Poetry Where You Live

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

750 Poems

That last poem below marks the 750th poem posted here.

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

November 3, 2017

the cadence of the words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-cadence-of-words.html

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

edited January 13, 2016

A Calling to Write – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-calling-to-write-v4.html

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-calling-to-write-v4_13.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 4, 2015

A Calling to Write – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-calling-to-write-v3.html

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/a-calling-to-write-v3_4.html

(editing version 2)

July 6, 2015

A Calling to Write – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-calling-to-write-v2.html

August 30, 2011

Hearing Your Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2011/08/hearing-your-words.html

written after looking up the earlier poem,

“A Calling to Write”

February 4, 2010

A Calling to Write

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/02/calling-to-write.html

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

http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

read 2/4/10

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

edited January 13, 2016

Inspiration Poetry – v6

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/inspiration-poetry-v6.html

(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

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/inspiration-poetry-v5.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 5, 2015

Inspiration Poetry – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/inspiration-poetry-v4.html

(editing version 3)

edited November 4, 2015

Inspiration Poetry – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/11/inspiration-poetry-v3.html

(merging version 2 and original)

Edited September 4, 2012

“Inspiration Poetry – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/inspiration-poetry-v2.html

May 24, 2009

“Inspiration Poetry”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/05/inspiration-poetry.html

-----

merged / edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v29

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v29.html

(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

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v28.html

(editing version 14)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v27

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v27.html

(editing version 13)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v26

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v26.html

(editing version 12)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v25

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v25.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v24

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v24.html

(editing version 9)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v23

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v23.html

(editing version 8)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v22

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v22.html

(editing version 7)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v21

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v21.html

(editing version 6)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v20

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v20.html

(editing version 5)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v19

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v19.html

(editing version 4)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v18

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v18.html

(editing version 3)

edited January 9, 2016

seeing the words – v17

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v17.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v16

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v16.html

(editing original)

edited January 9, 2016

Seeing the Words – v15

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/seeing-words-v15.html

(editing version 11)

edited April 10, 2015

seeing the words – v14

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/seeing-words-v14.html

(editing version 10)

edited January 31, 2015

seeing the words – v13

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v13.html

(editing original)

edited January 31, 2015

Seeing the Words – v12

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/seeing-words-v12.html

(editing original and version 11)

edited May 28, 2014

“Seeing the Words – v11

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/seeing-words-v11.html

edited February 15, 2014

“seeing the words – v10”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/02/seeing-words-v10.html

(editing version 4)
Edited October 26, 2013

“seeing the words – v9”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v9.html

(editing version 7)

Edited October 25, 2013

“seeing the words – v8”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v8.html

(editing version 3 again)

Edited October 23, 2013

“seeing the words – v7”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v7.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 19, 2013

“seeing the words – v6”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v6.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 12, 2013

“seeing the words – v5”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v5.html

(editing version 4)

Edited October 11, 2013

“seeing the words – v4”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v4.html

(editing version 3)

Edited October 5, 2013

“seeing the words – v3”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/10/seeing-words-v3.html

(editing the original again)

Edited July 22, 2013

“seeing the words – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/07/seeing-words-v2.html

December 4, 2007 12:25pm

“seeing the words”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/12/seeing-words.html

about writing poetry, when it is a gift of God,

transcribing the words God already wrote

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

edited January 7, 2016

Personal Poetry – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/personal-poetry-v2.html

posted February 21, 2004

February 3, 2004 16:45

Personal Poetry

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/personal-poetry.html

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

edited January 3, 2016

Rewriting – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/01/rewriting-v3.html

(editing original)

edited July 11, 2014

Rewriting – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/07/rewriting-v2.html

September 28, 2001 05:33

Rewriting

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/03/rewriting.html

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

edited December 17, 2015

Poetry – revised – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/poetry-revised-v2.html

posting 2/5/2004 – 1^st posting to blog

last edit 8/13/2000

edit 5/24/2000

Poetry – revised

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/first-poem-about-what-poetry-is-for-me.html

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edited June 29, 2015

Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/06/nouns-verbs-and-adjectives-v3.html

(editing version 3)

edited April 11, 2015

Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/nouns-verbs-and-adjectives-v4.html

(editing version 2)

edited March 2, 2015

Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/03/nouns-verbs-and-adjectives-v3.html

(editing version 2)

Edited April 24, 2013

“Nouns Verbs and Adjectives – v2”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/04/nouns-verbs-and-adjectives-v2.html

September 5, 2008

“Nouns Verbs and Adjectives”

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_9913.html

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

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/05/poetry-haiku-2-v2.html

November 1, 2009

Poetry – haiku - 2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2009/11/poetry-haiku-2.html

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edited March 23, 2015

Sounds of Scribbles – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/03/sounds-of-scribbles-v3.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 31, 2015

Sounds of Scribbles – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/sounds-of-scribbles-v2.html

August 18, 2004 21:58

Sounds of Scribbles

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/08/sounds-of-scribbles.html

September 24, 2006 16:39

A Year in Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/year-in-words.html

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

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/waterfall-of-words.html

September 21, 2006 22:58

Hope in the Words

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/hope-in-words.html

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

---

edited March 21, 2015

Flash of Joy – v5

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/03/flash-of-joy-v5.html

(editing version 3)

edited January 14, 2015

Into Being – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/into-being-v2.html

edited January 14, 2015

Flash of Joy – v4

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/flash-of-joy-v4.html

(editing version 2)

edited January 14, 2015

Flash of Joy – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/01/flash-of-joy-v3.html

(editing original)

edited May 24, 2012

Flash of Joy – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/05/flash-of-joy-v2.html

February 2, 2004 11:44

Flash of Joy

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/flash-of-joy.html

– 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

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/into-being.html

– 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

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

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

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

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

I Hope That is Water

With that urgent hope,
a teacher started her day
holding the hand of a young child
at the beginning of the school day,
asking anyone, anyone around
why is she wet, I hope that is water
really, I hope, I pray that is just water
language barriers, youthful exuberance
she was turned around by the running
the laughing, the children in the school yard
waiting for the call to line up
holding on tight to her young charge
hoping it was water

September 19, 2006 8:46

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.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Psalm 19

Words, again and again the psalmist adds
words about words, the
speech of creation, the
words of the Lord, the creator speaking
So beautiful the language
of honeycombs and the sweetness of the law
Finally, turning to us, to
keep away from folly
from loose tongues
He completes the song with the familiar words
words that start many a sermon, words in prayer
that they may be pleasing, acceptable
to the creator
that they may inspire, teach, lead
the flock closer to you

September 18, 2006

Psalm 19

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/psalm-19.html

Psalm 19:14

Let the words of my mouth and

the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

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 30,910+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

The Word in the Flesh

Words, words that can hurt
words of wisdom, of healing,
of guidance, to live our lives
but The Word, now that is the point
the reason for these words,
the word made flesh, living amongst us
to teach ultimate, basic, all-inclusive lessons
words that heal, that bind, that join us
in love, in communion, in covenant
Restoring the breach we create, in our folly
our willfulness, our stubborn refusal
to get the message, in the Word;
requiring His birth, His ministry,
our continuing work, His sacrifice
Thank you God, for His resurrection
the balm, the cement, the living tissue
joining us with you again
in spirit, as what matters is the spirit,
not the ephemeral, the fleeting, the beating heart
It is the soul, our bond with the holy
that is the point after all,
that is our connection
to eternity

September 17, 2006 16:14
John 1:1-5, in connection with the lectionary of this week – Proverbs 1:20-33, Psalm 19, Mark 8:27-38, and James 3:1-12

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.

They Were Confused

Who was Jesus, what did the crowd say
what did the authorities believe
and what about his followers, the disciples
did anyone really understand
the singularity of this man in their midst
the living, breathing, human manifestation
of the creator of the world
the living son of God, one of the triune God
with the father and the holy ghost
an unlikely Messiah for those with visions
of grandeur, and musty old texts
with other visions of how he would live
the king on a throne no more
the one who would wash the feet
of the fishermen, the man who would
die an unjust humiliating death
wear a crown of thorns in mocking jest
give his body and his blood
Before the transfiguration, in the middle
of ministry of mission
questions, concepts too great for human,
all too human, minds
the living God, following his destiny
by choice, a little to earthly for their liking
Would you have acted differently?

September 17, 2006 16:06
Mark 8:27-38

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.

Losing Our Life Our Soul

In Sunday School, a lesson,
on meaning of words, the difference they make
and the learning in the difference
one version said that you would lose “your life”
another that you would lose “your soul”
So different, if you read life for the temporal,
the physical, the blood, the bone, the tissue
of the corporal body, the sinew and the breath
the breath of life in the living body
But the soul and life is you, the difference you make
the living that you do, the choices you make
in life, to follow whose path, to bow down
to which idol, or which God. So telling the
different meaning, if we miss the point
of what life is. We are to live like each is our last
with a loving heart, with no regrets, for no
slight or harshness left, lingering after our passing
because that is living, as the servant Messiah
did, the best role model in history

September 17, 2006 15:51
Mark 8:35-37 and see James 3:1-12

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.

Wisdom and Our Folly

So hard to grapple with the folly of our choices
the stubborn march to dismay, destruction
the lost souls of the times of the prophets
those her heard Lady Wisdom, and chose another path
those like you and me, reading the lines of wisdom
in the pages of a wisdom book,
seeing the echoes of our own lives,
missed chances, poor choices,
missed opportunities, to enjoy grace
fruits of following a better path
glad for those time we have listened
listened to her call, not losing our way
in the chattel, the dross of daily living
but clinging to the true way
to enlightenment, to wisdom
to salvation

September 17, 2006 15:44
Proverbs 1:20-33

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 39,210+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Echoes of Words

He was so right
echoing in my mind
in the sanctuary
in the power of words,
especially the power to hurt
the ability to cut to the quick
to leave lasting deep permanent scars
so hard to mend, to heal
the old saying is that sticks and stones
are the enemy
that names cannot hurt, leave lasting damage
but oh if it were only so,
if imprudent or malicious words
were like water running off a leaf
in the rainforest, even a torrent no threat
but they are like water that erodes
reverberation, exacerbation,
water that corrodes,
eats away at the foundation
the core of a person, their sense of
worth, or being, a word can cause wounds
deep raw wounds
when words can save, lift up, build the body
join people across deep chasms of history
love, the source of the word, the gospel,
the good news, an equal measure of our heritage
bringing joy, happiness, comfort
these too are our choice
based on the turn of the tiller
the rudder of our tongue

September 17, 2006 15:28
James 3:1-12

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.

Linking Lectionary

It was as if the synapses were growing
in my mind, as he spoke
He was, God was
connecting the dots,
creating the linkages, to enable me
enlighten me, to see the single message
in this week’s lectionary
All of them about a piece of the
same conundrum
the same dilemma
of man, to see the hidden message,
the true meaning, the name, the understanding,
the import of the words
who he was, what we are,
our weaknesses, our failings,
the harm of the words we choose,
that the maddening crowd uses
The wisdom we ignore, the reality shunned
even in the presence of the One
the stumbling block
that would be the rock, the connection
for us all to the divine
that unbroken chain of followers
but all too human
using words that fumble and hurt
rebuke even the unblemished,
the log blinding us
A message of this week, crystallized
in communion, in my pew

September 17, 2006 15:19
The single message of this week’s lectionary selections:
Psalm 19
Proverbs 1:20-33
Mark 8:27-38
James 3:1-12

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Repair Shop

I can remember it so well
his small one-room repair shop
in the back corner of our back yard
with a cart to take the small appliances
things he fixed, back to our neighbors
old boards forming framed space
a place for him to work, to show his skills
even then so long ago
a knack for how things work
patience to solve problems
things that could be fixed
if you took them apart
and knew how to put them
back together.

September 16, 2006 21:38
My brother’s repair shop, 57 Squawfield Road, Westfield, MA, a bit over 30 years ago

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.

Passim

The Bible, the ultimate
frequently cited authority,
the basis for the arguments
over and over again.
A legal term of art
a watchword for life’s tests
challenges day to day
so many stories, so little is new
if you follow the lessons in the pages
page on page, the story of us all
chosen people, choosing us
Choosing to follow the way
Leaning on the words, the truths
in metaphor, in history,
in parable, verse on verse
over and over
woven in the pages
of our lives

September 16, 2006 21:29
The use of the latin word Passim in the index of authorities in an legal appeal brief means that the authority is cited throughout the brief. For other authorities, the page in which that precedent is used is given.

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.

Who Do You Say I Am

What a question, what a test
putting it on the line, with him right there
in your face, after the miracles, the lessons
wanting a mighty savior, a king to rule
overthrow the yoke, the oppression of the age
the force of Rome, over the land of his ancestors
the promised land, of the chosen people
First, who do they say I am
then the pivotal question, the true test
of the rock, “who do you say I am?”
Oh, what a response, a prescience,
a certainty not found in other lines
other books, other verses
The Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One
(depending on the translation)
A moment of faith wrapped in a simple
phrase, a statement of belief
in Him, his calling, from God;
but timid still, holding back
ready for rebuke, in stark terms
“Get behind me Satan”
A stumbling block for his Messiah
keeping him from the destiny
the path he would walk
sharing the burden, the new yoke
after a slap to the face

9/16/06 20:34
Mark 8:27-38

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.

She is Free

Cancer Free
what a wonderful way
to lift fears, raise a voice of prayer
of thanks for healing,
answer to a chorus of voices
spoken and unspoken words
raised to the Creator
in supplication, with certainty
that He isn’t done with her,
she has sermons to preach
words of comfort to share
empathy to demonstrate
lessons to proclaim
of the word and her experience
her blessings to give
from the pulpit
down the steps of time
because she is free
of the poison, the stain
the cruel lesions
Free to do more
after the healing

September 16, 2006 9:54

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.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Walking to Pre-School - 1st 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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Smell of Autumn

Another smell of autumn
sweet sweet smell
of Concord grapes
warming ripening
ready to burst with flavor
strong urgent smell
lured me closer
spreading outward
from the makeshift arbor
a plume twenty feet wide
enticing, coaxing
me to linger
luxuriate in its aroma
smile at the memory
of other pickings
long ago
Sweet fruit
high above me,
out of reach
up in the canopy
formed by wire and bush

===
September 14, 2006 10:14

Preparing for Pre-School - Open House - 9/7/06

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Two Wins

Two cases, two families
in court, in the schools
fighting for my clients
using my skills,
my talents to make their case,
argue for them, for their rights
to force systems
to yield
to other truths

September 13, 2006 17:28

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

Dismissed

Such a happy terms,
used for unexpected results
It is good to be negative,
to be dismissed
The tests were negative
The petition was dismissed
Funny use of words with other connotations
other import in other contexts
In medicine, in the law
the reverse is a good thing

September 13, 2006 17:26

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

Appealing

I find that phrase divine, oh so appealing
The Smell of an Orange is Appealing,
a bit of a smirk on the turn of phrase,
the glimmer of wit in the expression
other meanings,
embedded under skin,
rind, peel

September 13, 2006 17:21
on answering my daughter’s homework question,
“what does appeal mean?”

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, September 10, 2006

Prayers of Peace

Prayers for peace
rose up in many tongues
from the congregation
gathered round a new pole
hewn by parishioner hands
emblazoned with words
words of peace
written, spoken,
murmured aloud
Proclaimed,
in eight languages
Hopeful prayers, repeated
shared by the congregants
by the members and friends
rejoined after summer's allure
of the road, camps, the water
renewing friendship
in the community of faith
welcoming others, some for
the first time
with hopeful words of peace
on a day before
we memorialize
innocents lost
in mindless hate
"May PEACE prevail on Earth."

September 10, 2006 14:07
On the dedication ceremony for the new Peace Pole at Wesley United Methodist Church, 79 Clinton Street, Concord, NH, September 10, 2006 11:45am.
These words, "May peace prevail on Earth are written in English, Korean, Spanish, Hebrew, French, Russian, Arabic, and American Sign Language.
http://www.worldpeace.org/activities_peacepoleproject.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 19,730+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

September 10, 2006 7:03am

Old Friends – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/old-friends-v2.html

(this was an original poem,

not an edit to the earlier poem, “Old Friends”)

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 35,600+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

We urge the legislature to act.

With these words, the majority opinion ends
How sad, they are, how ignoble an assessment
of failure on an awful scale
years and years of unmet obligation,
education squandered, lost, opportunities
frittered away, in the sands of time
the hot air of debate, the green-eye shades
of regulations, schema, rules, codes
adequate, enough, a concept to be measured
this much we must do, the rest is your choice
a concept lost in the minutiae, the blather
the wrangling of state responsibility,
local control, local bureaucracy
weak kneed legislation
callous calculations,
real consequences still, as fifteen years ago
at the beginning of the process
from Claremont to Concord
a peel of the bells, the hollow gong
of loss, of inadequate resolve
and greed

September 9, 2006 19:50
On reading the latest NH Supreme Court opinion, 2006-258, LONDONDERRY SCHOOL DISTRICT SAU #12 v. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, September 8. 2006.
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/supreme/opinions/2006/londo103.pdf

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 Prayer at Your Bedside

I raced from court
We stood beside you,
beside the hospital bed,
awaiting the surgeon
Husband and pastor,
touching you, holding your hand
huddled near you
in the temporary cubicle
the falsely private space
sharing words of encouragement
words of prayer
beside your bedside
words of faith in the
Grace of God
His hand on our lives
his guiding of the doctors,
the nurses, other staff
caring for you
in your moment of need;
Human concerns still,
in the passing of the time
the uncertainty of the minutes
ticking away, beyond the estimated
surgery, numbing waiting,
uneasy
By you again in recovery,
answer to prayers
How good He is
how blessed we are

September 9, 2006 14:18

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

Friday, September 08, 2006

I am with You

Even when we are apart, I am with you
I walk in the footfalls next to your path
I lean toward you, feel your hand in mine
see you close to me
beside me in this journey of life
walking together wherever our paths lead
together always
I love you
always

September 8, 2006 7:49am
About having to go to court instead of taking my wife to the hospital for surgery today and the feeling of her close to me anyway.

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.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Sleeping Angel

So peaceful, so still
she lies there,
napping on our bed
commandeering the sanctuary
for her own devices
but so sweetly
so angelic in sleep
so much a blessing
when awake
as are the other two

September 6, 2006 23:54

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, September 06, 2006

1st Day of School

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, September 05, 2006

Unpublished

It is funny; feels strange
being so exposed, so public
so many poems, so many thoughts,
passions, ideas, blurted out into the ether
shared across the planet’s web
ripples sent down the strands
into the ooze, the stream
the stream of ideas, of thoughts
for others to see, feel, share
so many words uttered
spoken, without a publisher
without an imprimatur, a blessing
of worth, of value, of merit

September 5, 2006 16:35
on being unheralded but #3 on the http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/ site in terms of the number of poems posted there, only behind Emily Dickinson, with 1779, and Robert William Service, with 854. I have 726 at the writing of this post. The next one is Robert Burns with 579. Of the top 28, those with more than 150 poems posted at that site, I am the only living poet. It feels weird sometimes, when I think about it.

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, and 2022. 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.

Snorkel Coat

An olive drab
snorkel coat
seemed like the coolest thing
once upon a time
a long snout of a coat
ready for duty at the airbase
on Iceland, or Minot, ND,
or maybe McMurdo Bay,
hardly necessary for
middle school in New England
but we were so happy
in our snorkel coats
back in the ugly 70’s

September 5, 2006 16:27

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

Monday, September 04, 2006

Black and White

Eisenstaedt and Goebbels
stark colors, black and white
evil captured still life
on the page, staring back at all of us
unspoiled by propaganda, big lies
Clear, unadulterated evil
staring us square in the face
Wake up to evil, if only we did
act when we could
long before the costs
of world war

September 4, 2006 19:05

Black and White

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/black-and-white.html

edited April 25, 2015

The Granary – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-granary-v2.html

January 30, 2010

The Granary

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/01/granary.html

This poem is about my memory,

of the jarring sensation

seeing a photograph circa 1994,

of one of the all-time

great pictures, capturing evil,

before it rose up to full flowering

http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue9911/icon02.htm,

http://www.granarygallery.com/title.php?titleID=10005991

of Joseph Goebbels,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Goebbels,

in 1933 at the League of Nations

on display at The Granary Gallery

(http://www.granarygallery.com/),

on Martha’s Vineyard

taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898 - 1995),

http://www.gallerym.com/collections/alfred-eisenstaedt/

a master of black and white. Photojournalist of the century, http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue9911/eisieintro.htm.

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 37,270+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Why is Blue, Blue

Why is the color blue, blue
why is red, red
you get the idea,
the idea of color
but why are they as they are
why is it blue for blue and red for red
what was it the colors said
to be blue or red
sky blue, blue mood
blood red, candy-apple red
well read
golden yellow
violet eyes
or green, summer warm and green
emerald green
snowy cold and white
fall dying brown
dead and blackness
orange, pineapple
colors, textures, tastes
of hue, of spectrum
and rainbow
A box of color
living color
all around

September 3, 2006 16:57

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

A Bowl of Walnuts

Pining for peanuts
praying for the nuts
begging for them
a gray squirrel by our porch
pitch a peanut, watch his scurry
race to it, dart away, to a few feet of safety
over and over again, till we had no more
walnuts, from outside the shells,
no, they weren’t accepted as is
they must be presented,
given with more flare
a plastic bowl, if you please
so they wouldn’t get dirty
on the wet cold ground
while they are eaten
Great, a particular squirrel;
stick with peanuts

September 3, 2006 16:07

A Bowl of Walnuts

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/bowl-of-walnuts.html

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 36,870+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Raining Prayer

We were all in prayer
heads bowed in the sanctuary
as she began to speak
to proclaim our petitions
speak for all of us
in pastoral prayer
speaking of the holiday
the meaning behind the pausing
the remembering of
Labor Day
She spoke of our concerns,
our celebrations, sharing
with each other, with God
But then she paused,
murmuring reminders of the larger world
the unfinished business
of laborers tired, laborers working
through Labor Day
of the forgotten and used
minimum wage
The sky opened, as if in retort
giving an Amen from the heavens
rapping suddenly, intently, insistently
on the domed roof
echoing through the wood
high above us
Preach sister! Preach of the oppressed
the migrants and the unwanted jobs
the unskilled, and our desires for things
make us remember that laborers
still labor, this Labor Day
that we in this land of excess
have forgotten the mills, but they are there
they are still in use
for our desires, our wantings
We are kindred with them too
even when we forget
see only the day off
reminded by her words,
the staccato of the rain raising its voice
while ours were still
heads bowed
listening to her prayer
and the Amen and Amen again
echoing in the rain

edited November 17, 2016

Raining Prayer – v2

September 3, 2006 15:52

Raining Prayer

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/09/raining-prayer.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. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 42,310+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

creator, Faith, Family, giving, God, heaven, hope, Job, king, Methodist, Poetry Where You Live, rain, sanctuary, sharing, sing, sister, sky, voice, work, world, Pastor Ruth Foss, Labor Day,

#creator #Faith #Family #giving #God #hope #Job #rain #sanctuary #sharing #sing #work #world #Pastor #LaborDay

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Monday, September 18, 2006

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Friday, September 08, 2006

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Monday, September 04, 2006

Sunday, September 03, 2006

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