thank you

Most of us live out what is expected of us, some live more, many less; it is usually upon level ground.

At times, we know where we are upon this vast level of our lives; we are free to travel in most any direction.

It is only when someone marks this level ground, and raises a perpendicular to it, and then declares, “This is what is right, and straight, and headed for God” that the boundaries of our travels are defined.

You set these marks upon this ground, and you raise these lines for us.
You exclaim their need, their worth, and their righteousness.

You plumb this level ground upon which we walk; you mark our many paths with clear and focused wisdom.

You help us choose our path to God.

new measures

You and I measure time differently now.

We’re past the need for clocks or weeks or sand.

The way we track our time now, after all of our time, is with our hearts.

Our hearts and our time are stable and strong and sound; they are everlasting.

Our hearts and our time are the substance by which we will be remembered.

Together we’ve come this far in time with our hearts, but I’ve come this far in time because of you.

13 October 2001: I can’t wait until the second of this coming January. That’s when my employer on this work and his wife will have their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. It’s also when he gives her this little jewel. I advised him to take back the candy, cars and furs; these six lines were all he needed to ensure another twenty-five years of bliss.

none got you

God gave some folks humps, and others got lumps.

Some got one arm too short and the other just right.

While some folks got bigger, almost overnight.

Some got pretty, some just so.

Most got fingers, and ten or so toes.

But what you got, He really gave me, ‘cause you’re just about perfect the way I see.

You make me laugh, and you make me cry, and I’ll love you always past the day that I die.

13 October 2001: I wrote this for a man to give to his wife. He often told her that she didn’t need any make-up, or anything other than her natural beauty; she never believed him. I’m sure now, with professional poetry on his side, he can convince her of her foolishness. I tell ya, it’s a great feeling to save a marriage with just a few cleverly arranged words.