Alight - Luke 8:17

My soul-lamp, corroded and stained,
Flickers a low, oily light
And smokes a covering shroud,

Until the flame itself burns hot,
Consuming the dark, the night,
Revealing the watching crowd.

Conflagrate your love, my Fire!
Reveal my depths
'Til only light is my desire!

The Ballad of the Cookie Sea

There once was a town at the edge of the world,
Where all of the men were brave and free.
But they spent their lives in the wild pursuit
Of the ravenous beast of the dry Cookie Sea.

Their rough-hewn ships were sweet and brown;
Built from the fruit of the cacao tree.
Full-loaded with goods and the tools of their trade
Each day they set sail on the deep Cookie Sea.

Their weapons were mighty, but shrouded in hush,
In buzzing and crackling mystery.
Wearing tall buttered boots, and thick buttered gloves,
The sailors kept watch o'er the still Cookie Sea.

Then one day they saw him, the monster! the beast!
His crooked teeth bared in voracious glee.
His hot, sticky breath filled their senses and sails
As it swept o'er the waves of the vast Cookie Sea.

The men were as brave as the monster was fierce.
Not one of them tempted to slow, or to flee.
They readied their weapons, their wires and rods,
Prepared to do war on the wet Cookie Sea.

They fired their charge, and the light split the sky!
The sailors fought using electricity!
Their ships sent out bolt after bolt toward the beast
As it chomped through the crumbling Cookie Sea.

Alas, though their courage waned not, nor their skill,
The monster was heedless of weapon and plea.
One by one, each ship fell to the ravenous maw
Of the monster devouring the wide Cookie Sea.

But oh, the songs sung by the people who miss them,
And oh, the great statues to their memory!
They'll ne'er be forgotton, those brave sailing men,
And their Shock-olate Ships on the great Cookie Sea!


- To the G children, and especially to the one who will one day learn to say "ch".

Two but One

I do not often tell you of my love,

Because I do not thank my heart for beating,

Or my bones for their strength.

You are my breath.

When I speak, you are the words.

My hands move to do work with your fingers,

And my feet walk with your pace.

I cannot fathom my life without you,

Because it would no longer be my life.

For as long as we both live in this world,

You will be a part of me.

And I will love you,

Completely.

Overdue Translation and Explanation

I just realized that I never translated my poem last year, so here it is for the two of you who read this blog, but don't speak Spanish infinitely better than I do.

My Friend

You shine like a diamond
Because the love of the Lord
Fills your heart.

And the light reaches to the heavens
In a fountain of silver and gold.

When I am far away, I can see it,
And my spirit sings with yours.

The blessing of your friendship
Gives me peace during the storm
And light in darkness.

I wrote this specifically for my hispanic friends, who had been an integral part of my days for the last eight years. It has been a year, now, since we moved away, and it is just as true today. They inspire me.

In truth, I feel this way about so many people, and I feel amazingly blessed to have been given the opportunity to know and love some of the truest images of Christ on this earth. My family, immediate and extended, my church friends, my neighbors; everyone who I have had to leave at one moment or another in my life, still lights my way in what can be a dark and ugly world.

Your Song

Today I sit, and try to play your song.
It drags its feet. The tune is weak.
The words all come out wrong.
Because it isn't mine,
It falls and limps along.

God gave you knowledge, gifts...
I waited.
Gave you mercy, love...
Breath bated
Finally you sang and played…

Your songs were full of sorrow, grief,
Loneliness and desperation.
Nothing that could heal or comfort,
Death in place of consecration.

He gave you one more gift,
the best That He can give to man.

You grabbed a hammer, let it fall...
And crushed your hands

So here I sit, and sing this song.
I pray, I wait, I grieve 
Through tears.

And I will try to play your song
Until you're ready.
Even though I wait for all my years.

I May Not See

I may not see the sun tomorrow morning.
The clouds tonight are heavy, dark and deep.
But even if it’s only in the heavens,
And though the bulging, thundering skies may weep,

There will be a dawn.

For the clouds will still be lit with gold
Even if I, on the earth, below the rain,
Am cold.

All nature will awaken;
The night will still be shattered,
And the ground be shaken.

Though my eyes, my mind, my body
May be trapped here on this world,
My soul, my spirit, cries
With a thousand thundering angels,
Wings unfurled,
As His glory lights the skies.
HE IS RISEN!

Mi Amiga

Brillas como un diamante, porque
El amor del Seňor llena tu corazón,

Y la luz alcanza al cielo
En una fuente de
Plata y oro.

Cuando estoy lejos de ti,
Puedo ver lo.
Y mi espíritu canta con la tuya.

La bendición de tu amistad
Me da paz durante la tormenta,
Y luz en la oscuridad.

(This poem was written for my two good friends. Translation and explanation posted soon.)