Love That Binds

As you and I learn to know Love
and its healing power
we experience its gentle tranquillity,
purity, and grace, where
harmony and joy superbly flower.

Here, we rest safe
in the Christly consciousness of good,
where Love reflected by you and me
is silently understood.
Aware that Love bright with light

exposes evil's tales, we see
unkind, selfish, fearful thoughts
as error-woven,
tattered, unreal veils
—evil as naught.

We feel spiritually bold, strengthened
by God's unerring law—
accepting gratefully divine Love
and its shadow-dissolving
glow.

And hear Love's voice, sublime,
gently saying, "All, all are mine."
We behold
God-derived brotherly affections
spiritually bind.

From the October 1997 issue of The Christian Science Journal

O Tree!

 O Tree—

one breath of yours

its fragrance

leave upon my verse!

I compose more in my heart 

than by these words!  I mean it and so, I’ll say it—

you help me live,

are a comfort in need!

Who understands your great worth?

Stay strong 

through fire and wind!

Soft, soft air—cool the heat!

O how one desires the flickering stars!

The overhead dark!

To look out from a tree 

And see 

The immensity of space—

To grow into it,

Feel refreshed,

Life as it regenerates!

So let it be

here and now!

And I cry out:

“Oh, peace, peace, peace!”

From the collection of my poetry, “A Glorious Vision Shaded”

O Tree!

one breath of yours

its fragrance

leave upon my verse!

I compose more in my heart 

than by these words!  I mean it and so I’ll say it—

you help me live,

are a comfort in need!

Who understands your great worth?

Stay strong 

through fire and wind!

Soft, soft—

the air 

coming from you

cools the heat!

O how one desires the flickering stars!

The overhead dark!

To look out from your canopy

And see 

The immensity of space—

To grow into it,

Feel refreshed,

Life as it regenerates!

So let it be

here and now!

And I cry out:

“Oh, peace, peace, peace!”

Rev. March 9, 2022

In a shady room

In a shady room

the curtains

untied usher in

a cool breeze, and a ray

of light

gently touches my skin.

I smile, and hum

a little tune!  

My voice echoes down

into this earth—

friends speak

of the nation’s plight…

I try to distance myself 

from what is soon-to-be behind—

for a good reason!

Moments of stillness are

a miracle in themselves!

What is less or more?

In a shady room

the curtains

untied usher in

a cool breeze, and a ray

of light

gently touches my skin.

I smile, and hum

a little tune,

it echoes down

into this earth

as the rain softly waters 

a field!

Friends, neighbors speak

of the nation’s plight…

though I am moved,

I distance myself 

from the noise and unrest,

all that soon-to-be behind—

for a good reason!

Moments of stillness are

miracles in themselves!

What is less or more?

Rev August 2020

As painful memories flee

As painful memories flee

My heart is at ease! 

A veil is lifted

From a wondrous 

World within—

Just steps away—from

The mundane

Into the sublime!

Thus a smile…

Moonlight suffuses

The sky,

A firefly raised up 

By the wind

Abandons itself

To infinite height!

Exile - revised 2020

Exile

In my solitary way, when words of love
I silently say, I smile and gaze
At memories of sweet embrace,
Glorious vision shaded,
Words on the breath faded—
Settled by the water’s cool
Fondness ushers in a rule.

To my incredulous surprise,
What do I recognize?
An ever-present treasure:
A friend I hold too dear—
As to a reflection in the pond
I am drawn near...

My life is now a hermit’s part,
With Love the beacon of my heart.
Above the whistling of the breeze
A box of music arriving for my needs
Alights with joy a gaze, a smile
That once reflectively beguiled,
Now, melodiously veracious—
With “Thank you, dear” starting,
Restraint echoes through the voice.

Well, Love reopens eyes,
Never again such sacrifice,
For heart and soul and mind parting!
Ask, “Who is the ruler of the heart?”
If love is true, it’s destined
According to Mind’s sacred plot,
Nothing else affords more earthly joy.
If such is our fate—why try to escape?
Why cause anguish by mistake?
Why remove so suddenly the good?
Why, the flirt hastens to his mood,
Is downcast—ah, worldy shared complaint,
Unavailing constraint!

Oh, blessed eyes serene beyond,
Seeing only the very best in man,
Which never is withdrawn
When love, holy beauty awakens at dawn.

Rev. July 15, 2020

As a longing—quivering flames

As a longing—

Quivering flames—

The healing idea appears,

Its irradiency

Burns through human misery

Cleansing the heart 

Making it pure and the thought crystal clear.

I find Love never absent, then—

A glimpse 

Of goodness so near!

I know how ever long it takes

Fear and sadness must flee—

I exist.

That is enough!  

Within my mind the windows of meaning...

Within my mind the windows of meaning
Open wide—to the day I sought—
And I look out to see what Life has made:

No useful idea too deep
          Or hidden to understand,
No useful idea too lofty
          Or too high,
No useful idea as would carry
          An overbearing burden!

A useful idea is to unfold,
          No matter how long it may take...
                         
Who does not know the endless arguments?

It is better to do nothing contrary to ones’
Highest sense of good!

I will be ready for the winds,
They will blow, be merciless!
                       
From the sea will come a mighty rain
And wash the earth clean of the dust
And soak the dry, thirsty ground!
The herb-bearing seeds will grow
And grow— fruit as the flowers!

Behold!  The trees
Will cover the face of the earth—
How pleasant
And satisfying to our sight!

 Is that just my poetic nature speaking?


Inspired by the Book of Genesis