Team Sport

Christianity is a team sport,
so the pastor said that morning from the pulpit.
Sometimes it can feel lonely, different from that
in the congregation. With gifts of poetry,
gifts of prophesy, it can anyway.

He spoke of the life of the Christian,
of quiet time for prayer, alone in our closet,
time for bible study, for immersing in the word
the lessons of the living God.
But there is the need for together time,
for time in the spirit with fellow believers,
in group study, in conversation, in service.
In communion, in the sanctuary, the soup kitchen,
the prison, the office, the marketplace of ideas
We grow best, in the company of Christians,
learning together the humble service we are called to
to follow the example of the creator,
the savior, the Son and the Father


July 19, 2007 21:49
Started March 4, 2007.
Philippians 3:12-4:1
Sermon “A Race Everyone Can Win”
by Rev. Peter Hey, 3/4/07

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/07/team-sport.html

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 31,510+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Offering

A small token, a tithe, or less
given to the provider, the creator
in acknowledgement of the provided;
a living ritual of the faithful,
more than the coins, the bills, the checks,
is the act of offering, the giving back
the returning to service
of the gifts given
money for the coffers,
more the giver than the receiving
to thank the provider
for the provision
of our needs

July 19, 2007 21:38

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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Under the Stars

Laying back in the canoe
out in the middle of the lake
northern Maine
June, maybe July
more than thirty years ago
a magical pure moment in time
gazing at the pallet of the sky,
the arc of the dome
separating the sky from the void beyond
a shape to it, even my mind could comprehend
grasp the enormity of the universe
a million stars or more lit for me to see
to experience this now
so long ago
on a lake
under the stars

July 19, 2007 21:28


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 19,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Trout for Breakfast

The smell of the brook trout
percolated out from the tin foil,
the butter and lemon joining
the fresh catch, cooking in the edge
of the campfire,
readying our breakfast
after a nap in the early morning light
lost in this moment of memory,
sensing it even in the moment
this would be something to treasure
a bit of joy in the morning
on the edge of the lake
beside the tent and the canoe
waiting for the catch to be ready
Trout for breakfast

-------
Edited December 17, 2023
Trout for breakfast – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/12/trout-for-breakfast-v2.html
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/12/trout-for-breakfast-v2_17.html
July 19, 2007 21:24
Trout for breakfast
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/07/trout-for-breakfast.html
after the night of:
Breaking Camp – v7
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/breaking-camp-v7.html
the spell of the night – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-spell-of-night-v3.html
&
July 17, 2023
The sky above me opened
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-sky-above-me-opened.html
Reacting to post on July 14, 2023
by Andrew McCarthy
https://twitter.com/AJamesMcCarthy/status/1679861569650593792
“I saw the night sky for the 1st time
when I was 16 canoeing the
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/aww-guide.pdf
in northern Maine.”
&
edited January 25, 2022
Stilling myself, silent – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent-v3.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
The Milky Way above me – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me-v2.html
&
January 3, 2022
The bear cub
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-bear-cub.html
About drive out of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
after 2019 Stars Over Katahdin dark skies event. 
Drafted after reading first part of poem "Clapp's Brook" by Mary Oliver.
&
edited January 1, 2021
Looking across the valley - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/02/looking-across-valley-v2.html
February 1, 2021
Looking across the valley
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/02/looking-across-valley.htmll
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1356233398117920769
https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm
https://baxterstatepark.org//
seeing Mount Katahdin from Ash Hill, Route 11, Patten, ME ;
title a nod to LeGrand Cannon, Jr.’s book, Look to the Mountain,
about Mt. Chocorua in NH
&
edited January 24, 2022
Dip your cup into memory – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/dip-your-cup-into-memory-v2.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
Stilling myself, silent – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent-v2.html
January 24, 2022
Stilling myself, silent
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent.html
January 24, 2022
Dip your cup into memory
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/dip-your-cup-into-memory.html
January 24, 2022
The Milky Way above me
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me.html
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me_24.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
Moonlight – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/moonlight-v3.html
&
edited January 19, 2022
Shimmering in the full-moon light – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light-v3.html
edited January 18, 2022
Shimmering in the full-moon light – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light-v2.html
January 18, 2022
Shimmering in the full-moon light
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light.html
driving over the Route 16 bridge/causeway over the St. Johns River
&
edited December 28, 2015
Moonlight – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/moonlight-v2.html
posted February 10, 2004
written August 16, 2000
Moonlight
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/moonlight.html
Written August 16, 2000 at 11:30pm, after paddling
on the lake after the School Board meeting ran late.
&
December 26, 2021
Bursting, rising
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/12/bursting-rising.html
edited March 10, 2020
by the side of a lake – v5
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1237525423459721217
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v5.html
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v4
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236658755405778944
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v4.html
stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236658184066039814
stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236656401197432832
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v3
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236649623726546944
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v3.html
stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236648812279730179
stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236648239019036672
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v2
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236638070516129794
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v2.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236637374282641411
March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236629369256321024
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236628321573785600
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236625326416883714
written in response to a question
on Realistic Poetry
https://twitter.com/RealisticPoetry/status/1236457843055669248
“Many poets believe poetry is an escape.
If your poetry could take you anywhere to temporarily escape,
where would it be and why?”
 
======
edited August 21, 2015
Breaking Camp – v7
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/breaking-camp-v7.html
(editing version 3)
edited July 18, 2015
Breaking Camp – v6
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/breaking-camp-v6.html
(editing version 5)
edited April 21, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v7
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v7.html
(editing original)
edited April 21, 2015
Breaking Camp – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/breaking-camp-v5.html
(editing original again)
edited April 19, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v6
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v6-skin-of-lake-sliced.html
(editing original again)
edited April 17, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v5.html
(editing version 4)
edited April 16, 2015
Flowing North – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/flowing-north-v4.html
(editing version 3)
edited April 16, 2015
the spell of the night – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-spell-of-night-v3.html
(editing version 2)
edited April 16, 2015
Under the Stars – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/under-stars-v3.html
(editing version 2)
edited April 16, 2015
The Ledges – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ledges-v5.html
(editing version 4)
edited April 15, 2015
Breaking Camp – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/breaking-camp-v4.html
(editing version 3)
Edited May 4, 2013
“The Skin of the Lake – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-skin-of-lake-v4.html
Edited February 23, 2013
“The Skin of the Lake – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v3.html
Edited February 23, 2013
“The Skin of the Lake – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v2.html
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of the Lake”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/skin-of-lake.html
-----
edited April 16, 2015
The Ledges – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ledges-v5.html
(editing version 4)
edited May 2, 2013
“the spell of the night – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-spell-of-night-v2.html
new poem, February 23, 2013
“the spell of the night”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-spell-of-night.html
&
Edited February 23, 2013
“The Skin of the Lake – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v3.html
Edited February 23, 2013
“The Skin of the Lake – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v2.html
July 28, 2010
“The Skin of the Lake”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/skin-of-lake.html
&
Edited May 4, 2013
“Under the Stars – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/under-stars-v2.html
July 19, 2007 21:28
“Under the Stars”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/07/under-stars.html
&
edited April 14, 2014
“Breaking Camp – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/breaking-camp-v3.html
(editing original again)
Edited May 4, 2013
“Breaking Camp – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/breaking-camp-v2.html
November 23, 2006 18:00
“Breaking Camp”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/11/breaking-camp.html
&
edited December 7, 2014
Free Time – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/free-time-v3.html
edited May 28, 2014
Free Time – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/free-time-v2.html
posted May 24, 2004
Free Time
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/free-time.html
saved March 26, 2004
&
Edited November 2, 2013
“The Ledges – v4”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-ledges-v4.html
Edited May 4, 2013
“The Ledges – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ledges-v3.html
Edited September 20, 2012
“The Ledges – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-ledges-v2.html
editing the original again
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
 “The Ledges”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/ledges.html
Written July 14, 2000.
It is based on a single night in the summer of 1977 when I was part of a group from Claremont's Stevens High School that canoed the Allagash in northern Maine.
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=2
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
&
It was the third and final major canoe trip I went on (Saco River in 1975 starting in Fryeburg, ME, Allagash in 1976-July-ish when it was warmer and slower). This trip was earlier, in May, when the water ran faster and the time was spent moving down river with the flow of the river. Nights were a lot cooler and the food was a lot different. Many of us had bad hypothermia the first night because it was a cold rain and none of us had unpacked our bags to pull out the foul weather gear. I remember well having to strip off all of my cold wet clothes and sharing a sleeping bag with another camper. The night written about here started innocently enough. We arrived at this particular campsite on Eagle Lake (or Churchill Lake) earlier than normal, because of the river's current. We all set up each tent and set the dinner fire going. I think it was fried bologna. We all turned in early. We were tired. The moon rose before 11. There were ants and black flies everywhere. One of the campers had to sit by the fire at each campsite to ward off the black flies. Anyway, one by one we all realized we weren't going to sleep any more that night. Before am, we were all pacing around, uneasy. The leaders all agreed to put out for the next camp. We weren't in any rush at am though. This was the way I felt about this night. After we put in mid morning at the next site, I remember the wonderful brook trout we caught and I can still taste it, twenty-three years later. I think these times, when I was moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, when I was canoeing the Saco and then the Allagash were some of the happiest of my high school days. On the 1976 trip, from Massachusetts, I found the canoe paddle I wrote about in the poem "Wind" I always talked about going back to the Allagash; but I have never gone back. It wasn't until 22 years later that I finally got my canoe again.
 
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
 
creation, Faith, God, hearing, Maine, memories, Nature, night, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, river, senses, sound, water, Writing Poetry, poem, poetry, lake, summer,
 
#poetry #Canoe #cold #creation #eyes #Faith #God #hearing #imagination #memories #Nature #night #river #senses #sight #sound #water #Writing #summer #coffee #lake
 
---------------
poetry, Faith, God, family, Nature, memory, memories,
 
#poetry #Faith #God #family #nature #memory #memories
 
--------
poetry, poem, Faith, hope, moon, Nature, water, river, night, God, full moon, moonlight, Milky Way, stars, Maine, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Thoreau, dark sky,
 
#poetry #poem #Faith #hope #moon #Nature #sky #water #river #night #God #fullmoon #moonlight #MilkyWay #stars #AllagashWildernessWaterway #darksky

In the Candle’s Flame

I sat transfixed, enthralled,
entranced in the grip
the allure, the beauty
the magic in the flickering flame
slowly consuming the wick,
the wax, dripping down its glowing
stem, drizzling, spilling over
the edge of the precipice,
tumbling, cooling, slowing
on the fall to earth, under the spell
of the law of gravity
coil of blackened wick,
pool of liquid wax
enraptured by the blue, the yellow,
the white hot of the flame
dancing in the wisps, the chills,
the changing of the air
around the candle on the table
living flame destroying
in fantastic energy
burning bright

July 19, 2007 21:17


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 19,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A World Came Alive

The jetty changed, when the tide came in
turned its course and headed out once more
There were pools, caught between the rocks,
where barnacles fanned their tongues into the warming water
tiny snails marched across the sandy floor,
little forests of corals swaying above them,
anchored on their hard shells,
trees of seaweed towered to the top of the pool,
bent across the skin of the water
hermit crabs darted into the light and back to the safety
of the side of the pool, under the rocks once more
a world came alive, became visible to me,
in the time after the tide started going out
and the ebb of low tide

July 19, 2007 16:35

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.

I Could Picture His Face

A quick phone call, a recognition of his voice
instantly I saw his face, the look of his countenance
his bearing, his affect (or the lack there of),
amazing how the mind recalls, sees without seeing
memory so clear, so sure, just how he looks
I could picture his face, as if he were in the room with me
not miles away, months ago since we last talked
funny how much we remember, little details,
of hands, of skin, of sounds, of scents that trigger
a cascade of images, of textures, of certainty
an amazing thing to ponder, on a rainy afternoon
in the quiet of the office, after hanging up the phone



July 19, 2007 16:09

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 19,530+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Greater Ease on His Face

I saw a change, a difference;
yes, there was still a hint of hesitance,
that has been there for a while
a sense of the hurt he carries
still heavy on his soul;
But a change in his face
an easing of the muscles,
a broader smile, breathing free air.
So different than the day,
I caught his furtive glance,
his hunched shoulders,
sunken frame,
when he was caged
boxed in, at another’s will,
unable to help his family.
Placed there by lies,
callous harm hurled his way
by one who claimed love
once upon a time
Now he remains,
at the mercy of others, in part;
But he stands erect, transformed, changed
in more ways, to walk a different path
to grow in word and ways
to bring his changed soul
to others in need
Bearing witness to the ways
God has changed him,
Forevermore


July 19, 2007 15:26

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

In the Courtyard of the Church

In the courtyard of the church,
the little used, enjoyed,
quiet space within the four walls
halls of the church

A wonder of color, of brilliant color
of peace and reflection, of newness
and life, birds and bees,
flowers and trees
Needing tending and care
drink in the fragrant air

A bee alights on the bloom
like a bride and groom
In the quiet of the courtyard
of the church
a dance of creation at work
bringing more blooms
in the spring

July 19, 2007 14:54

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

In Praise of Weeding

Rich loam between my fingers,
grip of stems, roots, balls of grass
pull up through the rain drenched soil
smell of the mulch, the grass,
the water from heaven
A patch cleared of the unwanted
weeds pulled out of the garden
separated from the wheat,
the chaff for burning
a wonderful closeness to nature
to God’s lessons for us
through the work of my hands
pulling weeds in the garden

=====

edited August 6, 2016

In Praise of Weeding – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/08/in-praise-of-weeding-v5.html

(merging original and version 4)

edited February 9, 2016

In Praise of Weeding – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/02/in-praise-of-weeding-v4.html

(merging edits to original, version 2, version 3)

edited July 28, 2015

In Praise of Weeding – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/in-praise-of-weeding-v3.html

(editing original)

edited April 29, 2015

In Praise of Weeding – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/in-praise-of-weeding-v2.html

July 16, 2007 14:04

In Praise of Weeding

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/07/in-praise-of-weeding.html

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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 42,400+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

creator, Faith, fingers, garden, gardener, God, grass, hands, heaven, hope, Methodist, Nature, New Hampshire, poem, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, senses, smells, water, work,

#creator #Faith #fingers #garden #gardener #God #grass #hands #heaven #hope #Methodist #Nature #poem #poetry #senses #smells #water #work