Leave the Door Cracked

Steeple piercing sky, you left the cathedral door cracked for the hunched-back,

For people like me, too feeble to turn handle, never nimble, none-too-quick,

And here there is an altar at which to pray, night and day, whatever one has to say,

And God must be listening from vaulted heaven, ne’er assaulted by cries from below

In tragic humanity’s last great show, throwing caution to the wind at every bend,

So does this poor man kneel and whisper, hushed tone echoing across stone floor

Before rising like incense to throne of truth and justice, with soul-deep moans,

Thank you for leaving cathedral door cracked neath steeple grand and imposing

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Let Me Rise Above as I Lay Me Down

I lay my life down in your arms, O Beauty and Peace,
So be gracious to grant me rest and on life new lease

Crown me with your love in this forlorn town of humanity,
And drive away the insanity as I now lose all of my vanity,
And bold let me enter your fold for there is rest, I am told,
And there mold me and make me like you, ever so divine

And as I walk these paths and talk with pilgrims who balk
At the idea of any tranquility with hostility and no humility,
Let me not be ensnared in their claptrap, but rise above
Such fray to your love this very day along life’s terrible way

I lay my life down in your arms, O Beauty and Peace,
So be gracious to grant me rest and on life new lease

After such great turmoil graciously grant the best of rest
In your numinous nest, and to be gone with soul festering;
Let me find merciful safety in your hands and loving bands
While the sands of time slowly fall through the hourglass
Of heaven leavened with passion that shall not pass me by

I lay my life down in your arms, O Beauty and Peace,
So be gracious to grant me rest and on life new lease

Mounting On My Knees

†

All consumed by you, the tomb of my soul gives birth to its worth;
Where once there was gloom and darkness, there now blooms life,
And I am being groomed for something more in the Womb of Love.
On my knees, my knees, I see the flowered trees of heaven dance
And the hinds prance from one mount to mount ~ who can count?
Bleeding tears from my eyes the size of tidal waves, what saves;
I’d forgotten I’m stronger when bowed low than standing for show;
Ah! Spirit of the Living Life and Light and Love from high above,
Show me now in which way to go, not with haste, but wisely slow;
Now I know, I know, I know . . . I am bended low higher than ever!
I shiver at the flow of Life surging thru my soul, my ethereal veins
Running with Blood not my own, veritable flood of heavenly Light
So bright, who can look upon the sight? And no longer dark blight,
My inner-man shines thru the night, and is there any more fright?
No! Consumed by you, the tomb of my soul gives birth to its worth!

†

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Note: First published in February 2016, now being republished for the reading pleasure of new blog followers. Blessings to one and all!

Yahweh

Take these hands and curl them round about the handles of the plow;
Take these knees and teach them in awed reverence to bend and bow;
Take these eyes and open them so the world of suffering they can see;
Take these ears and unclog them so the cries of pain they can hear;
Take these tears and let them be for washing feet with every heartbeat;
Take these lips and set a coal to purify them for a kiss they never miss…

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison

Take this mind and let it find your favor to unbind from wasted trash;
Take this heart and teach it to love with unbounded love from above;
Take this soul and fill the hole from your overflowing heavenly bowl…

Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison

Yahweh

Note: Inspired by “Yahweh” (an ancient Hebrew name for God) by the rock-n-roll band, U2, and originally published in May 2016, now republished due to some renewed interest. The phrase, “Kyrie eleison,” is an ancient Greek prayer simply meaning, “Lord, have mercy.” Blessings to all!

The Prodigal

Yeah, I remember that day, the day I turned and walked away;
And did I even say goodbye or just fly out into the unknown?
Yeah, it was great for awhile, but I had no mate; I was alone
And eventually chilled to the bone, just like dead cold stone;
Did I hear you calling me back from falling into my own pit?
Ah! but I refused to listen, confused by my own damn idea
Of some great panacea that only proved to be a real sick kick!
But you never took your eyes off of me; you could always see,
And you kept calling while I was curled in the corner balling;
So now will this prodigal return or continue to burn inside
Of himself, where he’s pressed to abide? But you do not chide;
Sweetly, softly, your voice neatly flows in the cool breeze…
It’s been so long since I’ve known what it means to belong,
To be held in your arms, protected from all harms and alarms;
But will I wait at your gate or enter your chamber so great?
Will I, the prodigal, come home to you?
Ah! you knew … you knew, didn’t you?

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Note: Previously published in April 2016, now republished for the reading enjoyment of new followers. Blessings to one and all!

Prayer of the Damned

In the blackest of nights from the cauldron of darkness
I cry to you as I lie prostrate on the ground surrounded
By harrowing sounds, shrill shrieks from depths of hell,
And plead for redemption, restoration, an incantation
For my salvation in gravitation to heavenly habitation,
But sulfur vapor clouds around with dancing dæmons
And prancing wraiths, romancing my soul with bowls
Of precious poison, but will you hear my call so drear?
Will you come near and hold me dear while they sear
And jeer in frightful delight where there’s now no light?
Is it too late for pitiful me because I took the devil’s bait
Rather than wait on you? But you knew he was shrewd
And I so weak, though not humble and meek, and sick!
Lo, the wick burns out as I dare offer my parting prayer;
Will you save or shall I descend to the cave of Hades?

Evening Song

As the day is dying in the West,
And I lay my head down to rest,
O give me of your best to keep
As my eyes close in deep sleep

Rest me now in your arms
Far away from all alarms
And safe from evil harms
And all nefarious charms

As the sun dips o’er far horizon,
My heart enlighten ‘n brighten,
So there’ll be light in the night
And no awful monsters to fight

Rest me now in your arms
Far away from all alarms
And safe from evil harms
And all nefarious charms

Stay here as day bids farewell,
For with you sleep will be well,
How comforting I cannot tell
But you are my one sure citadel

Rest me now in your arms
Far away from all alarms
And safe from evil harms
And all nefarious charms

Rest me in your best tonight,
And all will be good and right,
And all will be good and right . . .

Come Now, O Breath of Peace

Peoples around the world are bound by the sound of fury,
Shackled by deprivation, starvation, escalation of violence;
People hurt people, avert justice, and desert Lady Wisdom,
Overtly perverting, exerting themselves, inverting decency

O Come now, O Breath of Peace, come from above,
And bind up the broken heart and calm our fears;
Come near and blow through our world with love

Do we really want to mar the earth, this place of our birth?
Do we really want to compromise the worth of all creation?
Here today, but like flowers of the field we yield in the end,
And our place knows us no more and with nothing to show

O Come now, O Breath of Peace, come from above,
And bind up the broken heart and calm our fears;
Come near and blow through our world with love

Peoples around the world struggle to survive, even thrive,
Persistently walking the halls ‘n consistently hitting walls
Of resistance without any assistance even for subsistence;
Is this really how some want to live, with so much to give?

O Come now, O Breath of Peace, come from above,
And bind up the broken heart and calm our fears;
Come near and blow through our world with love

Blow thru each of us with loving peace from above!
Blow thru each of us with loving peace from above!

Peoples around the world are bound by the sound of fury,
And shackled by chains
And shackled by chains

O Come now, O Breath of Peace, come from above,
Blow thru each of us with loving peace from above!
Blow thru each of us with loving peace from above!

In the Temple of the Ancient of Days

She rises early from bed to go where there is no need for keys

***

On bended knees, head bowed, wrinkled hands folded,
Bands of unseen angels surround the lonely woman
As she prays alone in the Temple of the Ancient of Days

***
Cacophony in the streets no longer an anomaly,
Here there is still solemnity and blessed serenity
As old lips whisper into the ear of One who hears

***
Screams throughout the city shatter dreams of lasting peace
When all battles cease, but one still prays for that holy day
When people walk in the way of authentic love from above

***

Light footsteps can barely be heard and no spoken word
As a young boy walks thru the door across marble floor
And dares to draw near the solitary figure in quiet prayer,
To kneel beside her with real intention to make petition
In his own way in this the Temple of the Ancient of Days

***

We, too, may rise from bed to go where there is no need for keys
To bend knees and pray . . . in the Temple of the Ancient of Days

Carry Me Full and Free

Illusions surround me causing cancerous confusion,
And the wind and rain beat against me on stormy sea

Oh, carry me! Carry me full and free…

Not sufficient is any money or power or any position,
Your heart strumming in my soul is my sole situation

Oh, carry me! Carry me full and free…

Let me not be deceived but ever gloriously relieved
Of the burdens I’ve carried and all that’s aggrieved

Oh, carry me! Carry me full and free…

And I will mount up on eagle’s wings and sky-sing high!
Yes! I will mount up on eagle’s wings and sky-sing high!