Monday, February 29, 2016

Theories

Theories

A theory is a Fury,
Who gallops into folly,
Unless broken by reality,
She has no actuality.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Left Behind

Left Behind

I have been left behind.
You may think it unkind.
But I am ok where I'm at,
I have sole control of the thermostat.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Recluse

Recluse

If being sociable,
Is negotiable,
Then the recluse,
Has an excuse.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Beyond The Pale

Beyond The Pale

If we could but look,
Beyond the pale,
The straight and narrow,
Would be our trail.

13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. http://esv.to/Matt7.13-14

Breakfast in Bed

I do not like
Breakfast in bed
Give me coffee
In bed
Instead.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Ostrich Critic

Ostrich Critic

Why criticize this big bird on stilts?
Does demeaning it reduce my guilts?
I too stick my head in the sand.
Whenever truth comes by to offer a hand.

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Rarest Kind

The Rarest Kind

A humble soul,
Is rare to find,
But they are not,
The rarest kind.

A brave soul,
Is hard to find,
But they are not,
The rarest kind.

A compassionate soul,
Is hard to find,
But they are not,
The rarest kind.

A generous soul,
Is hard to find,
But they are not,
The rarest kind.

A wise soul,
Is hard to find,
But they are not,
The rarest kind.

A pure soul,
Is hard to find,
And they my friend,
Are the rarest kind.

Once or twice,
In each one's life,
You meet a soul,
Who helps you be whole.

In this life there can be,
No greater tragedy,
Than neglect the soul,
Who was a Godsend for thee.

Suffix it to say

Suffix it to say

To use a suffix,
After the word stem,
Add the affix.

To improve great,
Add the suffix -er.
Greater is greater than great.

To maximize great,
Add the suffix -est.
Nothing is greater than greatest.

To ruin a tonsil,
Add the suffix -itis.
No one wants tonsillitis.

To dedicate a space,
Add the suffix -arium,
The place for sun is the solarium.

To politely insult my poem,
Add the suffix -ette.
It's not a poem it's a poemette.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Antonyms

Fun With Words

To make words fun again,
Contemplate the antonym.

It may sound crazy,
But it is really quite sane.
You won't need to forgive,
If you never stoop to blame.

So keep the good,
Toss out the bad.
It will make you happy,
So you won't feel sad.

Cling to love,
Eschew the hate.
Be a few minutes early,
And you will never be late.

Up, down.
Smile, frown.
Always, never.
Stupid, clever.

Contemplate the antonym,
To make words fun again.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Green Fun

Green Fun

Green is a color,
But not primary.
Feeling blue?
Add some yellow sun,
And have some green fun.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Loathsome Shower

Loathsome Shower

O loathsome shower,
You drain me of essential power.
I think it quite mean,
You're my only way to get clean.

______________
(My peculiar mix of many chronic diseases makes showering both loathsome and exhausting. I hope none of you ever understand.)

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Refuge

Refuge

Refuge is a hard times term,
A safe place when danger abounds,
Somewhere to sleep in peace,
While armies of foes do you surround.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  http://esv.to/Ps46.1

Monday, February 15, 2016

A Gentle Dove

A Gentle Dove

Peace is a gentle dove,
Fluttering down from up above,
On a strong and sturdy wing,
with a wild heart tuned to sing.

To witness the gentle coo coo,
Sit quiet as a deacon in the pew,
For peace so easily scares,
It's nurture requires great care.

When she feels you mean no harm,
Her defenses she disarms,
She might even line her nest,
With wool from your tweed vest.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Am I Bourgeois

Am I bourgeois?

Am I bourgeois?
a middle class mediocre materialist?
I want to say "naah",
I am your atypical mediocre nonconformist.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Persistence

Persistence

Persistent folk are like the ant,
They never flag or say I can't.

(International Friends: As a verb "flag" can mean "to become weak")

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Rice and Beans

Rice and Beans

Rice and beans,
is all many have to eat.
It's Rice and beans for breakfast,
Instead of cream of wheat.

If invited to their hut,
What's to eat for lunch?
You will be treated royally,
But Rice and beans is a very good hunch.

And when it's time for supper,
variety is nice,
And so for something special,
They eat their beans with rice.


Monday, February 8, 2016

Where is my cross?

Where is my Cross?

Where the good way,
Crosses the bad way,
It forms a cross,
That you must cross.

Where hate crosses love,
Take the way from above.
Where pride crosses humility,
You will find your sacred duty.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Devil's Food

Devil's Food

The Lord said judge not,
But some might have forgot.
Or perhaps they are so very good,
They can afford to eat the devil's food.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Implied Definition

Implied Definitions

My mind is daily confused,
By the way our words we use.
What would be the definition,
Of the opposite rendition?

What type of sale is NOT an inventory reduction sale? Can you sell an item and increase inventory?
 
What kind of an affair is not an extramarital affair?

What kind of beef is not 100% real beef? 

What kind of truth is not the honest truth?

What kind of pause is not a temporary pause?

What kind of blind is not legally blind? Are there blind people on the lam for being illegally blind?

What kind of accident is not an untimely accident? Are there scheduled accidents?

I am sure you can think of many more.
Don't be doubly redundant I do implore. 

Frozen Oatmeal

Frozen Oatmeal 

I decided to give fate's spinner a wheel,
And so I created frozen oatmeal.
I am quite sure no prize it will win,
And equally sure I'll never do it again.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Good MoMents

Good MoMents

Thank you for the compliment.
I appreciate the sentiment.
It is a word of encouragement,
And a helpful acknowledgement.

For I am oft in a predicament,
Of no small bewilderment,
As thoughts foment and ferment,
In a bewildering assortment.

As they escape confinement,
I attempt refinement,
Some poetic embellishment.
At the risk of embarrassment.

And so tis an accomplishment,
When I get a compliment.
For a tiny bit of amusement,
For your reading enjoyment.

Sage Advise

Sage Advise

If you need to excise a tumor,
The best blade is clever humor.
The patient has so much fun,
He never feels the tumor undone.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Hoarding Gold

Hoarding Gold

Some people I am told,
Out of fear hoard much gold.
I think it is a sham,
They should be hoarding Spam.
__________
Legal Disclaimer: Spam is a registered Trademark of Hormel Foods Corporation which has no clue said Trademark was used in this alleged poem though I don't see how they could possibly object. The EPA has not been notified of the environmental impact of this alleged poem even though the stream of consciousness has been ruled a navigable waterway and thus is under their jurisdiction. An risk assessment has not been filed with the DHS even though Spam is considered unclean by 2 of 3 of the world's largest monotheistic religions an could inspire armed attacks on US Embassies. This alleged poem is not an endorsement of Hillary Clinton even though the FBI did find Spam on her personal email servers. Before making any investment it is always wise to consult with your financial advisor. Jesus did warn against hoarding earthly treasure but Spam could hardly be classified as a treasure?

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Time is Relative

Time is relative

Einstein is credited,
For making time relative.
Never more true than at 2a.m.,
Listening to a snoring next of kin.

Innocent Pastime

Innocent Pastime

Making words rhyme,
Is an innocent pastime,
Except for rusty buckets,
Or the good folk of Nantucket.

On a dirt road in Uganda

On a dirt road in Uganda

In Uganda was a troop of wild baboons,
My comrades thought them buffoons.
So they strayed quite far from the car,
Proving the baboons were not the buffoons.

Legal Disclaimer:
(No baboons or missionaries were harmed in this incident though some missionaries learned a new respect for all things wild. Fortunately another car stopped ahead of us and their hasty retreat provided an object lesson for my comrades whose retreat was more leisurely.)

Monday, February 1, 2016

The Hero Syndrome

The Hero Syndrome

(Warning: Biblical stuff, short reflection on 2Peter)

People nominated by history to the hero status are quickly larger than life. Talk to any hero who is still alive and they are likely to tell you they are an ordinary person who found themselves in an extraordinary situation.

Now consider the case of Peter a man who let Jesus preach in his boat and then begged him to disembark. A man who briefly walked on water before sinking. A man who cut off a man's ear with a sword and was likely aiming for his neck. A man who boasted he would never deny Jesus and then denied Jesus three times.

Peter was also the first to make The Good Confession. His sermon shortly after Jesus death was central to the birth of Christianity. Jesus said he was given the keys to the kingdom. Jesus gave him the nickname "rock i.e. Peter".

In his second letter Peter writes, "Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."

Now answer me honestly, do you consider your faith equal standing to Peter's faith? You say, "No way. Peter is an Apostle. Peter is a Saint." I agree. This is precisely why we should believe him.

This assertion of equal standing is not merely salutary flourish but indeed central to the introduction of this short letter. "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" 2Pet1.3

And so friends, let's appreciate the great gift of Faith. Don't think of your faith as inferior. It is not.

If you read a few verses further Peter gives advice on how to nurture your faith. For me personally these are the most inspiring verses of the letter.

"5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." 2Pet1.5-7

Should I Be

Should I Be?

Should I be?
I know there is evil in me.
You would only see the good,
If I did the things I should.

But if you could read my mind,
You'd be shocked by thoughts of the evil kind.
If I were to do them all,
You would see no good at all.

Should I be?
Or should God bring an end to me?
Since all have sinned since the fall,
God would have to kill us all.