Thursday, August 10, 2006

Easter 2005






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 29,340+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

His Telephone Voice

I heard an echo of it,
as I spoke to a prospective client
it was his voice
his telephone voice
a decibel louder
an octave or two lower
To command authority,
attention, assuage fears
show confidence
his business phone voice
so different, easily turned on
when needed.


August 10, 2006 19:50


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Watch out for the Bees!!!







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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Negotiating

Negotiating, drafting
a compromise, agreement
meeting of the minds
hand-written and informal
tweaking the formal
the proposed, the typed
the distributed version
the one that was
faxed and duplicated
sent into the stream
to see if the fisherman
will catch some bites
testing the waters
We bit but we had
conditions
conditions that were met
with a bit of negotiating


August 10, 2006 18:43


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Not Yet Sleeping Beauties

We giggled and laughed
at the bright pop of the flash
in the dark bedroom
a little family fun
right before sleep
hiding under covers
hold still, settle in
slow down
my sleeping beauties
tomorrow is another day


August 10, 2006 17:03


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Bursting into Bloom





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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Feather on a Screen




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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Gravida

She was a gravida
Now, Don’t get upset,
that’s the technical
the term of art
so the records said
What does it mean
oh a pregnant woman
Actually she was a
primigravida, but
she became a
secundigravida


August 9, 2006 16:09
Gravida
&

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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,360+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.



Flower update - 8/9/06 9am






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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

A "Cool" Blog - 76 Degrees South

While checking out some random blogs, I landed on this one. Looks worthy of a revisit... life on an ice sheet in Antartica...

http://76south.blogspot.com/

And here is her web page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/franceswilliams with some way cool pictures

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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sticky Stalactites

Pine sap
running down a brown needle
hanging suspended in air
a small speck of wonder
frozen for those who look
see the miracle, the beauty
all around us
even in the center of the city
little moments
oasis in the desert


August 8, 2006 21:53


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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

More blooming - 080806





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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Single Message

She shared with me scripture,
she read this morning
answer to her prayers,
I showed her scripture
parts of the lectionary
I read this morning
answering my own prayers
The same single message
answering, in different books,
the same words, the same meaning
the same single message
answering our prayers


August 8, 2006 7:56am


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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Practicing in the Darkened Chancel



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 18,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Casting a clear shadow



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 20,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

On Guard





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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Walk in the Woods

sitting at the end of the dinner
thinking of a walk in the woods
just before fall
not in the deep unfamiliar thick forest
no something familiar
suburban woods
looking for opportunities for discovery,
for moments of wonder
in simple things
curled leaves, a translucent leaf
from another season,
sprigs of checkerberries
princess pine
moss on the lee of the fallen oak
a chipmunk darting through leaf litter
a dragonfly disturbed
at the edge of the field
nearby


August 7, 2006 19:38

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 20,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tea Ring

Not coffeecake
though they evoke memories too
no it was a tea ring,
cinnamon, raisins, white icing
and a maraschino cherry
sitting cooling on the hearth
warm from the oven
waiting for the lighting of the tree
the start of Christmas morning
before the stockings and the presents


8/7/06 19:25


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Beginning to Bloom



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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Face in the Curtain

A face smiled at me
from across the room
caught in the shadows and folds
of the floral patterned valance
above the window in the bedroom
watching me fall to sleep
a head alone, a male face
tilted slightly to his right
a broad chin, a slight smile
the ridge of his nose
two eyes stet just as they should be
not to wide, certainly not beady.
a left jaw line, hint of an ear
forehead melting into bunting and gathers
noticed for the first time


8/6/06 23:00


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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Returning the Elements

After the communion
returning the elements
to the ground
gently sharing
the bread, the wheat
the blood, the vine
to parched giving soil
sharing his echo,
his form of remembrance
Carefully breaking the pieces
for the birds of the air
pouring out the wine for
the crawling things of the earth
life giving nourishment
bread and water of life
completing our communion
through Him
with all of creation


8/6/06 22:55



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 28,600+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Circle of Life (Web)

We are connected
one another, every moment,
every place, every cell,
every movement, every utterance
each action, reverberates
echoes, across time,
through space
splits, echoes back
in millions of waves
from different points
on the expanding sphere encircling
each speck, each tiny spot
each one of us, infinitesimal
members clinging to the web
for dear life


8/6/06 22:50


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 20,800+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Intimacy of Informality

Words not rituals
casual, heart-felt words
telling the real story
of the greatest sacrifice
in all of human history
finding words to speak
of the awesome nature
of the death of an innocent
a deity paying our price
Words in a tone of transparency
taking risks, risks worth taking
to reach each questioning sheep
each member of the flock
Painful words, hope filled words
more so
for the wisdom, the prescience
the enormity of understanding


8/6/06 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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Singing the Mystery

That the light of the earth,
light from heaven
was snuffed out
suffered humiliating
all to human death
that he rose
miraculously, as it was written,
rose from the blackness of death
that he, he himself
will come again
in final glory
to judge those then living
and all the dead, from all the ages
a holy mystery
in our song, in our communal singing
singing that uplifts, sends chills
if we listen while we sing


8/6/06 19:47
The Faith We Sing - “Memorial Acclamation”
2257-c


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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wheat of the Harvest

Like the luck in the 3-leaf clovers
common wheat, food of heaven
across the world, a bumper crop
We are the wheat too, living
in a world of weeds
destined to grow among them
find our path to be set apart
to make choices
of a path less traveled
by the crowd, by the rest
make choices to be
different, at the end of the age
the moment of harvest


8/6/06 19:08


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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Kneading the Bread

The bread of life
a metaphor for the living Son
but think of the elements
the wheat, the leavening, water
the process, the kneading
the shaping, the coming into being
when was it when he became bread
moved past the pieces, the parts
I think it was when he felt
the weight of the dove
descend upon him
when the voice spoke
His beloved, with him
he was well pleased
Ready for his calling
his mission here
Living bread
broken for us all
willingly


8/6/06 18:28

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 18,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Lessons in Creation

Grow straight like the tall mast pines
Use our bones, our brains, our wills
to walk confidently, boldly
to do His will, not follow the tide, the crowd
like a jellyfish, caught in Luna’s grasp
flowing with the water
Use our abilities
to do right
watch our neighbors the plants,
creatures of our world
see their lessons,
lessons for us
how to live,
more simply,
in harmony
following the commands
of the creator

---------------- 
8/6/06 17:30
Lessons in creation
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/08/lessons-in-creation.html 
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.
 
poetry, Nature, tide, creator, grow, Faith, hope, neighbor, water, world, ocean, walking, plants, woods, Poetry Where You Live, Family, brother, God, creation, sister,
 
#poetry #Nature #tide #creator #grow #Faith #hope #neighbor #water #world #ocean #walking #PoetryWhereYouLive #Family #brother #God #creation #sister #plants #woods

Prayers for a Busy Week

Lord, we thank you for this day
for the many gifts you have heaped on us
for the laughter and wonder of these young hearts
who share our days and our nights
for sun and rain and growing things
gifts of companionship
Watch over this family Lord,
see us through our challenges
mark the days of our lives, this moment, this week
with joys too great to measure
Lives rich in your good grace
your love, your guidance
Unburden our hearts, relieve our pain
still our quiet, our fears
Bless us Lord in the busy week to come


8/6/06 17:23


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Three Treasures

They were today
our three treasures
happy and attentive
compliant, well, enough
enjoying the world
and their company
sisterly squabbles
tests of will
held in abeyances
for a few precious hours
happy was I as their father
while their spirits were cute
to match their Sunday dresses
and freshly combed hair


8/6/06 17:18



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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Shudders/ Vibrations on the Web

canaries in the mineshaft
modern signs, metaphors, harbingers
the web on the brink
corals in decline
icecaps melting
deserts growing
eating the land
a selfish world groans
under the strain, the stress
a failure of stewardship,
forgetting the duty
embedded in sovereignty
dominion over creation
our precarious place
perched like them
dancing high in the canopy
on gossamer threads of the web


8/6/06 17:15


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.

Communion in the Circle

Sharing the bread
with the rest of creation
understanding, appreciating
the connectedness
the reliance one on the other
all of us, humans, animals,
plants, the earth
given life, existence
by the Creator, sustainer
breath of life, life from the void
coming from water and dust
by His will
Brought full circle by the redemption
the renewal, the communion
in His sacrifice, his abandoning of will
servanthood, humbling the holy
for all or sake


8/6/06 17:12

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Real Bread (True Bread)

He was who he claimed to be
life giving bread
eternal, nourishing
renewing us, those willing, able
to accept his broken body
given to us willingly
eating of our Savior’s flesh
though we drove the nails
carried out what was written

If we do, solemnly, humbly
then He is within us,
living in us, his blood shared with our own
coursing in our veins, our lives
empowering us, if we will
eat of the true bread
the food of heaven


8/6/06 16:47

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Words He Used

The words, the names
tumbled off her tongue
sending thoughts through me
common words given new life
new meaning in him
simple words, sustaining words
words imbued with power
deep meaning
bread, water, life,
vine, shepherd, and
gate, the way
beyond the acts, the teachings
are the words, the names
the Son, the Beloved
Savior, the Messiah
I am in the flesh


August 6, 2006 16:42
The words He used to describe himself


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live..

Sunday, August 06, 2006

A Line of Thread




a single clear line of thread
strung by a fisherman
between flower and shrub
a road for her
a line cast for errant prey
caught in the sunlight
this Sunday morning
after the dew had gone to gas
out of the shadows in the courtyard
a line thrown to catch
her breakfast
if they came her way


August 6, 2006 14:34







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, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 34,900+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Gush of Words

Metaphors, images, concepts, pictures
thoughts welled up
spilled over
washed over me
from her words
his words
From the pulpit,
His table
In prayer
and in blessing
A cascade of ideas,
ideas to communicate the feelings
the sense of urgency
the covenant
the unity
the communion of creation
our place in the web
fealty to our cousins,
the earth, our brothers
the birds, our extended family
coral reefs, jellyfish
the rocks
A single being
Creation


August 6, 2006 13:27
The consequence of the sermon today by the Reverend Lorene E. Eldredge, Wesley United Methodist Church, Concord, NH – "Soul Feast: The Bread of Life". I was inspired to write down 11 poem titles, in addition to this one which came to me as I was driving home from church. For the whole day, I ended up writing 16 poems.


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 28,600+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Two and a Half Years

Today marks 2 and a half years of this blog. There are now 654 of my poems and a total of 822 posts to this site. Thanks to all who have visited so far. Hope you continue to like what I post here.



=================
November 3, 2017
the cadence of the words
&
===================
edited January 13, 2016
A Calling to Write – v4
(editing version 3)
edited November 4, 2015
A Calling to Write – v3
(editing version 2)
July 6, 2015
A Calling to Write – v2
August 30, 2011
Hearing Your Words
written after looking up the earlier poem,
“A Calling to Write”
February 4, 2010
A Calling to Write
Habakkuk 2:2
Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk 2:1-3
and Day 138, “Write the Revelation”, in
 “Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
read 2/4/10
&
==================
edited January 13, 2016
Inspiration Poetry – v6
(merging edits to version 3, version 4, and version 5)
(I know, this is part of the craft thing…)
edited  November 17, 2015
Inspiration Poetry – v5
(editing version 3)
edited  November 5, 2015
Inspiration Poetry – v4
(editing version 3)
edited November 4, 2015
Inspiration Poetry – v3
(merging version 2 and original)
Edited September 4, 2012
“Inspiration Poetry – v2”
May 24, 2009
“Inspiration Poetry”
&
-----
merged / edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v29
(merging edits to version 28, version 15, version 16, version 17,
version 18, version 19, version 20, version 21 version 22, version 23,
version 24, version 25, version 26, and version 27)
==============
edits of individual poems
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v28
(editing version 14)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v27
(editing version 13)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v26
(editing version 12)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v25
(editing version 10)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v24
(editing version 9)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v23
(editing version 8)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v22
(editing version 7)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v21
(editing version 6)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v20
(editing version 5)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v19
(editing version 4)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v18
(editing version 3)
edited January 9, 2016
seeing the words – v17
(editing version 2)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v16
(editing original)
edited January 9, 2016
Seeing the Words – v15
(editing version 11)
edited April 10, 2015
seeing the words – v14
(editing version 10)
edited January 31, 2015
seeing the words – v13
(editing original)
edited January 31, 2015
Seeing the Words – v12
(editing original and version 11)
edited May 28, 2014
“Seeing the Words – v11
edited February 15, 2014
“seeing the words – v10”
(editing version 4)
Edited October 26, 2013
“seeing the words – v9”
(editing version 7)
Edited October 25, 2013
“seeing the words – v8”
(editing version 3 again)
Edited October 23, 2013
“seeing the words – v7”
(editing version 3)
Edited October 19, 2013
“seeing the words – v6”
(editing version 3)
Edited October 12, 2013
“seeing the words – v5”
(editing version 4)
Edited October 11, 2013
“seeing the words – v4”
(editing version 3)
Edited October 5, 2013
“seeing the words – v3”
(editing the original again)
Edited July 22, 2013
“seeing the words – v2”
December 4, 2007 12:25pm
“seeing the words”
about writing poetry, when it is a gift of God,
transcribing the words God already wrote
&
----------------
edited January 7, 2016
Personal Poetry – v2
posted February 21, 2004
February 3, 2004 16:45
Personal Poetry
&
------------------
edited January 3, 2016
Rewriting – v3
(editing original)
edited July 11, 2014
Rewriting – v2
September 28, 2001 05:33
Rewriting
&
==================
edited December 17, 2015
Poetry – revised – v2
posting 2/5/2004 – 1st posting to blog
last edit 8/13/2000
edit 5/24/2000
Poetry – revised
&
--------
edited June 29, 2015
Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v5
(editing version 3)
edited April 11, 2015
Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v4
(editing version 2)
edited March 2, 2015
Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v3
(editing version 2)
Edited April 24, 2013
“Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v2”
September 5, 2008
“Nouns Verbs and Adjectives”
written at the Agape Café coffeehouse
Wesley United Methodist Church
(one of 24 written there that night)
writing poetry with third grade classes
Barrington Elementary School
Spring 2001
&
===============
edited May 19, 2015
Poetry – haiku – 2 – v2
November 1, 2009
Poetry – haiku - 2
&
-----
edited March 23, 2015
Sounds of Scribbles – v3
(editing version 2)
edited January 31, 2015
Sounds of Scribbles – v2
August 18, 2004 21:58
Sounds of Scribbles
&






September 24, 2006 16:39
A Year in Words
This poem marks 365 poems in the last 365 days – 9/24/05 to 9/24/06
&
-----------
September 22, 2006 20:47
A Waterfall of Words
&
September 21, 2006 22:58
Hope in the Words
&
------------------



&
---
edited March 21, 2015
Flash of Joy – v5
(editing version 3)
edited January 14, 2015
Into Being – v2
edited January 14, 2015
Flash of Joy – v4
(editing version 2)
edited January 14, 2015
Flash of Joy – v3
(editing original)
edited May 24, 2012
Flash of Joy – v2
February 2, 2004 11:44
Flash of Joy
– Written in reaction to the response to the poem “Into Being”
by Roberta Woods –
“Love it!  You've captured the essence of writing not as a discipline but as joy.  And it is because it is pure joy (the agony comes later during revision) it is not a discipline in the sense of having rigid edges.  All doing from joy is a gift to the doer as well as the recipient whether cooking, writing, gardening or any other activity.  My joy activities are writing and carpentry.  All the rest require me to have discipline to get them done. –Roberta”
&
January 31, 2004 19:28-19:36
Into Being
– About the process of writing as merely writing down the words, suggested by Roberta Woods earlier in the day. I see her point, based on the way my writing often comes quickly. Even when I edit it as I write, it is more to get it right/write. We had been talking about “one-book wonders” and had segwayed into a discussion of how she writes daily and how, when she starts writing a story, it often is prolific.

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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 45,330 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

blessing, body, Christ, creator, Faith, gifts, God, love, joy, grace, purpose, calling, hope, Methodist, NEUMC, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, work, Writing Poetry, praise poetry,

#blessing #body #Christ #creator #Faith #gifts #God #love #joy #grace #purpose #calling #hope #Methodist #NEUMC #writing #praise

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God, faith, Methodist, United Methodist, Habakkuk 2, God’s will, free will, path, way, purpose, plan, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, love, disciples, scripture, calling, God’s purpose, law,

#God #Christ #faith #Methodist #Habakkuk2 #freewill #path #way #purpose #plan #love #disciples #scripture #calling #poetry #law #gift

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craft, inspiration, poetry, writing poetry, editing, new, original, revision, God, gift, changed, growth, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, rejection, perfection, beauty, quality, gossamer, magic,

#craft #inspiration #poetry #writing #editing #new #original #revision #God #gift #changed #growth #rejection #perfection #beauty #quality #gossamer #magic

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Agape Cafe, christian, church, coffee, creator, Faith, Family, forest, God, grace, hope, house, laugh, love, National Poetry Month, New Hampshire, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, schools, Writing Poetry,

#Christ #Christian #church #creator #Faith #Family #God #Spirit #grace #hope #love #Poetry #schools #WritingPoetry #words

Barbs on the Heart

A monument, long in coming
of some open scar tissue
a stain on our lives
chapter of evil
when we jailed Americans
because they were different
a crane with barbed wire in its bill
a pool of water
tears spill off the rim
a memorial to our shame
their loss, at American hands
sanctioned by President,
by Congress,
by Korematsu
a stain that endured, echoes
in Abu Ghraib
and Guantanamo.


August 5, 2006 18:12
http://www.njamf.com/memorial.htm
http://www.tourolaw.edu/patch/Korematsu/
http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=Korematsu

































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 29,950+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Makeshift Memorials



Instant monuments
makeshift memorials
of senseless tragedies
all across America
flowers, stuffed animals,
candles, messages
of instant grief
sudden shock
horror at lives cut so short
moments of uncommon
loss, on our streets
on the anonymous highways
skid marks, scarred trees
new telephone poles
looking for reason
in random loss


August 5, 2006 18:08

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 18,840+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Left at the Wall

Pieces, shards
broken fragments
of your story
their stories
of their lives
without you
so many young men
so many women alone
comrades with guilt,
nightmares of that place
so far away
from all we know
so alien
in the jungle
in Vietnam


August 5, 2006 18:05

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Open Doors

A neighborhood
on their front stoops
open doors
for those who can’t afford
don’t have fans, air conditioners
foreign tongues, multi-racial
poor neighborhoods
ready for the 5th
the day the food stamps come
hungry neighborhoods
landlord neighborhoods
young children in the streets
growing too soon
in the neighborhood
alone too often


August 5, 2006 18:02

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Kaleidoscope Museum

If you are in the Concord, NH area, check out the Kaleidoscope Children's Museum at 8 South Main Street - http://www.kaleidoscopechildrensmuseum.net/. It is well worth a visit.







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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Getting Ready to Bloom




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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Summer Rain

A break in the heat
away from the front
no thunder, no lightning,
just rain, warm rain
falling near dusk
falling on eager ground
steaming blacktop
hungry plants
thirsty
turning toward the clouds
cooling, soothing rain
splashing in sudden puddles
catching in open screens
that certain smell
of summer rain


August 4, 2006 8:35
edited 10:57

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Rain on Vacation

It was raining when they awoke
hear it tapping on the air conditioner
on the bulkhead below the kitchen window
as I get my second cup of coffee
no pool in the yard in the sun like yesterday
cartoons and coffeecake on the living room rug
stay in pajamas a little longer girls
lounge in the gray of today
linger by the open window
touch the rain on the wet screen
breath the damp of the morning
indoor fun, crafts and snacks later
rain on summer vacation


August 4, 2006 8:48am


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 20,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Secondary Rain

Huge droplets explode in the puddles
small lakes in the uneven surface
craters in the alley, rivulets connecting them
giant bubbles bursting in great pops
Rain falling from above, not reaching the ground
secondary rain drops swell,
coalesce on the oak branches, the broad leaves
on acorns and wires
turgid droplets, bombs
hurl themselves to earth
erupt in final glory


August 4, 2006 9:26am


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 18,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Clothes on the Line



a simple, elegant scene
framed out the kitchen window
a load of wash
hung in the still August air
drying quickly as the steam rises
mixes and mingles with the scent of pine
the sweets smells of summer hay
nostalgic and serene
slower time
up at camp


August 3, 2006 18:38

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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Clovers of the Field



A burst of pink, or a little purple
in a field of shades of green
a bee oasis
a camera tease
small bristles on the stem
pretty delicate flowers in the bloom
sweet flower in the hay field
stay awhile


August 3, 2006 18:35


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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Shanequa by Shyanne - under the tent




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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Wool Coat

The heat wrapped me
hung heavy on my
like a wet wool coat
thrown on the hot old radiator
scorched a bit but not yet dry
thick, scratchy, applying gravity
a little bit more than normal
Barometric pressure
humidity, like a fog
air like a hot iron
blast of steam to crease the collar
of a stiff new white dress shirt
freshly bleached and starched
heavy, oppressive air
weighing me down


August 2, 2006 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 18,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Pushing Through

Up through the leaf litter
through the dust, the twigs
a mushroom grows
in the quiet off the parking lot
in the shade of the old oak
a small cap and sturdy stalk
grows into the light
willing itself up
through the weight
the ground and clutter above
keeping it in the dark


August 2, 2006 13:01


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 18,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Pushing Through



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 18,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Hands in the Air

I couldn’t see
whether they were for a boy or a girl
never had that chance
all I saw was hands in the air
catching the breeze,
up above the side of the
new Mustang
Dad and mom,
beautiful people
sunning themselves
in the open convertible
He was on the phone
she had her head back
enjoying the August heat
but it was the hands of the toddler
no sign of the car seat
the clothes they wore
just hands held high
fingers reaching
in the August air


August 2, 2006 11:44


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 18,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

A Will to Live

A heavy husk
thick dark shell
no obstacle for
one with a will to live
a need to grow,
warm in the sun
dig into the rich sandy soil
drink the sunlight
warmth of midday
the subtle Windward breeze
soothing, salt in the air
a tropical garden
a good place to plant roots
and grow


August 1, 2006 21:15



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 20,820+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Reminder of Cod

Cod cakes, handmade
with her hands
butter, egg, potato
and cod, in wooden boxes
salted and saved
for our dinner
a memory of those meals
long ago in my past
echoed through today
as another cook, another mother
prepared comfort food
in her kitchen
different food, but the same smell
of the hot grease,
the cooked breadcrumbs
hanging heavy in the summer air
leftover scent memories
rekindled so easily
with cooking


August 1, 2006 21:04



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 18,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Dragonfly on our tree




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 18,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Elementary School Ferns

They were the ferns
we could draw
when we were little
like turkeys made from hand stencils
elementary school ferns
simple, roughly drawn
without the intricacies
of more skilled artists
simple blunt lines
no shading, no flourish
as is ferns
elementary school ferns


July 30, 2006 13:45


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 18,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Beauty that Graced Our Day





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 18,780+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Sunflower Grows

Day by day
the seed grows
taller and taller
climbing toward the sun
ants and beetles
nibble, shred the leaves
but it grows, it still grows
bright green, vibrant green
needing the sky, the sun
four feet and more still
a single head, ready to unfurl
to burst forth, in glory
triumphant in blooming
vivid yellow
like the sun


July 29, 2006 21:15
edited July 30, 2006 9:33


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 18,790+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Rustic Cathedral

A small sacred, holy space
cloistered in the edge of the woods
a place for reflection, meditation
for fellowship and calming
settling into the arms of the creation
the quiet of the pines
the smell of blueberry and moss
of birth, flowering, decay
the cycle of life
ordered and balanced
stilling our spirits
in the subtle tranquility
centering us
so we can hear God


July 30, 2006 7:04
Arthur W. Sargent Woodland Chapel, Bow Mills United Methodist Church


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 20,810+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.