we become #clean – v2 #poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

we approach You
boldly, like the leper
knowing we are unclean,
knowing You can heal us,
You can wipe away our stain...
 
we become clean
we become righteous
at the touch of Jesus
our risen Savior and Lord...

we are all blood-covered
by the sin we carry
like the leper
boldly we fall
at Your feet, oh Lord...

at the feet of Jesus
in humble submission
we ask Him to touch us
to heal us within...

at the touch of Jesus
we are made whole
we are healed
at the touch of Jesus
we are made clean...

----------------
Edited August 19, 2026
we become clean – v2

Matthew 8:1-4
Leviticus 14:1-11
Isaiah 53:5
1 Peter 2:24
Hebrews 13
Matthew 11:28
Sermon, “I am willing”,
By Pastor Terry Rogers
Faith Renewed Church
August 18, 2026
Boldly, Like the Leper
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/boldly-like-leper.html
Edited August 18, 2026
at the touch of Jesus – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/at-touch-of-jesus-v2.html
Matthew 8:1-4
August 17, 2026
before You I bow
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/before-you-i-bow.html
“The Throne Room Song”
By Charity Gayle, 2021
Faith Renewed Church, August 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Why do You love us so?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/why-do-you-love-us-so.html
Praise songs before the sermon
Faith Renewed Church, July 19, 2026
Edited July 23, 2026
pour out your praise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/pour-out-your-praise-v2.html
praise and intense prayer by whole congregation
Faith Renewed Church, May 31, 2026

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, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Savior, Messiah, healing, touch, Matthew 8,

#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8
 

We become #clean #Boldly #Leper #poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

we become clean
we become righteous
at the touch of Jesus
our risen Savior and Lord...

we are all blood-covered
by the sin we carry
like the leper
boldly we fall...

at the feet of Jesus
in humble submission
we ask Him to touch us
to heal us within...

at the touch of Jesus
we are made whole
we are healed
at the touch of Jesus
we are made clean...

----------------

August 18, 2026

We become clean

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/we-become-clean.html

August 18, 2026

Boldly, Like the Leper

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/boldly-like-leper.html

Matthew 8:1-4
Leviticus 14:1-11
Isaiah 53:5
1 Peter 2:24
Hebrews 13
Matthew 11:28
Sermon, “I am willing”,
By Pastor Terry Rogers
Faith Renewed Church
Edited August 18, 2026
at the touch of Jesus – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/at-touch-of-jesus-v2.html
Matthew 8:1-4
August 17, 2026
before You I bow
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/before-you-i-bow.html
“The Throne Room Song”
By Charity Gayle, 2021
Faith Renewed Church, August 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Why do You love us so?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/why-do-you-love-us-so.html
Praise songs before the sermon
Faith Renewed Church, July 19, 2026
Edited July 23, 2026
pour out your praise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/pour-out-your-praise-v2.html
praise and intense prayer by whole congregation
Faith Renewed Church, May 31, 2026

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, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Savior, Messiah, healing, touch, Matthew 8,

#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

#Boldly, Like the #Leper #poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

Boldly, like the leper,
Bow at the feet of Jesus...
Ask Him to heal you
To make you fully clean...
 
Boldly, like the leper,
Crying out for freedom
Cry to be released from your chains
Free of whatever holds you captive...
 
Boldly, like the leper,
Ask Christ to heal you
He has already freed you
Through His loving sacrifice...
 
Boldly, like the leper,
Bow at the feet of Jesus...
Ask the Christ to heal you
To make you eternally clean...
 
----------------
August 18, 2026
Boldly, Like the Leper
 
Matthew 8:1-4
Leviticus 14:1-11
Isaiah 53:5
1 Peter 2:24
Hebrews 13
Matthew 11:28
Sermon, “I am willing”,
By Pastor Terry Rogers
Faith Renewed Church
Edited August 18, 2026
at the touch of Jesus – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/at-touch-of-jesus-v2.html
Matthew 8:1-4
August 17, 2026
before You I bow
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/before-you-i-bow.html
“The Throne Room Song”
By Charity Gayle, 2021
Faith Renewed Church, August 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Why do You love us so?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/why-do-you-love-us-so.html
Praise songs before the sermon
Faith Renewed Church, July 19, 2026
Edited July 23, 2026
pour out your praise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/pour-out-your-praise-v2.html
praise and intense prayer by whole congregation
Faith Renewed Church, May 31, 2026
 
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, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Savior, Messiah, healing, touch, Matthew 8,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

at the #touch of #Jesus – v2 #poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

we are healed, fully,
we are made whole
we are made clean
at the touch of Jesus
His hands upon our lives...
 
we are made clean, truly,
our brokenness is redeemed
in the sacrifice of Jesus,
when He became our ransom
when He became our sacrifice...
 
We thank You, Lord,
for Your healing,
for Your love and mercy
when we come to You
when we answer Your call...
 
continue to heal us
for we are truly broken
we need Your loving touch
we need You daily
as  close as breath...
 
----------------
Edited August 18, 2026
at the touch of Jesus – v2
 
Matthew 8:1-4
Sermon, “I am willing”,
By Pastor Terry Rogers
Faith Renewed Church
August 17, 2026
before You I bow
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/before-you-i-bow.html
“The Throne Room Song”
By Charity Gayle, 2021
Faith Renewed Church, August 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Why do You love us so?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/why-do-you-love-us-so.html
Praise songs before the sermon
Faith Renewed Church, July 19, 2026
Edited July 23, 2026
pour out your praise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/pour-out-your-praise-v2.html
praise and intense prayer by whole congregation
Faith Renewed Church, May 31, 2026
 
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, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Savior, Messiah, healing, touch, Matthew 8,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

at the #touch of #Jesus #poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

we are healed
we are made whole
we are made clean
at the touch of Jesus
His hands upon our life...
 
we are made clean
our brokenness is redeemed
in the sacrifice of Jesus,
becoming our ransom
when He became our sacrifice...
 
We thank You, Lord,
for Your healing,
for Your love,
when we come to You
when we heed Your call...
 
----------------
August 17, 2026
at the touch of Jesus
 
Matthew 8:1-4
Sermon, “I am willing”,
By Pastor Terry Rogers
Faith Renewed Church
August 17, 2026
before You I bow
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/08/before-you-i-bow.html
“The Throne Room Song”
By Charity Gayle, 2021
Faith Renewed Church, August 16, 2026
July 23, 2026
Why do You love us so?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/why-do-you-love-us-so.html
Praise songs before the sermon
Faith Renewed Church, July 19, 2026
Edited July 23, 2026
pour out your praise – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2026/07/pour-out-your-praise-v2.html
praise and intense prayer by whole congregation
Faith Renewed Church, May 31, 2026
 
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, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.

Poetry, God, Christ, Spirit, love, grace, Savior, Messiah, healing, touch, Matthew 8,
 
#poetry #God #Christ #Spirit #love #grace #Savior #Messiah #healing #touch #Matthew8

Touching Her Face – v3

A whisper of a smile,
rising on my face,
thinking once again
of that moment 18 years ago…
 
Like white-gloved hands,
at a summer cotillion,
sipping a mint julep
so were the petals of the sunflower
touching her face, her cheek…
 
Oh so delicately, so demurely,
brushing her face, as in a whisper,
pensive pose, thoughtful girl, watchful,
perhaps for an appropriate suitor…
 
Getting the vapors
at the sight of him,
shyly touching the corner
of her pursed mouth, her cheek,
at the sight of him...
 
-------------------
Edited March 16, 2025
Touching Her Face – v3
 
edited March 24, 2022
Touching Her Face – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/03/touching-her-face-v2.html
August 25, 2007 8:15
Touching Her Face
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/08/touching-her-face.html
sunflower opening
 
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, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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.
 
poetry, love, Nature, creator, hands, senses, touch, Faith, hope, sun, summer, God, sunflower,
 
#poetry #love #Nature #creator #hands #senses #touch #Faith #hope #sun #summer #God #sunflower

The glaze of God’s love – v2

We become tired, burdened,
too much for us to carry,
weak, succumbing, broken,
in the struggle, the grind of life…
 
God gathers our broken clay,
our sharp, shattered pieces,
raised, lifted by the Potter,
from the earth, this ground…
 
We are placed on the wheel,
made soft once again, plastic,
fired in the crucible of life,
washed in the glaze of God’s love…
 
Our broken clay reshaped,
renewed without, within,
in the hands of the Potter,
new life to begin…
 
Each of us unique, special,
in the eyes of the Creator,
the colors and patterns
of the glaze of our lives…
 
Oh, how the Potter loves us,
taking us out of the kiln, the fires,
placing us back in world renewed,
to fulfill His divine purpose…
 
-------------- 
Edited January 21, 2025
The glaze of God’s love – v2

January 21, 2025
The glaze of God’s love
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-glaze-of-gods-love.html
Edited September 5, 2024
Our hard, shattered pieces – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/our-hard-shattered-pieces-v2.html
Edited September 5, 2024
May we feel the touch of the Potter – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/may-we-feel-touch-of-potter-v2.html
 
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, 202 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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.
 
poetry, God, faith, love, calling, purpose, Potter, clay, broken, healed, touch, regeneration,
 
#poetry #God #faith #love #calling #purpose #Potter #clay #broken #healed #touch

The glaze of God’s love

Our broken clay gathered,
our sharp, shattered pieces,
gathered by the Potter,
from the earth, this ground…
 
Place on the wheel,
made soft once again
fired in the crucible of life,
washed in the glaze of God’s love…
 
Our broken clay reshaped,
renewed without, within,
in the hands of the Potter,
new life to begin…
 
-------------- 
January 21, 2025
The glaze of God’s love
 
Edited September 5, 2024
Our hard, shattered pieces – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/our-hard-shattered-pieces-v2.html
Edited September 5, 2024
May we feel the touch of the Potter – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/may-we-feel-touch-of-potter-v2.html
 
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, 202 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. 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.
 
poetry, God, faith, love, calling, purpose, Potter, clay, broken, healed, touch, regeneration,
 
#poetry #God #faith #love #calling #purpose #Potter #clay #broken #healed #touch

Our hard, shattered pieces – v2

Our hard, shattered pieces,
broken on the ground before us,
just parts and fragments,
of our whole selves…
 
May we feel the touch of the Potter
upon each of us, loving us completely,
He is the Master Healer, our Creator,
a balm for every wound...
 
Hard broken shards gathered,
gently picked up by the Potter,
made pliable again, ready,
for the Potter’s loving touch…
 
May we feel the touch of the Potter,
the hand of our Maker, our Savior,
reshaping our broken flesh,
on the Potter’s wheel…
 
His way in a mystery, wonderful,
as if we are again in our mothers’ wombs,
within the hands of the Potter,
His sweet caress…
 
May we feel the touch of the Potter,
the love of our Lord, Jesus,
may the Spirit of God,
indwell within our hearts…
 
May the hands of the Potter,
mold us, reshape us,
healing us completely,
in ways only He can...
 
May we feel the touch of the Potter
upon each of us, loving us completely,
He is the Master Healer, our Creator,
a balm for every wound...
 
--------------  
Edited September 5, 2024
Our hard, shattered pieces – v2
 
Edited September 5, 2024
May we feel the touch of the Potter – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/may-we-feel-touch-of-potter-v2.html
 
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, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. 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.
 
poetry, God, faith, love, calling, purpose, Potter, clay, broken, healed, touch,
 
#poetry #God #faith #love #calling #purpose #Potter #clay #broken #healed #touch

May we feel the touch of the Potter – v2

May our clay, our flesh, our spirits,
may we feel the touch of the Potter
upon each of us, loving us completely,
He is the Master Healer, our Creator,
a balm for every wound...
 
May our spirits rise, may we commune,
may we feel the touch of the Potter,
the hand of our Maker, our Savior,
reshaping our broken flesh,
on the Potter’s wheel…
 
May we be open, plastic, pliable,
may we feel the touch of the Potter,
the love of our Lord, Jesus,
may the Spirit of God,
indwell within our hearts…
 
May our lives be alive, changing,
may we feel the touch of the Potter
upon each of us, loving us completely,
He is the Master Healer, our Creator,
a balm for every wound...
 
--------------  
Edited September 5, 2024
May we feel the touch of the Potter – v2
 
Edited September 5, 2024
We each are gifted – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2024/09/we-each-are-gifted-v2.html
Written after watching a video
August 1, 2024
By Parkwood Entertainment
about Simone Biles and the Olympic Gymnastics All-Around
 
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, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. 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.
 
poetry, God, faith, calling, purpose, gifted, gifts, talents, power, strength, beauty, Simone Biles,
 
#poetry #God #faith #calling #purpose #gifted #gifts #talents #power #strength #beauty #SimoneBiles
 
-----------------
poetry, God, faith, love, calling, purpose, Potter, clay, broken, healed, touch,
 
#poetry #God #faith #love #calling #purpose #Potter #clay #broken #healed #touch

Family Secrets – Revised – v6

Little and big secrets, hidden,
silence, … not sharing, not honest,
words, stories not spoken,
from shame, for protection, maybe;
Blank spots, missing pieces, broken,
in the telling, retelling, the spaces,
unspoken, of our family’s history…
 
Carved off areas, blank spaces,
sometimes casually shared later
as if we knew, … forgetting the secrets,
the silence, the missing words
in real-time, in our living;
Names crossed from address books
pain pushed down, hidden…
 
Missing memories, omissions,
scraps of childhood, painful,
undiscussed, unspoken, silent,
in the fog of our history;
Moments casually blurted out
when there was no warning, no memory,
forgetting, … that the secrets were spoken…
 
=============
Edited August 22, 2024
Family Secrets – Revised – v6
 
edited September 13, 2018
Family Secrets – Revised – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/09/family-secrets-revised-v5.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1040356391414726656
edited November 12, 2017
Family Secrets – Revised – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/family-secrets-revised-v4.html
edited November 12, 2017
behind a mask – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/behind-mask-v2.html
November 11, 2017
behind a mask
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/behind-mask.html
the allegations in the news about
Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore
and a flood of memories and feelings
&
edited November 12, 2017
the smell of the smoke – 2 – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-smell-of-smoke-2-v4.html
edited June 6, 2015
the smell of the smoke – 2 – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.in/2015/06/the-smell-of-smoke-2-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
edited May 29, 2015
the scorch of fire – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-scorch-of-fire-v2.html
edited May 23, 2015
the scorch of the fire
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-scorch-of-fire.html
edited May 22, 2015
the smell of the smoke – 2 – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-smell-of-smoke-2-v2.html
May 21, 2015
the smell of the smoke - 2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-smell-of-smoke.html
May 19, 2015 and May 20, 2015
Focus on the Family
https://twitter.com/FocusFamily
https://www.facebook.com/focusonthefamily
http://www.focusonthefamily.com
radio broadcasts
Helping Your Husband Overcome Childhood Sexual Abuse (Part 1 of 2)
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/helping-your-husband-overcome-childhood-sexual-abuse-pt1
see transcript:
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/helping-your-husband-overcome-childhood-sexual-abuse-pt1#transcript
Helping Your Husband Overcome Childhood Sexual Abuse (Part 2 of 2)
http://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/helping-your-husband-overcome-childhood-sexual-abuse-pt2
With Guests Cecil Murphey and Gary Roe
https://www.facebook.com/gary.roe.79
https://twitter.com/GaryRoeAuthor
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cecil-Murphey/110181285701463
The piece that caught my attention was the statements about God placing hands on the side of the boy’s heart while being sexually abused.
Unlike the story of the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:1-30, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no smell of smoke on them, victims of sexual abuse do have the smell of the smoke of that evil upon them, even as God was with them in the fire.
&
edited November 12, 2017
an unwanted touch – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/an-unwanted-touch-v2.html
August 20, 2014
an unwanted touch
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/08/an-unwanted-touch.html
Devozine for August 18, 2014 to August 24, 2014
www.devozine.org
“+sexual struggles”
&
Habakkuk 3:1 (GNT)
devotion: “Sexual Abuse”
national abuse hotline
1-800-656-4673
https://ohl.rainn.org/online/
devotion by Kerri Voegeli
https://www.facebook.com/kerri.voegeli
for August 19, 2014
read August 19, 2014
&
edited November 12, 2017
I can understand their anger – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/i-can-understand-their-anger-v2.html
November 18, 2011
I can understand their anger
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-can-understand-their-anger.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
A box around these memories – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-box-around-these-memories-v2.html
November 18, 2011
A box around these memories
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/box-around-these-memories.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
A Walled-off Place – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-walled-off-place-v2.html
November 18, 2011
A Walled-off Place
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/walled-off-place.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
Under the Veil of Silence – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/under-veil-of-silence-v3.html
November 18, 2011
Under the Veil of Silence – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/under-veil-of-silence-v2.html
November 18, 2011
Under the Veil of Silence
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/under-veil-of-silence.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
Open the Sealed Records – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/open-sealed-records-v2.html
November 18, 2011
Open the Sealed Records
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-sealed-records.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
On that Altar of Football – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/on-that-altar-of-football-v2.html
November 18, 2011
On that Altar of Football
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/on-that-altar-of-football.html
&
November 12, 2017
When we worship false God – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/when-we-worship-false-gods-v2.html
November 18, 2011
We worship false Gods
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/when-we-worship-false-gods.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
At the trough of their power – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/at-trough-of-their-power-v2.html
November 18, 2011
At the trough of their power
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-trough-of-their-power.html
Sandusky sexual abuse scandal
and re-victimizing the children
in hearing his defense and seeing him
on the sidelines of the Penn State football games
over and over again
and the same for all adult victims of sexual abuse
hearing these words and these images
and failure of Penn State to release all documents
regarding the scandal
&
edited November 12, 2017
For me, a stranger – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/for-me-stranger-v2.html
November 18, 2011
For me, a stranger
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-me-stranger.html
&
edited November 12, 2017
Family Secrets – Revised – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/family-secrets-revised-v4.html
edited January 10, 2016
Family Secrets – Revised – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/family-secrets-v3.html
(merging edits to original and version 2)
edited September 2, 2015
Family Secrets – Revised – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/09/family-secrets-revised-v2.html
6/17/2004
Family Secrets - Revised
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/07/family-secrets.html
 
=================
Twitter post by President Trump 9/21/18
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1043126336473055235
“I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!”
Reply by me 9/21/18
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1043225279307632640
“This tweet shows you have no understanding of childhood sexual assault. I was merely touched inappropriately at 13 & it took 25 years to discuss it with loved ones. I don’t know if Dr. Ford’s allegations are true; but delayed reporting is a hallmark of this kind of abuse. #MeToo”
&
separate post 9/21/18
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1043255724686684160
“@realDonaldTrump tweet shows no understanding of sexual assault. I was merely touched inappropriately at 13. It took 25 years to discuss it with loved ones. I don’t know if Dr. Ford’s allegations are true; but delayed reporting is a hallmark of this abuse. #MeToo #WhyIDidntReport”
 
 
===========================
note added September 2, 2015
after Skype conversation with a High School class from North Carolina
 
I wrote it in 2001 (or 2000), and edited it in June 2004.
 
One of the things about the family secrets that led to this poem was a casual statement by mother about 1995, when I was 35 years old, I think it was either Thanksgiving or Christmas, that my father's brother had committed suicide about 6 months after his wife and my grandmother died in 1973. It was sort of surreal how it was stated. I was only 13 at that time in 1973. She just said like all of us had always known that. None of my sisters or brothers had ever heard that before either.
 
Another aspect was that, in 1976 when I was 16 years old, I was doing genealogy research and I discovered that my paternal grandfather who was born in 1888, had grown up in an orphanage and that he had been adopted as an adult in 1913 by the founder of the orphanage. I asked my father about it (he was 44 at the time) and he was totally surprised by this revelation. As far as I know he never asked his father about that.
 
Also, in 1973, the same year my grandmother died, I was touched inappropriately by a stranger on a bike path between my house and the bottle dump where I liked to go digging. It was over 25 years before I mentioned it to anyone.
 
 
 
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, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. 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.
 
God, Spirit, Christ, faith, love, child abuse, assault, sex, power, touch, memory, secret, shame, sexual abuse, Roy Moore, Sandusky, law, children, justice, abuse,
 
#God #faith #love #grace #childabuse #sexual #assault #sex #power #touch #memory #history #mask #hidden #shame #sexualabuse #RoyMoore #Sandusky #law #PennState #children #justice #abuse #family #grooming #poetry #MeToo #secret #hidden #silence #fear #poem