the arms of the shadow

the arms of the shadow
the sturdy trunk
like the rugged cross
where Christ died for us

a promise in the shadow
God’s covenant with us
that Christ will return
that the Spirit is with us

looking down for a moment
on Thanksgiving morning
a picture of eternity
frozen in shadow

a cut out remaining
a silhouette of frost
the old sugar maple
imprinted on the grass

the shadow of the maple
white on the ground
the frost yet remaining
until the sun moves around

a promise in the shadow
in the cut out of white
God’s presence with us
in the shadow of the night

Christ will come again
to gather us in
the white of his mercy
washing the red of our sin

====
Edited November 23, 2012
the arms of the shadow
Edited November 23, 2012
a whisper in the shadow
Edited November 23, 2012
a silhouette of frost – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-silhouette-of-frost-v3.html
Edited November 22, 2012
a silhouette of frost – v2
November 22, 2012
a silhouette of frost
&
the sugar maple’s shadow kept the frost outline
as the rest of the frost melted this morning
on the church lawn
&
remembering to whom we are thankful
this Thanksgiving season
&
Thanksgiving 2012
Pembroke – Allenstown Community Thanksgiving Service
at First Congregational Church of Pembroke
http://www.pembrokechurch.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=40672
Pembroke Street
Pembroke, NH
November 21, 2012
&
offering for Allenstown – Pembroke Interfaith Food Pantry
http://cs.newhampshire.com/blogs/hooksett_editor/archive/2009/11/25/There-are-many-ways-to-make-the-holiday-bright.aspx
&
Philippians 4:4-7
And homily, “Gratitude”,
by Father Crowley
&
including the pastors:
Pastor Ruth Foss
https://twitter.com/PastorRuthFoss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
&
Pastor Mike Mativity
http://www.gccnh.com/
Grace Capital Church,
Concord, NH
&
Reverend Jim Howard
First Congregational Church of Pembroke
&
Father Edmund G. Crowley
http://www.catholicnh.org/directory/index.cfm?intType=1&id=72
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Allenstown, NH
&
Reverend Richard Babcock
Sunrise Baptist Church
Allenstown, 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 21,030+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.