17 December 2011

Advent 2

the house is lit up like a candle
but not a roman one
someone shrugs and sighs
the "e" word is mentioned
evening news comes on
marking time with protests
and then a small flicker
"santas" paying others' bills

when push comes to shove
people often tighten their belts
and turn down the lights
close the doors tight
it makes sense to do so
it is only fair to look out
for number one
everyone else costs too much

yet therein lies irony
when to a poor economy
(one completely bankrupt)
came a gift so costly

with such an example set
how shall we now live?

13 December 2011

advent 1

advent is here and i am holding
out for hope in a dreary world
trying to remember why
when all i see is what and how
i know that He came and that
is what i celebrate this season
advent: the arrival
and not just He came but He comes
bears our sorrows yet today
even more He will come
in the grey hours when i cry
all will be well
yet still i remember
the peculiar way He came
and comes
and will come
is not how or what i expect
but why He continually comes
never changes

12 December 2011

conundrum

it is beautiful the rain
washing everything new
running down dry streets
like rivers of forgetfulness
but my head gets wet
and i feel the cold pierce

it is beautiful the sea
wave after wave coming
tranquil power perfected
mesmerizing and free
but the angry strength
kills the careless

it is beautiful the One
who came as a babe
wraps me in loving arms
forgives all my sins
but the righteous Judge
is His Father and I tremble

11 December 2011

those hidden things

i pause before answering
words unspoken hover
but we know so little
of the things we hide
i like to think myself
consistent in all
but a pointed question
betrays my faults
so i laugh and step
skillfully aside
hoping you won't notice
my misdirection
or perhaps it's you
that slips this time
bringing sarcasm quick
a cut i myself shy from
yet jab at you instead
we part again
content in this charade
the trappings of life
civilized

07 December 2011

twinkle

shimmering in the darkness
the glow draws me
mesmerizing
finds this spot somewhere
near my heart
strums it like a violin
all around fades
only brilliant twinkles
like diamonds
eclipse my gaze
i am the moth
and this
my final fire

06 December 2011

on faerie tales

it sucked me in
again
the knight with armour
that shines like the sun
and a sword that
without a pause
vanquished
the fair maiden rescued
all set right
and i sigh
shake off the faerie dust
trudge to the office
trying to ignore
what could be
when i dream
of what should be

one a day

a sage i know (http://asummerhouse.wordpress.com/) suggested the brilliant idea of one poem a day for a month. i shall attempt, as penance for my appalling neglect of this blog. and perhaps, practice will improve my skills.
enjoy, void, whoever you may be.

31 October 2011

when fears arise

~a paraphrase of psalm 27~

God illuminates the wonderful way He puts before me so I don’t need to worry. He protects me from things that destroy my soul so I can rest in peace.

When people try to rip me to shreds--everyone who hates me and is jealous--God knocks them down.


Even when it seems like all the people around me are out to get me and cause me to fall, I won’t be scared. Even if their mouths are shooting direct hits towards my heart, I will still stay calm.


The one desire that consumes my soul is that I stay in God’s presence all the earthly days that He has given me, learning to be still as He becomes ever more beautiful in my eyes.


In the sublime place His presence provides, I will rest in His home, safe in secret rooms He alone knows.


And now, I know I will not be killed by those who desire my failure. Standing in His presence I will shout “hallelujah!” and sing wonderful songs of joy because He is worthy!


Still, Daddy God, I need You! Please hear my cries and comfort me.


You said, “Make Me your heart’s desire,” and my heart echoed with joy.


No matter what, don’t draw back from me or refuse to be with me when You’re angry. You’re the only one who can help me, oh please don’t leave me ever!


The people I trusted and loved most rejected me, but still You wrap Your arms around me and refuse to let me go.


Please teach me what it means to follow You alone, on the path that is true and no evil comes near.

Don’t let those who secretly hate me win, because I have heard the stories they tell about me, the lies they convince the world are true. Don’t let my heart give in to the discouragement they breathe.

Many times I would have given up except that I knew God is trustworthy, faithful and good; and I will see that proved in this life.


When all seems dark, look to His light. Find strength in His promise and hope. Yes, He will shine on.


30 August 2011

even here

the desert comes alive in the half hours
when the world lies between
not asleep yet not quite awake
gone the sun that burns and blinds
instead a pale glow envelopes life
either welcoming or shaking off dreams
when the first blush of dawn
steals over hard, arid mountains
they transform to hills of hope
and the air shakes off the night--
cool, refreshing darkness--
to welcome the potential of a new day
or as the bookend to aurora
in the evening a similar transformation
as a hush draws a cloak over day
sometimes dotting the blank blue sky
with soft clouds harbouring dreams

and for two moments beauty reigns even here

05 June 2011

funny, isn't it?

as i grow, i realize that when God speaks He uses a variety of mediums. it's like He's saying, "did you get it? I'm making it really obvious here." from words of friends to sermons to my own mouth to a random devotional book to movies, no medium is beyond His use. and so, in light of His clear reminder to me that bringing beauty from hard places is so important, i share my poor attempt at a psalm, written in church as directed from the stage.
O Lord how glorious You are to my dim eyes.
You created the shady streets I walk along that cheer my heart.
You provided me with friends like Suzanne who put up with my intensity.
Even though my attitude stinks and I despair of ever being happy You remind me that joy is found in worshipping You alone.
I remember how good You have been in providing me with finances and opportunities to travel.
Restore within me the heart of worship.
I love you hasta siempre.
selah

03 June 2011

sestina

thought i'd share the poem my friends and i decided to challenge each other to write (i learnt a new form and not an easy one!). here's my attempt at a sestina.

Stanza 1

like a curtained backdrop sit the mountains

looming serenely with peculiar presence of mind

at their feet sprawl these crowded streets

where a soft wind rustles the lonely cypress trees

oblivious and with heads bend rush the people

serving greed, the insatiable master

Stanza 2

one and all who bow to this chameleonic master

be it money, fame or even the towering mountains

are not far removed from the pioneering people

who with prosperity on every mind,

even as they buried heartache ‘neath the trees,

saw down the long, misty passage golden streets

Stanza 3

hidden to the hopeful eyes there lurks on decaying streets

the dark side of chasing desire--now here master

trampling lives under old willow trees

But beyond a path winds up the mountains

where the smog cannot reach and clog the mind

perspective comes from above the tired people

Stanza 4

from on high a voice calls to the people

softly, potently it weaves its way down the streets

“Let Me in” echoes in each mind

and to each heart presents a new Master

One whose hands shaped these peaceful mountains

and who with grace grows each of the trees

Stanza 5

each frantic life is stretching up like trees

yet finding nothing chokes the soul of the people

equally blind to the Maker of the shrubby mountains

they ignore the voice calling in the streets

some sadly fail and misrepresent this strong Master

and so cause resentment in many a battered mind

Stanza 6

yet He who guards the heart guards the mind

knows the time for those dwelling under the trees

knows also the gnawing want they call master

and still longs to call them His people

that one day rejoicing will mark these streets

drowning out the cries from the rocky mountains

Tercet

the haze thickens around magnolia trees beside the mountains

dulling each mind to the unseen battle in the lazy wide streets

while each master contends for these unsuspecting people

14 May 2011

daring

it's like a heartbeat
when you've run too hard
it pounds in your ear
i can barely hear
Where are You?
i come up for air sometimes
convincing myself all's well
all shall be well
and manner of things
but then the roar begins
Where are You?
and i gasp wondering
how i ended up here
Never doubt. Never
ever doubt He's working.
someday i'll see
Right here.
find You
breathe free

09 February 2011

if i could live anywhere...

these would be the top 5 options (most likely):
willamette valley (preferably ptown area)
south ireland
new zealand
wales
southwest germany area

[if you have been to these places you might be sensing a pattern...]

17 January 2011

cultural teleporting

i jumped from vienna--narrow, european streets, caucasians galore, high prices, cold weather, austere palaces
to dubai--super clean, arabs galore, camel's milk, wide open spaces, oases, moderate warmth, desert
to bangkok--tropical warmth, crowded city, street vendors hawking everything from live birds to fried bugs, signs for "blind masseuse", "turn left through" (left turn permitted without stopping), --> made out of fluorescent tube lights glued into the shape, and traffic that increases my prayer life (how you make a right turn/U-turn by inching out into oncoming traffic--and there's a lot of that--until the traffic has to stop or hit you and so you can go)
so much to absorb--next stop, australia!

04 January 2011

no fun

the "new church" in delft is a towering architectural masterpiece, grey stones complete with buttresses. yet its ornate exterior belies an austere interior, as this once gaudy catholic church was stripped of its pretentious frivolities in the zeal of the protestant reformation. i felt a pang as i read how almost every grave marker had its intricate memorial artwork scrapped off and wondered why the reformation endeared itself to killjoys. now don't misunderstand me, i do prefer a simple place of worship to the idolatrous leanings of the average high church. yet it seems that the zeal to get rid of anything that might come between me and God can easily slip into the misapprehension that all things of light, laughter and levity are wrong. darkness and gloom, somber aspects are not the way of Godliness. reverence has its proper place, but joy should be the mark of a true Christian, not dour melancholy.