If I Should Die If I should die, And you should live, And time should gurgle on, And morn should beam, And noon should burn, As it has usual done; If birds should build as early, And bees as bustling go,– One might depart at option From enterprise below! ‘Tis sweet to know that stocks […]
Gold Dust Tonic I think I should feel happy, Because I finally got my way. I can worship my Golden Calf Every night and day. But when I go to milk her On a morning, oh so bright, She somehow turns her head my way, Knowing something’s just not right. For she’s fit for only […]
Washington On the 22nd of February In 1732 The father of our life was born With traits that were noble and true He would not say an unkind word Or treat a creature cruel He loved the simple things of life And cherished the “golden rule.” And though the years have passed and gone His […]
1927 Revolution virgin-pure Covered now in filthy sores, I wonder what he’d think of this: The paradox of class and war Between the lowly and the state – No servant of the Comintern Foretold which class the Party ate: I knew him at one hundred one Channeled Chinese generals For the International, Tangled with the […]
The Godliest Hour In the cool darkness before the dawn when the stars shine brightest against a dark blue night, the silent stillness envelopes me and I can hear even the softest whisper in this, the Godliest hour. ~Maria Morera Johnson
Passionate Love: In Memory of C.J. A woman of a thousand smiles and merriment and cheer. Yet infinite tears flow within her heart Unseen Occasionally soaking her pillow Rarely, rarely bathing a friend’s shoulder with the balm of sorrow and love. Heroic Mother, Bravely shouldering the evil of a Moment in Time. Sorrowful Mother drafted […]
Part One: Life VI IF I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickinson
F-16s I heard the roar of F-16s Cross the city overhead, Sentries high on kerosene Who on their airy pickets sped And we beneath a city wall Without a stone or battlement Thought no more of our downfall That such patrolling should prevent But when the walls go up it means There is a gate […]
Where Can Your Hiding Be? Dark Night of the Soul II Part One BRIDE Where is your hiding place? Beloved, you’ve left me to moan While like a stag you flee Leaving the wound with me? I followed, calling loud, but you’d gone O shepherds, you that, yonder Go through the sheepfolds of the slope on […]
Will the Guest Show? Like a dove on a church spire Cooing a winsome song Like the falcon on a cliff Scanning for prey Like the soldier pacing Through the watches of the night Like a mother waiting For her son to come from war There is One who waits and watches Will the guest […]
When My Ship Crashed Not so long ago, When my ship crashed On the night side of that far planet Held down by injuries and wreckage In the darkness you came with your light Smiling, You stayed Though no human life was near I was tended to. They came for me Finding one they thought […]
The Gatekeeper Awaits! Open the door of Faith Plunge your praying hands through his wounded chest! O Centurion’s sword! Thank you for a straightened path into his Sacred Heart! Now, pierce his heart with your laser Faith! Beloved One, penetrate his chambers. His heartbeat drowns reason’s fears, transfusing your mind with Truth. Faith illuminates the […]
An Evil Dream Based on the Russian folk song: Oy, To Ne Vecher I had a dream, an evil dream For as the night was falling I Rode out upon the steppe, it seemed As if the world itself would die My horse, my crow-black horse began To shiver underneath my grip, And then in […]
I am a Tabernacle for Jesus Blessed Imelda taught me this. I hold Him in my heart, And sweet Jesus gives me a kiss. I hold Him for everyone, Even though none can see. I prove and show I hold Him By being as holy as I can be. Jesus my Love, Jesus my God, […]
The Kiss I thought about your kiss today As I drove on down the road. I saw your smile in my mind’s eye, And your boyish heart of gold. I keep it like a treasure In a place that’s all my own; It brings me so much pleasure Whenever I’m alone. I thought about your […]
First Kiss Shivering, water awaits morning’s first kiss. Mounding, swells reflect dawn’s hopeful glow. Returning, trawlers absorb beams’ warming rays. Longing, shore-bound sojourners anticipate sunrise’s mysterious power. Ah! The first kiss, Love! Lovers glow radiating, radiating… Transfigured: Warmer than a glow More penetrating than a […]
Remember Remember me when I am gone away, Gone far away into the silent land; When you can no more hold me by the hand, Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay. Remember me when no more day by day You tell me of our future that you plann’d: Only remember me; you […]
Rhinestone Beauty Endless sandy roads Wasteland I turn my steps Behold such blinding lights White sun glare, sharp shapes Glistening far away that heat rising day Gleaming desert sun lakes Glass ocean floor Scrapers like stainless steel flowers rising tall Proudly brushing sky ceilings Every building wall reflecting Every human eye gazing Rhinestone beauty Man […]
A Clock Stopped A Clock stopped — Not the Mantel’s — Geneva’s farthest skill Can’t put the puppet bowing — That just now dangled still — An awe came on the Trinket! The Figures hunched, with pain — Then quivered out of Decimals — Into Degreeless Noon — It will not stir for Doctors — […]
Te Deum Imperium recedes, Two thousand years ago God began to bleed – Benedic, anima mea, Domino The tree receives the ax, Demons strike a blow, Furious they hack – Benedic, anima mea, Domino Furious they strike, Merciful it flows, Who can bleed the like? Benedic, anima mea, Domino Wounded is the tree, Wounded it […]
Holy Face Your hideous face compels me to stare, no gawk, at you As I peruse stalls in Caru-a-ru market. Every week I search out your emotionless countenance Wandering through the crowds. What are you doing here? Can your lopsided eyes see the wares hawked in my direction? Or does your left eye double as […]
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Prose Introduction to My Poem, Constantine’s Flight to Constantius Diocletian had been governing the Roman Empire since 284, eventually establishing his headquarters at Nicomedia in western Asia Minor. Nine years into his reign, Diocletian set up the First Tetrarchy (293-305), dividing the Empire into four huge […]
Upon a Gloomy Night Dark Night of the Soul I Upon a gloomy night, All cares thrown to love (Oh delightful adventure!) With nobody in sight I went about when all my house was hushed In safety, unseen, I crept up the secret stair (Oh happy undertaking!) Hidden from all other eyes When in my […]
Consider the Lilies of the Field Flowers preach to us if we will hear:– The rose saith in the dewy morn: I am most fair; Yet all my loveliness is born Upon a thorn. The poppy saith amid the corn: Let but my scarlet head appear And I am held in scorn; Yet juice of […]
