Saturday, April 20, 2013

Arguing Clay – v2



A cracked bowl, imperfect
still on the wheel
negotiating with the potter
to save him, take pity
through clever argument
seeking a reprieve
to live, even if
remaining flawed
upon the potter’s wheel


Edited April 20, 2013
“Arguing Clay – v2”
January 12, 2007 22:29
“Arguing clay”
Psalm 138


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 22,950+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Clay – v2



Dirt and living water
dust and God’s breath of life
my vessel forming
in the loving hands of God

A cup, a bowl
a vessel warm and worthy
by God’s loving hands
I gain form and shape


Edited April 20, 2013
“Clay – v2”
September 3, 2010
“Clay”
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Jeremiah 16:10-20:18
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 27, 2010, read September 2, 2010
&
Isaiah 56:6-8
Isaiah 55:1-60:9
Heartlight’s Straight Through Bible Study
for August 20, 2010, read August 30, 2010
&
earlier poem
-----------------------
In the Potter’s Hands

I am clay in the potter’s hands
Mold me, shape me, make me
What you will of me
Use me for your purposes
Imbue me with the skills, the spirit
To serve where you would have me serve
Performing the services you would intend
Wherever you would send me
However you would will me
To send me forth
From this space, this place
Into the world
As your servant, your son
Your child, in your image,
The image of your son,
Our brother, our example,
Our savior, like us clay
Held in the potter’s hands

September 3, 2007 15:05
Jeremiah 18:1-11


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 27,530+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Why won’t you listen – v2


Asking him to say the words
that he is the Christ
God alive, Emmanuel
here with us
He was exasperated
on the edge
speaking an indictment
with awesome dread

Why won’t you listen
the words plain before you
all I have said and done
to lead to understanding
My life a witness
to the power of God
present, abiding
I am the Word


------
Edited April 20, 2013
“Why won’t you listen – v2”

April 20, 2013
“Why won’t you listen”
John 10:25
John 10:22:25
“The Unbelief of the Jews”
Upper Room Disciplines for 2013
April 15, 2013 to April 21, 2013
“Goodness and Mercy”
by Cheryl Somers-Ingersol
for April 18, 2013
read April 19, 2013

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 22,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

What do they see – v2

words of the message
hidden struggles
their beauty inside
but a harsh self-image
slow, hard to set aside
with society’s message

What do they see
my daughters, my lover
the women in my life
when they look in the mirror?

Do they see their real beauty
the life in the wrinkles,
in the crinkles, the dimples
the lines of their faces
theirs to share
joyfully, confident

Do they smile for the mirror
are they happy in their skin
do they see the beauty
that is there deep within?


----  
my response to the Dove ad on Twitter
April 20, 2013
&
new poem April 18, 2013
“The path of our lives”
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v4”
Edited August 15, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v3”
February 17, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v2”
lWednesday evening worship
Fourth of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Stepping Stones
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 15, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Third of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Silence
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 8, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Second of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Second Sunday: Bumpy Bead
1 John 4:7-21
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 25, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
start of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
First Sunday: God
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 56:1-8
Acts 17:22-32
poem, “Pied Beauty”,
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 11, 2012

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 22,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Harsh Self-Image – v2



What do we see
looking in our mirrors
tracks of our lives
written in the flesh
What do we really see
when we are in private

A harsh self-image
worn down by struggles
words spoken by others
society’s message
to be thinner, younger
The beauty inside
not seen by ourselves


----
my response to the Dove ad on Twitter
April 20, 2013
&
new poem April 18, 2013
“The path of our lives”
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v4”
Edited August 15, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v3”
February 17, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v2”
lWednesday evening worship
Fourth of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Stepping Stones
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 15, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Third of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Silence
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 8, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Second of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Second Sunday: Bumpy Bead
1 John 4:7-21
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 25, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
start of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
First Sunday: God
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 56:1-8
Acts 17:22-32
poem, “Pied Beauty”,
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 11, 2012

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 22,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

What do they see



the words of the message
their beauty inside
a harsh self-image
slow, hard to set aside
What do they see
my daughters, my lover
the women in my life
when they look in the mirror?

do they see their real beauty
the life in the wrinkles,
in the crinkles, the dimples
the lines of their faces
Do they smile for the mirror
are they happy in their skin
do they see the beauty
that is there deep within?


----
my response to the Dove ad on Twitter
April 20, 2013
&
new poem April 18, 2013
“The path of our lives”
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v4”
Edited August 15, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v3”
February 17, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v2”
lWednesday evening worship
Fourth of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Stepping Stones
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 15, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Third of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Silence
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 8, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Second of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Second Sunday: Bumpy Bead
1 John 4:7-21
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 25, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
start of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
First Sunday: God
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 56:1-8
Acts 17:22-32
poem, “Pied Beauty”,
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 11, 2012

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 22,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Harsh Self-Image



What do we see
looking in the mirror
the tracks of our lives
written in the flesh
A harsh self-image
worn down by struggles
the beauty inside
not seen by ourselves


----
April 20, 2013
my response to the Dove ad on Twitter
April 20, 2013
&
new poem April 18, 2013
“The path of our lives”
Edited April 15, 2013
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v4”
Edited August 15, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v3”
February 17, 2012
“Like whispers on the rice paper – v2”
lWednesday evening worship
Fourth of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Stepping Stones
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 15, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Third of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Third Sunday: Silence
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
February 8, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
Second of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
Second Sunday: Bumpy Bead
1 John 4:7-21
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 25, 2012
&
Wednesday evening worship
start of series on prayer,
inspired by Marcia McFee,
“All My Days: A Summer of Prayer”,
First Sunday: God
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 56:1-8
Acts 17:22-32
poem, “Pied Beauty”,
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
and meditation
by Pastor Ruth Foss
A Handmaiden of the Lord
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
January 11, 2012

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 22,940+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

a Dove ad made me cry. Beautiful


edited April 20, 2013
“What do they see – v2”
new poem April 20, 2013
“What do they see”
Edited April 20, 2013
“A Harsh Self-Image – v2”
April 20, 2013
“A Harsh Self-Image”
Dove ad about self-image
additional videos by the participants:
artist Gil Zamora
Kela
Florence
Melinda
my response to the Dove ad on Blogger
my response to the Dove ad on Twitter
April 20, 2013

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 22,950+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.