A Troubling Story in Rhyme, Hanging On to Hope

Here I sit

In the quiet of this room

Stillness all about

Will peace arrive any time soon.

Friends on the right

Friends on the left

Noise all around

Truth somehow left bereft.

Her words

Left us troubled

Her story within us stirred

The pain in our souls bubbled.

His words

Spoken in a rage

Unfit for one of such stature

Did not my doubt assuage.

He insulted
A conspiracy that did unfold
He lost any respect
His white male privilege depths untold.

The leader

Of the land did stand

Pronounce her story credible

Yet truth has somehow been banned.

He who received

The least votes

Affirmed by men

Filibustered with many quotes.

He now appointed

One who has little support

Of the people of our country

To the nation’s highest court.

Then that man

Has the audacity

To apologize quite profusely

Doubting truth and its veracity.

Now is the time

To rally around character

Take people to the polls

Truth does indeed matter.

Yes, I will vote

Hope others take note

Bring their friends and neighbors

And restore us after our labors.

Amen. God Waits for Our Reply

Dear Lord:

What brings me joy

The phrase pops in my head

Images flow to and fro

They remove my weariness and dread.

Those older boys

They range from here to there

They are so much bigger

And the similarities we share.

Those little ones

So young and filled with play

My heart leaps when I see them

They brighten up my day.

My wife so thoughtful

So loving and so kind

How did we ever hook up

My words she makes to rhyme.

Conversations here and there

About things that ultimately matter

Amidst the dross and fog

They cut through the noisy chatter.

A good cup of coffee

To start each and every day

Brewed already when I arise

Come world what may.

The Book someones wrote

Its origins from above

It tells the endless story

Of God’s relentless love.

This season of the year

It comes every time

This one somehow seems different

The meaning is somehow sublime.

That new kid in town

One of my favorite songs

How will He change the world

Into something for which we long.

Justice when we see it

Fairness and equity is the story

The Christ child will prompt it all

That is part of His glory.

The prophets told about Him

The stories to us are told

Not just any child He is

He is one we hear foretold.

When noise comes from DC

The hatred and all its noise

We know politics is the author

The evil one prompts too many ploys.

Where for hope do we go

Or are we left alone

Across this space and place

With anxiety must we roam.

Level out the paths

Remove injustice from the world

Base all upon character

When noise about us swirls.

Yes, some things make my heart sing

My pulse picks up its beat

When good is seen around us

And wickedness sounds its retreat.

Things that bring me joy

My friends and my kin

The baby born in that stable

Will heal my soul within.

Amen. Simplicity in all its glory.

Amen. Sing those songs from on high

Amen. Worship that new born child.

Amen. God waits for our reply. 

The Truth Will Set Us Free If We Let It

Truth is truth

No matter how we spin

The lies and the deceit

Do not always win.

Character prevails

Let’s see it more and more

I hope we find more of it

That’s what most of us implore.

Women tell the truth

They live within their skin

To doubt their stories

Is too deep a sin.

People in power

White men in the crowd

No longer get by with crimes

And that makes me proud.

Character matters

Though some would disagree

Those who put politics above it

Will surely come to see.

Shall we continue the journey

And move toward things that matter

Before we totally ruin ourselves

Lest more lives we would shatter.

There is hope in the land

I feel it in my soul

Maybe we’ve turned the corner

The truth must somehow be told.