Thursday, July 12, 2007

1,400 Poems

Another one hundred reached, 1,400 poems posted to the blog


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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

That Trio is Trouble

Three of the matriarchs
willful women of our congregation
congressing in the parking lot
outside the sanctuary
sharing a scheme, no doubt
some pressing agenda,
lost in their company,
and their thoughts
I wanted to approach
to ask what they were up to
But I didn’t dare
You don’t interrupt
powerful forces of nature
when there are working
in communion



July 12, 2007 20:16



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 20,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The Size of Creation

Tall mountains reaching to the sky
Deep canyons, cut into the earth, gorges, valleys
Huge blue whales, the enormity of the universe
Tiny atoms, in every thing on earth and in the stars,
a newborn hand clutching her daddy’s finger
Wide open spaces, room to breath, to run free,
crowded downtowns, no place to turn
The expanse of the world’s oceans,
growing with continental drift,
the melting of the ice sheets
A light year, or more to the next star,
many more to the edge of the expanding infinite
The space between two beating hearts,
held so close by arms of love
Changing, moving in space
this is the size of creation


-----------------  
edited July 7, 2018
The Size of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
The Words of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
The Message of Creation – v3

(editing original)
edited July 7, 2018
The Context of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Sounds of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
The Speed of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Creatures of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Smells of Creation – v3

edited July 7, 2018
Tastes of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Textures of Creation – v2

&
July 11, 2007 22:54
The Size of Creation
began notes June 2, 2007
Genesis 1
&
May 8, 2008
The Words of Creation
Psalm 19:1-4
and Upper Room devotional
&
edited June 26, 2014
The Message of Creation – v2
May 8, 2008
The Message of Creation
Psalm 19:1-4
Walk to Emmaus, Means of Grace
and Upper Room devotional
&
Finished July 26, 2007 22:25
Textures of Creation
Started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Started 7/8/07, added to 7/9/07 1:01AM
The Context of Creation
Genesis 1
&
edited August 3, 2014
Smells of Creation – v2
finished August 1, 2007 12:12
Smells of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 22:00
Tastes of Creation
Started July 11
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 21:40
Creatures of Creation
began draft June 2, 2007, update June 4, 2007, July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 8:03
The Speed of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 7:55
Sounds of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,200 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

===============
calling, Christ, Emmaus, God, God’s purpose, grace, joy, justifying, love, Luke 24, Luke 24:13-35, prevenient, Psalm 19, Psalm 23, sanctifying, servant, umc, United Methodist, Walk to Emmaus, witness,

#calling #Christ #Emmaus #God #Godspurpose #grace #joy #justifying #love #Luke24 #prevenient #Psalm19 #Psalm23 #sanctifying #servant #umc #UnitedMethodist #WalktoEmmaus #witness #salvation #resurrection #life #eternal #communion

====================
Christ, creation, creator, earth, Faith, God, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, love, Methodist, Poetry Where You Live, purpose, savior, witness, world,

#Christ #creation #creator #earth #Faith #God #gospel #grace #HolySpirit #hope #love #Methodist #PoetryWhereYouLive #purpose #savior #witness #world #Genesis1 #life #struggle #journey #void #Word #life #power #worship #holy #Lord

======================
branches, child, creation, creator, Faith, forest, Genesis 1, God, hope, loons, Methodist, mother, Nature, NEUMC, Poetry Where You Live, sound, summer, wind, wings,

#branches #child #creation #creator #Faith #forest #Genesis1 #God #hope #loons #Methodist #mother #Nature #NEUMC #PoetryWhereYouLive #sound #summer #wind #wings #sounds #cry #prayer #birth #song #crash #awe #noise #thunder #worship

=================
birds, bread, cicada, creation, creator, dawn, earth, Faith, Genesis 1, God, hawk, heart, human, life, light, Methodist, Nature, rainbow, sing, sound,

#speed #birds #bread #cicada #creation #creator #dawn #earth #Faith #Genesis 1 #God #hawk #heart #human #life #light #Methodist #Nature #rainbow #sing #sound #fast #slow #heartbeat #blinkofaneye #eternity #eons #epochs

=======================
apple, bread, breath, dust, Faith, forest, fruit, garden, Genesis 1, God, grass, lilacs, lilies, lily of the valley, Nature, ocean, orange, rose, shower, snow,

#smells #creation #apple #bread #breath #dust #Faith #forest #fruit #garden #Genesis1 #God #grass #lilacs #lilies #lilyofthevalley #Nature #ocean #orange #rose #shower #snow #creator #sight  #touch #senses #taste #touch

==========================
birds, brown, butterflies, creation, creator, deer, Faith, forest, garden, gardener, Genesis 1, God, hawk, love, Methodist, Nature, sheep, shepherd, starfish, turkeys,

#creatures #created #birds #brown #butterflies #creation #creator #deer #Faith #forest #garden #gardener #Genesis1 #God #hawk #love #Methodist #Nature #sheep #shepherd #starfish #turkeys #reptile #amphibian #mammal #microbe #onecelled

==========================
bread, Communion, creation, creator, earth, Faith, fire, fruit, garden, gardener, Genesis 1, God, hope, maple trees, Methodist, Nature, Poetry Where You Live, sin, taste,

#bread #Communion #creation #creator #earth #Faith #fire #fruit #garden #gardener #Genesis1 #God #hope #mapletrees #Methodist #Nature #PoetryWhereYouLive #sin #taste #sweet #sour #salt #bitter #luscious #nectar #meat

========================
creation, creator, Faith, flowers, fruit, Genesis 1, God, grass, ice, Methodist, Nature, ocean, rock, rose, sea glass, shepherd, stone, texture, touch, water,

#creation #creator #Faith #flowers #fruit #Genesis1 #God #grass #ice #Christ #Spirit #Nature #ocean #rock #rose #seaglass #shepherd #stone #texture #touch #water #senses #smells #taste #sight #seeing #feeling #rough #smooth #sharp

God Filled the Church

With tears pouring down my face,
washing down into my mouth
wide open
singing, praying, believing
in the power of the testimony,
the compelling
words from the chancel,
from the pulpit,
feeling them wash over me,
down from the
holy of holies,
down into Your courts
out over the congregation,
hands waving
in the warm air,
hearing the saving message
of the God who forgave her,
set her to work
with the migrant workers,
out in the blueberry fields
downeast from here,
feeling the truth in her message
the second and third,
and maybe even fourth chance God
that lifted her up
set her feet to walking a different road
one we share in ministry
in mission
in common



July 11, 2007 1:20



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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God Joined Us

God joined us
in that intimate space
sharing our stories, our beliefs
reading the scripture together
sipping the tea, laughing
at the timely anecdote,
the common memory
the shared verse,
we love so well
Closing your eyes,
for a moment at the reading
hearing the words differently
in the quiet of the circle,
thinking on it now,
a few months past,
a smile warms my face
even now, in the wee hours
I remember well
the bible study
in their living room.



July 11, 2007 00:47


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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

In the Quiet of the Circle

We sat around the living room
a more casual gathering
the small flock
listening to the word, yes;
but sharing our own
in ways we don’t in the sanctuary,
in worship. The majesty of God lives there
in the communing of the congregation,
the swelling of the choir, the sharing of bread;
but here in their room, this little slice of their life
shared with the rest of us, opening their home
to strangers becoming deeper friends,
we felt God’s closeness, with us
in the telling of our faith journeys,
each so different,
so much alike at the same time
in the quiet of the circle,
God joined us



July 10, 2007 23:56


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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, July 09, 2007

The Context of Creation

The beauty of creation
is found in the context of creation
the story of how we began
the world beginning
in the wondrous birthing
within bounds of physical laws

The earth fits within a solar system
which lives on one of the bands of the Milky Way galaxy
in one of the reaches of an expanding universe
Our small blue planet, teams with life
where the other planets, like the story of Goldie Locks
are either too warm or oh so cold

Our good earth is made up of so many amazing systems,
elements of water, or air, of fire, of earth

Water, in our bodies, in the plants,
in crashing seas, placid lakes, running streams,
in falling rain and blowing snow

Sky, air, wind, colors of blue and gray, lavender
bright sunrise, warming sunset
harbinger of good days and storm

The earth under our feet, rising in mountains,
in dune and desert, in tundra
covered by field, forest, hidden in valley and cave

Fire giving warmth and roaring out of control
scorching the earth, by lightening, by spark,
by sun, spontaneous combustion,
rewriting the story of a place

Living plants, grasses, fruits, vegetables,
conifers, bushes, cacti, on and on the list grows
taking in the waste of man, or animals,
breathing in our bile,
exhaling our life giving oxygen

Animals that hunt, that munch, that chew,
mammals and insects, and platypus,
fish and birds, reptiles, amphibians,
though I can never tell those apart
A wonderful balance; that is the context of creation

-----------------
edited July 7, 2018
The Context of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Sounds of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
The Speed of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Creatures of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Smells of Creation – v3

edited July 7, 2018
Tastes of Creation – v2

edited July 7, 2018
Textures of Creation – v2

Finished July 26, 2007 22:25
Textures of Creation
Started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Started 7/8/07, added to 7/9/07 1:01AM
The Context of Creation
Genesis 1
&
edited August 3, 2014
Smells of Creation – v2
finished August 1, 2007 12:12
Smells of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 22:00
Tastes of Creation
Started July 11
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 21:40
Creatures of Creation
began draft June 2, 2007, update June 4, 2007, July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 8:03
The Speed of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1
&
Finished July 30, 2007 7:55
Sounds of Creation
started July 11, 2007
Genesis 1

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 47,200 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

====================
Christ, creation, creator, earth, Faith, God, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, love, Methodist, Poetry Where You Live, purpose, savior, witness, world,

#Christ #creation #creator #earth #Faith #God #gospel #grace #HolySpirit #hope #love #Methodist #PoetryWhereYouLive #purpose #savior #witness #world #Genesis1

======================
branches, child, creation, creator, Faith, forest, Genesis 1, God, hope, loons, Methodist, mother, Nature, NEUMC, Poetry Where You Live, sound, summer, wind, wings,

#branches #child #creation #creator #Faith #forest #Genesis1 #God #hope #loons #Methodist #mother #Nature #NEUMC #PoetryWhereYouLive #sound #summer #wind #wings #sounds #cry #prayer #birth #song #crash #awe #noise #thunder #worship

=================
birds, bread, cicada, creation, creator, dawn, earth, Faith, Genesis 1, God, hawk, heart, human, life, light, Methodist, Nature, rainbow, sing, sound,

#speed #birds #bread #cicada #creation #creator #dawn #earth #Faith #Genesis 1 #God #hawk #heart #human #life #light #Methodist #Nature #rainbow #sing #sound #fast #slow #heartbeat #blinkofaneye #eternity #eons #epochs

=======================
apple, bread, breath, dust, Faith, forest, fruit, garden, Genesis 1, God, grass, lilacs, lilies, lily of the valley, Nature, ocean, orange, rose, shower, snow,

#smells #creation #apple #bread #breath #dust #Faith #forest #fruit #garden #Genesis1 #God #grass #lilacs #lilies #lilyofthevalley #Nature #ocean #orange #rose #shower #snow #creator #sight  #touch #senses #taste #touch

==========================
birds, brown, butterflies, creation, creator, deer, Faith, forest, garden, gardener, Genesis 1, God, hawk, love, Methodist, Nature, sheep, shepherd, starfish, turkeys,

#creatures #created #birds #brown #butterflies #creation #creator #deer #Faith #forest #garden #gardener #Genesis1 #God #hawk #love #Methodist #Nature #sheep #shepherd #starfish #turkeys #reptile #amphibian #mammal #microbe #onecelled

==========================
bread, Communion, creation, creator, earth, Faith, fire, fruit, garden, gardener, Genesis 1, God, hope, maple trees, Methodist, Nature, Poetry Where You Live, sin, taste,

#bread #Communion #creation #creator #earth #Faith #fire #fruit #garden #gardener #Genesis1 #God #hope #mapletrees #Methodist #Nature #PoetryWhereYouLive #sin #taste #sweet #sour #salt #bitter #luscious #nectar #meat

========================
creation, creator, Faith, flowers, fruit, Genesis 1, God, grass, ice, Methodist, Nature, ocean, rock, rose, sea glass, shepherd, stone, texture, touch, water,

#creation #creator #Faith #flowers #fruit #Genesis1 #God #grass #ice #Christ #Spirit #Nature #ocean #rock #rose #seaglass #shepherd #stone #texture #touch #water #senses #smells #taste #sight #seeing #feeling #rough #smooth #sharp


Arguing in the Dark

The facts are as they are
the arguments had been made
we have what we have
and it will be the judge who decides
which is the stronger, the more cogent,
the better case was that day

But we cannot know, the balancing
that the man in the robe makes
the weight of each thread in the tapestry
the competing stories being written
by the yellow press, the purple prose
the advocates of the different sides
it is a fight we cannot divine
within the mind
of the decision maker
the trier of fact



July 8, 2007 23:45


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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Life Without Limits

A friend emails me an amazing video. I am now forwarding that via this blog where ever the internet may lead it. I haven't looked at the whole site; but this is a very inspirational story. thank you Nick.

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Food Falling from Above

Like Manna raining down from heaven
so too the smelly fish flakes fall
onto the open mouths of the tropical fish
resident in my office.

Like baby birds with mouths agape,
they welcome the providence
of the food falling from above
miraculously meeting their needs
daily, their daily bread,

A reminder, in a momentary, tangible way
of the provision of the Lord,
for our daily needs
met in ways sublime and subtle,
if we are aware to notice



July 8, 2007 13:36
Exodus 16:10-15
Matthew 6:11


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 19,460+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Before the Beginning

“In the Beginning,”
So starts the greatest story ever told
of the God who loves us
and our relationship with the Creator
over many millennia

Our covenantal, personal bond with
the King of the universe,
our failings, over and over again;
the Lord’s constant love,
gifts of grace, of saving.

But before the Beginning,
There was God.
Eternal, Omnipotent,
Omnipresent, Omniscient
Before anything, even nothingness,
There was God



July 8, 2007 5:54am
Genesis 1:1


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 20,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.