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Poetry For Her Lord - By Mary-Ellen Grisham

YOUNGEST BROTHER

The crowds were strangely still,

Pressed taut against stone walls,

While the centurions lined the narrow way.

I could hear the slow steps,

The scrape of wood on stone--

Then see the monstrous shadow of a man

Shouldering the heavy cross

As the measured march continued

Outside the city to the low lying hill.

Holding my sister's hand, lagging far behind,

I peered at the darkening sun,

One hand shading my eyes

Until grey-green clouds and white streaks

Like the fingers of heaven

Raced and roiled across the sky.

Sounds of weeping women, moaning,

Keening cries on the wind surge

Sighed through the solemn city.

Blood and water flowed down hillsides,

Trickling through crevices and tiny cracks

Over dirt ridges, pooling in pock marks,

Pitting the paths with misery.

Tears and raindrops mingled down my cheeks

As we hurried back to our temporary quarters,

To hide in darkness, shutters closed.

When the ground moved and shook,

We quaked before the sorrow of God.

Fear and trembling grasped the earth,

Birth pangs for the new life

From the Saviour's sacrifice.

SONG OF THE NAZARENE

By the side of the sea

I called forth men to follow me

By the side of the sea

I spoke forth truths my Father sent by me

By the side of the sea

I left crowds to seek God's peace

Walked the waves, calmed the sea,

Encouraged Peter not to take his eyes from me

By the side of the sea

I helped fishers to fish for me

Their nets full as their lives would be

Simple loving service in my name for Thee

By the side of the sea

I served fish and bread a boy gave to me

Prepared a fish fry for the fishers to be

Shared fellowship, met the final need

Of each disciple, a final loving deed,

Feed my lambs through love of me

Feed my sheep I live within thee

Feed my sheep; Follow me

By the side of the sea.

MEDITATIONS ON PSALMS

Morning Moments

I will rise on the wings of dawn
Through creamy mists of amber and moonbeam
Like a giant monarch with slowly undulating wings
Scattering colors of golden orange and scarlet-wine,
Lifting from the earth, as the sun raises its golden head,
Slowly slipping up from the horizon.

I will fly free on shimmering clouds of coral fleece
Beyond the reach of the sun's burnished scepter
Through mounded clouds of soft pearl gray,
My gloriously recreated body winging by the morning star
The last beams of scarlet sun-glow
Replaced by the golden light of day.

BLESSING
(Variations on Psalm 133 & 137)

The oil of kindness is poured out

in living love among the people--

Peace--our cup runneth over

with the joy of the Lord.

His blessing falls down like rain

gently, on the grain fields,

Like dew from the high heavens

anointing the mountains.

The followers of the Lord sing by the rivers

Rejoicing in the gifts of a gracious God.

REFUGE

When mountains fall into the sea,

The waters roar and foam.

The mountains tremble in the surging waters;

The skies like foaming wine roil and spew

Foul spices for a wicked people.

The righteous in the strong shelter of God's strength
Rejoice and are glad, sitting down by the river
Whose streams make glorious the city of God,
Reflecting His presence, the light of His love.

COVENANT

By the rivers of our enemies

we will sit down to weep--

You have fed us with the bread of tears.

The son of man now sits at your right hand--

Send us the perfect manna,

Spare the vine out of Egypt;

And we will feast on living wine,

Bread from the finest wheat,

Honey from the rock of our salvation.

HEAVENLY CITY

In the city of Mount Zion--

lofty and lifted up,

Glowing with God's glory--

radiance of shimmering light,

The people of God rejoice,

singing praises to the Lord most high.

Protected by His presence

within the temple of His love

The saints meditate on His

unfailing strength,

Brightly blessed by the brilliant

countenance of His face--

With neither day or night,

Nor sorrow or tears.

The Bride of the Lamb

enters His courts

Anointed with the oil of joy,

robes fragrant with righteousness,

Comfortable from palaces adorned

with ivory,

The melodies of the strings making

glad her heart,

The songs of the saved

blended with the music of the spheres.

God is blessing forever

the union of the redeemed

With the Lamb, the Son

of their utmost adoration.

HANDMAIDEN
(Meditation on Psalm Two)

My yoke fellow is the Lord--

We pull and strive together.

The harness is easy.

The chains are light.

The load lifted by His Spirit

Binds me to Him forever.

I sing as I serve the Lord most high.

If You Wish To Correspond with poet, Mary-Ellen Grisham,
please send email to <fantasy@apci.net>

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