gray building’s angles
trying shapeless loneliness
round peg in square hole
[prompt is the photograph]
Canada on fire
so many serve and rescue
feathered hope in rain
[prompt is the haze outside]
photo by Alexander Kaufmann on Unsplash
a trying prayer
and maybe for a Friday before Saturday or any day before another day or for the day
God
I am so through and through
as
if my nuclei
are crying for more
rest
in a way that is child-
insistent
and it is frustrating that there’s nothing to
rest into
for the body and closed eyes for
a while
so let me sleep and awake again
with
more to look forward to
that affects the how
then
there’s what we might work for or have
provided
from I think
a net of sharing
as
the better way we are connected
with respect
by
listening and encouraging
what
is needed by way of what’s missing
and so arranging
on and for
the Earth
as
well as anywhere we go
so
God provides and so
we have
the model for each other
please
amen
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photo by Dennys Hess on Unsplash
invitation to a practice to save the world
I don’t know
briefly
and simply
curb the anger
and listen to someone else
not
for wisdom but
to learn
the easy things of someone else’s
story
and that might be all
to own the real interest
and
the reason
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photo by Ivana Medic on Unsplash
occasion by the river
are you alive
or are you dead
the hobbit
asks
of Dwarves
while they are spitting up and out
river water
packing
straw
and thankful
none too thankful for
being free
and
yet they are
and thanks to the halfling for
half-height
saving all them
if
by an assist of magic
that he
does not understand yet is
convenient doding locks
in
a palace
and now the quest may go on
with rooks
and thrushes
maps
secret doors and try not
to consider
how one might burn
by
dragon
and the poet writes occasions
restore the old
honor new
and
a party ‘round a huge old tree
for both
then the occasion is a book
the red one of his own
with
help in finishing
and then it
goes to
us
and our safe-keeping
but not by leaving
the book
closed
but hear
and then
well
harken
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The Hobbit is a novel by J. R. R. Tolkien
I don’t know how I thought about this moment in the story and to start writing on it
photo by Mike Holford on Unsplash--“Minutes from stepping off the ferry to Sark Island, we decided to walk to the campsite via the coast path. This tree really stood out as a contrast to the yellow glow of the field and the brilliant blue if the sky and sea. Looking forward to exploring the island more!”
incumbent
pray
‘cause prayer is good
not because
it’s perfect
but
typically it’s good for us
we think more of the world
in an asking way
so
have perspective
and
we care
though
pray for enemies as well
at
least we may
God will approve
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photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Monday morning
everyone needs easier
a half an hour
and I haven’t really
said
anything
but what would you like to hear
on a Monday morning from
this culture
to
your part in it
or within other lines
I’d like to talk of God and imagine a Monday
morning church
clean
from Sunday
shining surfaces not having to be bright
but
burnished from use
and now
the building takes a breath and welcomes
truly interested
to work
a clean church
from
being mostly empty and a day off
for the pastor
a chance for visitors to enter
and
to breathe
and to wish good Sunday for the Spirit there
and then and now
a restful
presence
as if the sabbath were on this day instead
when
we might pause or at least
work
with less intrusion
if intrusion is the way
but
everyone needs easier
hours
you know
like the Genesis example
a good
day of
taking in the quiet noise
then
all return
outside
n.b.
and could be Sunday in the temple
for the same
or
in the mosque the time before the next
call
to prayer
bless the cleaners
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photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
look forward in anger
awkwardness and shame
and so I force
myself
to show up at things
a gathering of nearly any kind
friends
church
the
store
and I hadn’t had this thought ‘til now
years of wishing
I suppose
as I had been reinforced
to be
alone
and to an extent perceived maybe
by
the company I kept
though Jesus knew sinners
after all
and
Jesus knew me
somehow it’s a child’s feeling
too
perhaps
due to how I was treated
how
some awful thoughts took hold and so
would not let go
and maybe I’ll be free
someday
maybe the demon will be forced to leave
since
it can’t be comfortable in there with
all
the praying with the supplication
yet
there are claws as hooks and
to ask
how pleasant is a life a hell
disappointed by
one’s lord
so the demon will stay
encouraging
the awkwardness and shame
not
to mention all the anger over Prufrockian
plotting and
not hearing angels
sing
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a reference or an allusion is made to “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” a modern poem by T. S. Eliot in which the protagonist quests to find mythic meaning, that is, to find something beyond oneself (yet connected to)
there is also an opposite use of the title Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, a play from 1956 about post-war life with meaning
while the feelings plus divisions mentioned in the poem are my own
photo by Tomas Trajan on Unsplash
what comes shadow dreamed
waking life add shaping time
lamp dream to vision
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Psalm 119:105
photo by Prashant Gupta on Unsplash
visions
having heard the word from a character
and it’s important
something about young people
having then
in
time
when prophecy is elevated
and how it moves along
with
God’s direction and may we
say
revelation
for it sounds like magic
like
mischief
like things no one should get paid for
that is not a regular
job
and how might mystics earn their living
anyway
out of a ring by patronage
I guess
provision of a family or other non-
profit
providing of a cave
outside of
town
somehow
funding
the anchorite approach
then do we take away the prophecies
relegate them to
extremes
that are unhealthy for the nine-
to-five of us
the sort
that earns and so can buy and own one’s breath
not saintly but
with
the relief of practicality
so no visions
thank you
or the crusades that follow
if
believed
dream on your own
in
your own time
and
don’t get paid
or expect encouragement even when
we need you
for
our work and then the way
we play
so come work
come play
with
the skeptics
maybe
spend time with Julian
and the cat
maybe when no one else is looking or the rumors
heard
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In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young will see visions.
Your elders will dream dreams.
Acts 2:17 (citing Joel)
Common English Bible
photo by Joshua Jordan on Unsplash
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