Baptism

A stoic Yankee
A Baptist bowl
and a lot of water
met for a moment
one November day
Some fifteen years gone bye

Back erect
Arms folded across your chest
You fell back into loving arms
joining a fellowship, a community
a new walk, a reconnection
a new life up from the waters of life

-----------------  

edited August 15, 2019

Holy Water – v4

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/holy-water-v4.html

edited July 28, 2019

Holy Water – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/holy-water-v3.html

edited July 28, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v5

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v5.html

edited July 28, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v4

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v4.html

(editing original again)

edited July 15, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v3.html

edited January 15, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/01/baptismal-waters-v2.html

&

edited January 15, 2019

Holy Water – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/01/holy-water-v2.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1085333732746240000

(edited after contact by composer, Gwyneth Walker, who wanted to

use the poem for a choir composition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIHwiVhsoAs

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/05/walker-holy-water-seton-hall-march-7.html

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=272274348550&story_fbid=10156756089843551

https://www.localprayers.com/US/Patten/272274348550/Poetry-Where-You-Live

&

January 11, 2006 23:25

Holy Water

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/holy-water.html

Mark 1:9-13, 15

&

January 11, 2006 23:45, revised 1/12/06 6:16

Baptismal Waters

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/baptismal-waters.html

Matthew 27:24-26

&

January 11, 2006 23:30

Baptism

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/baptism.html

(about Dad’t baptism, November 1990)

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, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 51,450 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, journey, New Year’s Resolution, WWJD,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #USA #America #mercy #sacrifice #Messiah #manger #cross #Immanuel #Emmanuel #journey #WWJD #NewYearsResolution

===============

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, Messiah, Advent, Emmanuel, Christmas, hope, love, peace, joy, King, Epiphany, Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, star, Magi,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #communion #King #mercy #Messiah #Advent #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas #joy #peace #star #Magi #Epiphany

===============

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, Messiah, Emmanuel, hope, love, peace, joy, baptism, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, water, washed, water mark,

#Jesus #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #mercy #Messiah #Emmanuel #baptism #BaptismoftheLordSunday #water #washed #BaptismoftheLord #watermark

divine, gospel, hope, Jordan River, journey, Messiah, Mission, salvation, Savior, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, love, baptism, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, water, water mark,

#Jesus #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #Messiah #baptism #water #washed #BaptismoftheLord #JordanRiver #Savior

Holy Water

The divine was revealed
made clean, prepared, anointed
not with a crown;
but with water
not in the Temple
but in the Jordan,
in the wilderness

Submitting to an act of trust,
a washing away of sin
in supplication and fulfillment
to begin his own journey
his mission, his fate
our savior. 

-----------------  

edited February 16, 2020

Holy Water – v5

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/02/holy-water-v5.html

(editing original again)

stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1229089714633871364

stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1229090045199572992

Gwyneth Walker’s composer’s notes:

https://www.gwynethwalker.com/holywater.html

edited August 15, 2019

Holy Water – v4

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/08/holy-water-v4.html

edited July 28, 2019

Holy Water – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/holy-water-v3.html

edited July 28, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v5

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v5.html

edited July 28, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v4

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v4.html

(editing original again)

edited July 15, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/07/baptismal-waters-v3.html

edited January 15, 2019

Baptismal Waters – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/01/baptismal-waters-v2.html

&

edited January 15, 2019

Holy Water – v2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/01/holy-water-v2.html

https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1085333732746240000

(edited after contact by composer, Gwyneth Walker, who wanted to

use the poem for a choir composition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIHwiVhsoAs

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/05/walker-holy-water-seton-hall-march-7.html

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=272274348550&story_fbid=10156756089843551

https://www.localprayers.com/US/Patten/272274348550/Poetry-Where-You-Live

&

January 11, 2006 23:25

Holy Water

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/holy-water.html

Mark 1:9-13, 15

&

January 11, 2006 23:45, revised 1/12/06 6:16

Baptismal Waters

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/baptismal-waters.html

Matthew 27:24-26

&

January 11, 2006 23:30

Baptism

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/baptism.html

(about Dad’t baptism, November 1990)

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 and 2020. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 52,540+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, journey, New Year’s Resolution, WWJD,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #USA #America #mercy #sacrifice #Messiah #manger #cross #Immanuel #Emmanuel #journey #WWJD #NewYearsResolution

===============

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, Messiah, Advent, Emmanuel, Christmas, hope, love, peace, joy, King, Epiphany, Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, star, Magi,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #communion #King #mercy #Messiah #Advent #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas #joy #peace #star #Magi #Epiphany

===============

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, Messiah, Emmanuel, hope, love, peace, joy, baptism, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, water, washed, water mark,

#Jesus #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #mercy #Messiah #Emmanuel #baptism #BaptismoftheLordSunday #water #washed #BaptismoftheLord #watermark

====================

divine, gospel, hope, Jordan River, journey, Messiah, Mission, salvation, Savior, Spirit, God, Faith, grace, poem, prayer, love, baptism, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, water, water mark, Gwyneth Walker,

#Jesus #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #Messiah #baptism #water #washed #BaptismoftheLord #JordanRiver #Savior #GwynethWalker #poetry

Little Victories

Little miracles
blessed my way
this day, this week

Walking your path
doing your work
Here, now, in the world

Believing enough,
risking so much,
to do your will.

Hearing your quiet call
seeing your hand on my own
using your Gifts given to me
to protect them.


1/11/06 23:19


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 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

God’s Eye

Through the white rims
of the slate grey clouds
this winter morning

I peered upward
and saw God’s eye

Bright round sunlight
Pearled by my mind’s eye

A pupil clear as a picture
Caressed in the cumulous flesh

Smiling on my journey
down the highway
to do His will.


1/11/06 23:15


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 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Island in my mind

(in my mind)

There is a place where only I can go
A space of solitary quietude
a singular solitude
where my thoughts can roam

Ponder and probe
Mull and meander down paths
only I would follow
Away from the noise around me

Finding a centering, a grounding
in the island of my mind.

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

edited August 5, 2019

The Island in my mind – v2

1/11/06 23:00, edited 1/12/06 12:41

The Island in my mind

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/island.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, and 2019. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 51,260+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

christian poems, christian poetry, creator, dew, faith poetry, God, New Hampshire, path, poem, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, praise poems, praise poetry, Raymond A. Foss, robe,

A Frozen Prayer

A prayer hidden and silent
Stones submerged by winter’s blanket
Covered and cold beneath the grip of frost

If they could but speak of the wishes, the hopes,
Desires and fears uttered here
Frozen in the gossamer of time

Wishes written on the footfalls and on the breezes
Of another moment, another season
Hearts open in the stillness of the walking
The mix of stones and soil, moss and grass under foot

Reverent periods of reflection
Between man and God
Cries heard in the silence beyond the field
Through the frozen prayers
In the ground.


1/4/06 11:00
Written about the prayer labyrinth behind Bow Mills United Methodist Church, covered by two storms of snow. Not all of the stones are covered; but there are no footprints, only a set of snowshoes tracks around the field in which the labyrinth lies when I checked this morning.

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.

Nine Poems for the New Year

The 9 poems that appear below this message were written sequentially yesterday afternoon and evening.

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 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

New Snow

Showers of New Snow
Light powder of confectionary sugar
Filtered down through the night air
On forest and field
Oak and pine
branch and blade
Cleansing the world
anew this New Year’s

Starting afresh
Flake and grains
clinging on needle and leaf
rocks and ledges
saplings and grasses
or joining the skin
of the living river


1/1/06 14:08
the drive from Manchester to Concord that morning about 9:00
edited 1/2/06 9:17


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 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Journey of Treasure

Like the Magi,

We are each on the journey

a quest for the king

Ourselves the treasure,

the metal, the myrrh, the offering

Following a star, a hope

A search for epiphany,

life changing meaning,

through loving adoption

by the living God.

==========================

edited January 13, 2015

A Journey of Treasure – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-journey-of-treasure-v4.html

(editing original again)

Edited January 5, 2013

“A Journey of Treasure – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-journey-of-treasure-v3.html

edited September 1, 2011

“A Journey of Treasure – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/09/journey-of-treasure-v2.html

1/1/06 14:38

“A Journey of Treasure”

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/journey-of-treasure.html

Matthew 2:1-12 and the sermon “Time Passages”

by Pastor Lori Eldredge

http://www.facebook.com/lori.eldredge

Wesley United Methodist Church

www.concordwumc.org

Concord, NH

&

see others who have used this poem  of mine/ analysis, etc.:

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-journey-of-treasure/

https://chrislaucollegewriting.wordpress.com/a-journey-of-treasure-by-raymond-a-foss/

College Writing Portfolio - Poem Analysis – “A Journey of Treasure”

https://sharonkwancollegewriting.wordpress.com/semester-2/poem-analysis-a-journey-of-treasure/

https://josephbruceryan.wordpress.com/a-journey-of-treasure-analysis/

http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/raymond_a__foss/poems/21375.html

Graduation poems - http://www.theholidayspot.com/graduation/poems.htm

calling, Christ, community, disciples, Faith, gifts, God, God’s purpose, Methodist, Raymond A. Foss, United Methodist, Matthew 2, Advent, Magi, Poetry Where You Live, love, grace, journey, Epiphany,

#calling #Christ #community #disciples #Faith #gifts #God #purpose #Methodist #Matthew2 #Advent #Magi #Poetry #love #grace #journey #Epiphany

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 45,520 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

River Ice

High above the reach of the sea,
where the brackish water
is almost clear,
Tectonic plates of ice
released by the shore
and their brethren upstream
flow to the ocean,
calf and stack
careen and crash
melt and meld

White, blue, grey and green
Irregular shapes
Inexorably drawn to solution
from whence they came.


1/1/06 14:52


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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Barefoot on Holy Ground

Can you picture the scene –
a bush with living fire
dancing on the skin of the leaves
A fire without loss
Part of the miraculous,
the possible for the eternal I am.

A trembling servant
following the call from the flames
to shed his sandals
to touch holy ground.

A precious act of reverence and awe
seeing the presence of God
in power and authority
Knowing the chasm between us
Acting Accordingly.


Exodus 3:1-6
Command of God, the I am, to Moses to remove his sandals before the burning bush. See also Joshua 5:15.


1/1/06 16:55


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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Weir

A fence of wattles
Placed just so in the mud
shaped in labyrinth
out in the current
by the landing, in the channel

An old fashioned tool
Spring to Winter
Sentinels in the water
Tended by the lone fisher

Anachronistic in modern times
a fish weir in the river
named for an eel.


1/1/06 17:10
From my memory of the weir in the Lamprey River, in downtown Newmarket, NH in 1982/1983. 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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Masks of Necessity

Grown child, where is your laughter?
Do you laugh, smile, cheer
in the song of the wind, the leap of the sun
the squeal of your little girl?

Seeing with her eyes the moments of life,
lost too often in adult ways
behind masks of necessity.
Reckless abandon and
absolute resolute mirth
Joy for the taking
from the true vine,
for there is a liberation
in him for us all
Grab hold for your life!


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

edited March 7, 2018

Masks of Necessity – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/03/masks-of-necessity-v2.html

1/1/06 17:22

Masks of Necessity

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/01/masks-of-necessity_02.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, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)  for usage. See all 46,450 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

child, creator, daughter, eyes, Faith, faith poetry, God, grow, hope, joy, life, Methodist, New Hampshire, Poetry Where You Live, senses, sight, son, sun, vine, wind,

#child #creator #daughter #eyes #faith #poetry #God #grow #hope #joy #life #Methodist #NewHampshire #PoetryWhereYouLive #senses #sight #son #sun #vine #wind #adult #childhood #memory  #concerns #struggle #adulthood

Spawned Salmon

Lost past exhaustion
she floated, lapping the shore with the wind and tide
Completed, her journey done, spent
Returning to dust, as we all must
A lonely solitary shell
caught in the shallows upstream
where she was born
Many years before
And where she was called back to
closing the circle of her life
fulfilling here destiny,
her place in the universe.


1/1/06 17:27 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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

A Field of Scat

Late January, in the cold clear wood
Boots crunch through layers of snow and ice
Breath catches in beard and scarf
Freezing in the air before me
Leaves clatter in the wind between the otherwise still forest

A clearing, by man or fire,
out in an opening where the sun bursts through
signs of the denizens of the glen
in turned soil, crushed tracks of all sizes
and a field of scat, of the white-tailed deer

Saturating myself in the senses awoken
away from all but these sights and sounds
in the smell of the balsam and pine,
the taste of ice

Following the footfalls first of deer
then of vole and chipmunk
Watching the shape of stem and vine
of leaf and tree
the changed impressions of the land
under snow’s blanket

Losing time behind the lens
Luxuriating in the quiet
the simplicity, the peace
of that time and place


1/1/06 17:45
North Conway, NH, at least 6 years earlier
Photo by Ray Foss

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 26,510+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Discernment

Listening for that still quiet voice
that inner calm, a certainty
A welling up of a thought, an idea
the manifestation of a dream
unspoken but heard in the
whispered places in the heart

Seeking the divine will
when there is no burning bush,
no herald angels
No bright star in the east
only panoply of choices
different paths to tread
only one of which is the maker’s
Other roads merely man’s folly
The dross of free will.


1/1/06 23:10


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 18,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sky Mountains

A range of mountains
Hues of plum, rose, and rust
hover above the terrestrial hills
cloaked in winter’s gray, brown, and white
shapes frozen in the air
over the cold earth
captured clouds of dust and smoke
of water and ice
colored by the master’s brush
splashed with blue
marching across the sky


First 3 lines draft 12/13/05 17:40
rest added 12/14/05 7:45
edited 12/28/05 21:47 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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Four Walls

From tabernacle to temple
to the tablets of our hearts
mapping the four walls,
the roof and foundation,
the home of God
Now and before the Kings

Big enough to fill the creation
with his hand, his breath,
his wonder to behold
and small enough
to live in each human heart
ready to heed his invitation

12/21/05 16:30
See 2 Samuel 7:1-16

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 18,740+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Our Silent Night

A hush fell over the congregation
lights dimmed, cloaking us all
A glow grew, pew by pew
Candles clutched be each one, in wonder

The hymnal open to the familiar verses
Pages lit by the halo of newborn light
held in each hand.

We all murmured the prayer
living in the words
of our hope and your birth
that Silent Night

We were calm, serene
wrapped in your holy light

We joined the throng
‘round the virgin
and her wondrous child
Letting the light
fill our hearts

12/20/05 21:40

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 27,940+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Frozen Fog

Early Sunday morning
leaving the highway
Sparkles off the shoulder
draw our gaze

Light refracting and pulsing
new frost clinging
shrub and nettle,
goldenrod and milkweed
blanketed, crystallized
ablaze
in frozen fog


December 20, 2005 13:47

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 30,700+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Windward Dawn

We were alone with our thoughts
Warm breezes off the southerly ocean
murmur of sea foam on a soft expanse of sand
a solitary couple, alone with each other
for our wonderful show, repeated daily

Early morning on the beach
long before the commotion of day
gazing at the horizon and beyond
through bleary eyes,
thick with northern slumber
Ready to drink in the cascades of color
as the artist paints the windward dawn
before us

Reeling from the brightening sky
like fireworks too close
rich yellows morphing to white
ripping through clouds of grays,
slate blue, and whites
Ours alone to share
on our honeymoon
in our memories
in the whispered language
of love

December 16, 2005 16:25


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 18,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Memories in the Stillness

When we let the moments of stillness bleed into us,
they are there forever,
to recall, even if ephemerally.
It is being in the moment,
Able to truly appreciate the silence of the water, the wood,
the colors of the sky on a fading autumn day,
the movement of a branch covered in snow,
or even a spider's web
with a drop of dew on it
swinging in an early summer breeze.

Seeing through more of our senses
reflecting while perceiving
to bring back
a perfect moment
whenever we dream


December 8, 2005 11:50


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 18,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

The Holy Continuum

Stare Decisis

From the Beginning
He was the Word
From Abraham to Moses
to David and the prophets
The Law, to guide human behavior
Canons for our peace with God
Our relationship with others

Made flesh with the Christ,
the Emmanuel, the Great I am with us,
the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets
the Good Shepherd and ultimate judge
sealing the breach,
by example and sacrifice

Living the two prongs of the law
by deed and love
sacrifice and compassion
submitting all to the will of the Father
As we must
each day
To live the law
and inherit the kingdom.

11/25/05 13:00, edited 11/26/05 12:05

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 27,410+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Daily Bread

I was fed at your table today
the bread and wine nourished me
Quelled my heart’s hunger
and stilled my spirit
in three services in your house

Your sacrifice cleanses my sin
reorders my fate, now joined to you
in service and salvation
New life as your adopted brother

Thank you, my Lord
for your gift, your grace
Your life for me
and this whole world.


11/6/05 19:45

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.

Covenants

Words of heart and hope
shared and pondered
as brothers and sisters in praise
and prayer tonight

Our church owning our commitment
to God and one another
Remembering Joshua’s challenge
and higher stakes;
we are judged
by our own utterances

11/6/05 19:20
Inspired by the scripture reading at Sunday night’s Rejuvenation contemporary worship service at Wesley United Methodist Church, Concord, NH – Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25. Our worship leader had us break up into groups and write out covenants. I wrote this poem during the service, immediately after this exercise. Three of the ones that groups came up with are:
- “We promise to be aware of others needs, to pray for them, to use the individual gifts God has given us, to try to treasure each moment, to contribute our time to others, and to be active in the life of a community of faith.”
- “In faithfulness we will listen to you and keep our hearts open before you; receiving you grace and proclaiming Jesus Christ. We will commit all of our works to the building of your kingdom.”
- “We commit that everyday we will take time to be thankful, mindful and reflective of what have/God’s gifts.”

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 18,720+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.