal

21%
What's Your Theological Worldview?
http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=43870




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.

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Real Forgiveness

Forgiveness, pardon
were woven in words,
we could understand, appreciate,
bring home to our own hearts
reach empathy, equate, learn from them
for our own lives, imperatives left
to churn and prod us, to forgiveness
Lives interwoven by her words
examples and choices made,
how richer is our world
for that gift of knowing
in the telling of the stories,
of the models for living
in walking in his steps
whatever the consequence
of learning the balm
of forgiveness, ourselves
for our hearts,
for our servanthood
like him, not judging,
but healing, a broken world


December 31, 2006 13:59
Written about Colossians 3:12-17, used by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge, in her sermon,
“The Image of Christ“, in which she wove
the question of whether the world is
better off after the execution of Saddam Hussein,
the selflessness of President Gerald R. Ford’s pardon,
the test of forgiveness that Corrie Ten Bloom faced
as she described in The Hiding Place,
and the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and God.


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 Formal Tie

Sugar cookies, candy canes,
Christmas trees, snow men,
stars, ginger bread men,
spirals, bells, all cartoon confections
festooned my newest tie
a special Christmas gift
bought for me to wear today
by the three angels in my life

Daddy, wear this, was their plea
How could I refuse?
So the tie for church was a bit less spiritual
but with more meaning this morning
wearing one given to me,
in love, by the same girls
cheering on my driving this morning
hitting six green lights
in a row on Canal Street
Go Daddy Go!
An auspicious start
to the last day of the year indeed


December 31, 2006 13:39


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.

Forgive Them

Forgive them, for they know not what they do
Words of the Savior
Whose birth we remember
just days ago; but whose example
is so much a part, of being his brothers,
sisters, joint heirs in the promise,
the salvation bought with his blood
Words of the babe, the son
said in a moment,
in a specific time and place
but universal, for us all
for our understanding, our grasping
of consequences of our action
far outstripped by his own
So forgive, always, for we have been told
to forgive, because
we all sin, all fall short,
all are guilty, all caused the breach
all need the grace, the forgiveness
Jesus spoke on the cross
That God granted
through the resurrection


December 31, 2006 13:14
Colossians 3:12-17 (especially 3:13), used by the
Reverend Lorene Eldredge today in her sermon,
made me think of Luke 23:34


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 29,160+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Neglectful Parents

How could they lose him,
he was only twelve,
not know he was with them?
Not know for a full day’s journey
assuming he was with family
No idea where he was,
frantically searching for four days
Finding him safe; but they didn’t know that
didn’t know he was safe in church
where he had stayed
while they didn’t know where
he was for five days


December 31, 2006 8:25
Luke 2:41-52
In today's world, this is probably how
it would be reported.


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 20,770+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.