Frozen Image - version 2

A walk in the woods
Down the path
Away from the road,
Bustle of the highway
Cold of winter
Catch of air
Crunch of snow
Snap of branch

A burst of downy wings
Festooned the ground
A vole track
Ended abruptly

Impressions
Catches of light and shadow
The beat of predator feathers
Pressed
Thrust into the crust

Arc of
Feathers
Captured in the coating –
Fingers,
Hands scooping
A pile of leaves
For bagging

Frozen image
Fleeting, under melting
Life and death
Of the road
Down the path

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

edited November 4, 2018

Frozen Image – v5

(editing version 1)

Edited June 24, 2004 19:13, adding a 4^th stanza.

Frozen Image – v4

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/07/frozen-image_12.html

May 4, 2006

Edited June 24, 2004 22:02, with more of me.

Frozen Image – version 3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/05/frozen-image-version-3.html

May 4, 2006

Edited June 30, 2004 22:41-22:52

Frozen Image – version 2

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/05/frozen-image-version-2.html

July 12, 2004

Frozen Image – v1

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/07/frozen-image.html

June 24, 2004 15:26, about a walk on the http://hikenh.netfirms.com/TDNinete.htm

Nineteen Mile Brook Trail

http://www.hike-nh.com/trips/carter/index.shtml

Alternate site, off Router 16 just up from the Mt. Washington Auto Road,

one January morning 5 years ago.

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 48,000 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

branches, Concord NH, creator, death, feather, forest, God, January, June, life, light, New Hampshire, path, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, snow, walking, wings, winter,

#branches #creator #death #feather #forest #God #January #June #life #light #NewHampshire #path #poetry #snow #walking #wings #winter #hawk #photograph

Preparing

Preparing for an interview
is it the one, that I have been hoping for
the one that I see myself in
for how long, what is your plan
your strengths,
oh, what is your greatest weakness
if you were a tree what would you be
your favorite color is
what would you do at the start of an _x_
Tell us something about you
something embarrassing
no how about something that you like to do
hey, what adjective best describes you now
how about now
Team player or not
what about money, do you want to be paid
nice tie
is that suit from Goodwill
you didn’t dress yourself did you
We’ll get back to you

May 3, 2006 9:26


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 Spring Rain

The world is wet today
luxurious, damp, drenched
drops hug the leaves,
anoint the still budded lilac blossoms
before their blooming
rich purple and plum
made richer by their watery skin
New leaves under the weight
droplets heavy, hanging
bowing the white pine needles
undersides exposed to drink
drink in the morning
hushed in the rain
temperature near the dewpoint
sprouts of just planted flowers
eager from the parched soil
new puddles bloom too
on the ground, the driveway
collect and gather
without the smell of summer rain yet
tears splash and spread
silent shimmers, heralds, messengers
in the spring rain

edited March 8, 2018

A Spring Rain – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/03/a-spring-rain-v6.html

(editing version 5 and original)

after finding original poem in a list of my popular poems

on Literary Devices site about my poetry

https://literarydevices.net/raymond-a-foss/

edited November 12, 2015

A Spring Rain – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-spring-rain-v5.html

(editing version 4)

edited October 22, 2015

A Spring Rain – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-spring-rain-v4.html

(editing original)

edited October 10, 2015

A Spring Rain – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-spring-rain-v3.html

(editing original)

Edited April 27, 2013

“A Spring Rain – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-spring-rain-v2.html

after request to post it to the blog

Garden Musings from Memphis Area Master Gardeners

http://mamgmusings.blogspot.com/

May 2, 2006 9:30am

A Spring Rain”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/05/spring-rain.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 46,470 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

dew, Faith, flowers, God, hope, leaves, lilacs, May, Nature, New Hampshire, pine trees, Poetry Where You Live, purple, rain, senses, smells, spring, summer, water, white,

#dew #Faith #flowers #God #hope #leaves #lilacs #May #Nature #NH #pinetrees #Poetry #purple #rain #senses #smells #spring #summer #water #white

Bringing Word

They are working in his vineyard
Bringing Word, his word
a good news, a gospel
to the masses, the sheep of their flock
like water in the desert
week on week,
synthesized meaning in small bites
of the ancient text
knitted with their history
and ours too we know
so we can comprehend
understand the deeper meanings
lessons even still, for our lives

4/27/06 9:05pm
title drafted 3/15/05 in Disciple I class


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 Violet Shawl

She sat beside me in the car
a dark skirt
a white, hand stitched blouse
with bright Andean characters, dolls
Sunlight poured through the windshield
making her violet shawl
drink it into the wool
radiating color,
a singular band of the spectrum
clear, bright violet
the outer band of the arc, the bow
living color,
wrapped around her shoulders

edited September 30, 2017

A Violet Shawl – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-violet-shawl-v5.html

edited July 11, 2015

A Violet Shawl – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-violet-shawl-v3.html

(editing original)

edited July 11, 2015

A Violet Shawl – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-violet-shawl-v4.html

(editing version 2)

Edited December 15, 2013

A Violet Shawl – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-violet-shawl-v2.html

4/27/06 7:55pm

A Violet Shawl

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/04/violet-shawl.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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 45,040 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

colors, creator, faith poetry, God, hands, king, light, poem, poetry, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, sing, white, wind,

#colors #creator #faith #God #hands #king #light #poem #poetry #sing #white #wind

A Taste of Yellow

Forsythia blooms
plucked from the bush
a sudden jolt
back to when I was six
walking to kindergarten
petals curl on my tongue
a taste of yellow
like the first time
forty years ago

4/27/06 7:15pm


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 Bursting of Green

Long dormant carpet of grey, of brown
parched and pending
poised for an awakening
showers and warming
a bursting of green
in the yard, the trees, my world
a different day,
from a single spring shower
on a world ready
for greening



4/27/06 7:30pm


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 Cup of Crimson

Take this cup from my mouth
step back from the journey, the road
the revelation of his fate
Like Socrates and his hemlock
brought to his own lips
a cup of crimson
a blood sacrifice
the Passover Lamb
blood shed
for me, for you
A parable in wine
a cup of crimson
shared at his supper
the table of remembrance
repeated and believed
an act of ritual and faith
in the communion

4/27/06 7:40pm

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.

a body of rice

It was a pure moment
an instant never to be found again
a four year old’s faith
caught in my ear
in the snack aisle

A sleeve of rice cakes
seen for its essence
in a different place
broken by clergy
as the Body of Christ
for the wheat intolerant

My face broke into smile
before her question
caught too by her spirit
and her belief
in the transformation
within his blessing

4/27/06 7:46pm

Based on Shanequa’s question to me if this

was the body of Christ when we were at Market Basket

on April 22, 2006. She had assisted some weeks earlier at

setting up communion at the Rejuvenation service at our church.

She understood the elements were merely

bread and juice before the pastors’ blessing. 

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 29,660+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Specimen Moments

A radio show crackling in the car
talking about specimen days
days to remember, to treasure
But they have it wrong
have you seen the flash of a firefly
the flicker of a face in a flame
a tear course down her face
smile at a knock-knock joke
perfected by her four-year old tongue
It is the fleeting instant
that is to be saved and treasured

4/27/06 8:35pm
based on discussion on the Diane Rehm show of 6/8/05 at 11:42am, about the book, “Specimen Days”, by Michael Cunningham.


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.

Aristophanes for You

A famous Greek, a playwright of the Gods
a name from my scholastic memory, my past
now on my computer screen
in the fleeting instant
capturing my attention
the moment before the spam firewall
I glimpsed a message from an Aristophanes
flicker and die in the ether
crumbling bytes of my inbox cascade
What a rare treasure it would be
if the missive was
from his namesake

4/27/06 8:20pm

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.

Errant Planet

We are perched, walking on the edge
of an errant planet,
off-kilter and dizzy
wobbling off course
in its orbit
straying from the straight and narrow
the true path
following baser needs
and primal urges
shielding eyes from the glare
the stark light exposed
of the echo, the memory
the Word made flesh
the last truth
denied then too


4/27/06 8:50pm
title drafted 3/15/06 during Disciple I class

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.

Diaspora

Wheat among the Weeds
Diaspora out in the world
From the tabernacle to synagogues
from the sanctuary to the end of time
the believers, the chosen
living side by side
the lost and the last
those who will be gathered up
and those for the flames
the unquenchable fire
at the end of the age
before the rise
the full flowering
of the kingdom


4/27/06 9:15pm
started June 2005
see Matthew 13:24-40; Psalm 73; Esther 3:8a; Zechariah 7:11-15


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 20,830+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Poem titles drafted 4/24/06 8:45 to 9:00am

A Taste of Yellow
A Bursting of Green
A Cup of Crimson
a body of rice
A Violet Shawl


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.

Worms!!!

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 Different Anniversary

A year ago we completed a journey
of faith, of hope, of love
A different anniversary than our first

Our first, a four month ago,
was a first sharing of I do’s,
our joining before God and friends
under a snow filled sky
in God’s creation

Today is the first anniversary
of our covenant before You
in our house of faith
joining our hands and hearts
not in contract but in
loving covenant

How I love you more today
a richer, deeper commitment
a more mature love
as we continue our journey
in another season
together


April 23, 2006 8:10am


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.

Nature Walk

Out back, behind the yard
in the brush and scrub at the edge
a world unfolds for those willing
to stop and look, crunch and tread
where squirrel and ant, snake and fox
hunt and work, amongst the deadfall
Wonder of nature in the back, beyond
the cut lawn and past the leaf litter
a bend of a branch held by ivy
a curl of birch bark
a spider’s leg showing below the
lip of a fungus on an old trunk
patterns in the ground, beneath the
newness of spring in the woods
before the full greening of the
new shoots and leaves
in between time in early April
in New Hampshire


April 22, 2006 9:48pm, about the Saturday before Easter, April 15, 2006, Claremont, NH

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 18,760+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Darks, Whites, and … Pinks

A routine task made different
with three little girls in the house

For a man who learned
laundry “skills” in college,
long before boys took Home Ec.

We were lucky when there was more
than a single load
(that didn’t cause the washer to tilt)

Now with a four, five, and nine year old
cluster of little princesses
It is darks, whites, and pinks
when I sort their clothes

Separate baskets, separate settings,
for pink clothes –
Capris, and “blouses”, and skorts,
Oh My!

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

edited January 12, 2019

Darks, Whites, and Pinks – v3

https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2019/01/darks-whites-and-pinks-v3.html
edited June 15, 2014

Darks, Whites, and Pinks – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/06/darks-whites-and-pinks-v2.html

Father’s Day

4/20/06 3:00pm

Darks, Whites, and Pinks

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/04/darks-whites-and-pinks.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 48,420 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

daughter, Erica, faith, Family, God, home, house, pink, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, Shanequa, Shyanne, sing, white, America, Father’s Day, love, happiness, joy, laundry,

#daughter #Erica #faith #Family #God #home #house #pink #poetry #Shanequa #Shyanne #sing #colors #laundry #America #FathersDay #love #happiness #joy #proud #father #housework #HomeEc 

A Certain Male Timbre

The words were different,
not just in amplitude
with more voices raised in the same
solemn reverent ancient prayer

No it was the certain male timbre
reverberating off the timbers of the vaulted ceiling
echoing off the cinder walls, the pews,
a different tone, with more bass
Joined in His model prayer
role models missing too often
on other Sunday morns

The pater noster again
Marking the unity in the Easter morning
when fathers join mothers and children
dressed all in new bright finery
adding voice and a sharing
in the common elements
the familiar memorized words
of our Lord and Savior


Matthew 6:9-13
April 16, 2006 21:45

The First Human Voice

It was not one of His friends, one of His followers

that uttered His name for the first time

in this Good News

No, no one who loved Him

A foreign occupier, an oppressor

His executioner, the tool of God

the mechanic at the cross

After the veil was torn

Calling Him by His name

Who He was

The Son of God

A Centurion on his watch

saw what Peter and John

couldn’t see, didn’t name

Not Teacher, not Messiah;

The Son of God

A name spoken only before

by God, by He himself,

by silenced demons not of this world

Known at that moment first and clearly

by a Gentile, who believed, when he saw

The veil lifted from his eyes

a gift of clarity

for us to know

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

edited March 8, 2018

The First Human Voice – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-first-human-voice-v2.html

after finding this poem in a list of my popular poems

on Literary Devices site about my poetry

https://literarydevices.net/raymond-a-foss/

April 7, 2006 10:04

The First Human Voice

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.jp/2006/04/first-human-voice.html

Mark 15:39

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 46,470 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Faith, friends, gentile, gifts, God, Spirit, gospel, hope, John 10, love, grace, sacrifice, centurion, Mark 15, Messiah, Peter, savior, son, teacher, voice,

#child #Christ #Faith #friends #gentile #gifts #God #Spirit #gospel #hope #John10 #love #grace #sacrifice #centurion #Mark15 #Messiah #Methodist #Peter #savior #son #teacher #voice #truth #identity #Messiah

Listen To My Children Crying

Can’t you hear my children crying?
In your neighborhoods and around the world.
Can’t you hear my children crying?
For justice in their oppression and pain.
Can’t you hear my children crying?
For help from those who know the truth.
Can’t you hear my children crying?

There are children in the street,
With not enough to eat.
Can’t you hear my children crying?
There is injustice running wild,
Can’t you see this my child?
Can’t you hear them crying?

You have been sent on a mission,
To care for your brothers and sisters.
To right the wrongs of those with no voice.
They are there not by their choice.
Can’t you hear my children crying?

Why do you turn away?
They need your help not tomorrow but today!
Can’t you hear my children crying?
Why are they dying?


Ruth L. Foss
March 1, 2006
Simulation Project
Written in Cuernavaca
During Liberation Theology Retreat

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 20,640+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.