Bitter
Bitterness becomes you
Bitterness not sweet
Bitterness becomes you
Consumes your mind and spirit
Taste the sour of your soul
Taste the reflux of your mind
Sweet bitterness
What a contradiction
Bitterness becomes you
Bitterness to the end!
The Massive Black
The massive black
Heat risen in mystic reflection
Travel on its back heavy loaded or light footed.
The massive black
Cool mist or watered down
Twisted and beaten
The massive black
No love, for death it grips
A quiet step and lights out forever
Loud screeches and silent screams
The massive black
No mercy
Purple Majesty
Only the distance
Can your beauty be admired
So smooth your curves
Like the images of a coaster
The silhouettes of your crest
Bring tranquility to a restless mind.
Peace you speak, and many words are expressed
By the pastels painted across your brow.
Soon to fade, but not forsaken
For another cycle is sure to come
And new dreams will be made
Purple Majesty.
Christmas Savior
Blessed be oh Lord your name
Given to us no shame no vain
Darken world therein no sight
Death and sickness fearful plight
But worry not!
Tremble nigh
Emmanuel has come from high
Within a baby, a glimpse of light
Burst forth in glorious sacrifice
For the blood of life
Shed through His veins
Salvation comes this Christmas night
"The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight".
©Robert Penner 2010
Last line from "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Rector Phillips Brooks.
Come and See
Come here
Come now
Come and know
Your sins are forgiven
Thus saith the Lord.
Come here
Come now
Come and know
I am here to bring you life
Life more abundantly
Come here
Come now
Come and know
I am your God
And there is no other.
Come here
Come now
Come and know
This is my church
Come and worship, open your hearts.
Come here
Come now
Come and see
Come and see.
God Cares
Who a m I to think God doesn’t care?
I mean, look at the birds, they don’t.
Look at the squirrel. It doesn’t either.
If the animals don’t care
Does that mean God doesn’t care also?
I should know better.
I saw a mindless robot, walk in and sit down.
The mindless stare of something wanting less to communicate.
The mindless thought of care.
The selfish do of one’s own existence.
And I thought to myself.
If God can love someone so pitiful
He must care for me as mush as He loves me.
Then depression hit me hard
I am a sinful man, full of error.
How can God care for one like me?
And the answer is always the same.
He made you, and sacrificed Himself for you.
If that is not enough of a reason,
Than nothing else is.
Who am I to think that God doesn’t care?
He does.
Oh Holy Night
Through epochs of time
There was a tear in the vale
A bright light shattered the darkness
Piercing the hearts of men
Melting the hardness within
Washing away our shards of sin
One quiet desperate night
In the lowliest of places
Where no one would dare
Eternal hope brought forth
Causing the heavens to shout for great joy!
Though the earth did not know it
This silent night brought redeeming grace
In a child’s face
In a child’s cry
In His tender touch
His love so much
Oh Holy Night
Oh Holy Night RP 2009
Sabbath Rest
Will we ever break free from the darkness within?
From beginning to beginning we toil in vain
Busy hearts, Busy hands, Busy minds that has no end
Important things that take first place
God in last, you win the race
Lofty goals all for good
Make more money, life abundant!
Fortify the walls, strengthen the garrison!
Safety at last, what a mask!
Fruitful gain, acid rain
Rot and rust, turns to dust
Someone once said "You can't take it with you."
What is worth it you might ask?
Its a good time to think about it. RP 2009
Spirit Rescue
Fire, Fire
Oh wretched fire
burns my soul
squalid desire
Lost in love
Of painful darkness
Rebellious action
Empty vessel
Fill me up
Oh Lord of life
Spirit washing
Quenching thirst
Raised to walk
Life first steps stumble
Grow in peace
Life everlasting. © Robert Penner 2010
What is Love
Dedicated to my parent in-law who celebrated 50years in marriage
Unquenchable, undeniable, sometimes unspeakable
Ever changing, always seeking
Like the wind that courses through lofted leaves
It weaves invisible, silent!
Like a pebble loosened, forming an unstoppable avalanche
It crashes, without warning! Sometimes devastating
Misused, abused, masked in lies
Cheapened, blinded, crying tears
Of all things commanded this the greatest
Of all things misunderstood most
Love is like the ray of light that gleams off steel
Like the rain that rescues the parched
Like the life blood that carries us on
The true meaning of love is God’s Son
Rich in sacrifice, strong in justice, truth in promise
Like a fortress built high on solid ground
Impenetrable by the forces who seek to destroy it
Your love in small ways like God’s love
Endures
Happy 50th.
Aroma of Heaven
Oh Lord how magnificent are your ways
In good times and in bad times
You are there.
Your love, Oh Lord transcends time and space
Lord you are forever, your presence
Is always on my mind
No thoughts can describe your greatness
No thoughts can describe your everlasting love.
Consume me Oh God!
Burn my soul, Oh Heavenly Father!
Stir me with thoughts of you.
Jesus, sweet Jesus
Aroma of Heaven
Aroma of Heaven
Oh Lord how magnificent are your ways
In good times and in bad times
You are there.
Your love, Oh Lord transcends time and space
Lord you are forever, your presence
Is always on my mind
No thoughts can describe your greatness
No thoughts can describe your everlasting love.
Consume me Oh God!
Burn my soul, Oh Heavenly Father!
Stir me with thoughts of you.
Jesus, sweet Jesus
Aroma of Heaven
Life
Heat, Passion
Strength, Emotion
Dripping tears
Passing years
Flickering light
Shadow’s changing
Black!
Rising Bright
Nothing smells as nice as a crisp morning air
Air so fresh your nostrils burn
Breathe it in, catch the last starry glimpse twinkle
Soon to fade, to give way to the rising bright
Nothing quite as nice as the cool quiet morning dark
Sound so quiet your ears give way to the noise of your thoughts
Concentrate; hear the wind gently blow a leaf
As it skips ever so lightly
Soon to fade, to give way to the rising bright
Nothing speaks peace like the stillness of the prelude
Darken black with a hint of blue
Stand still, be still, feel the quiet
Soon to fade, to give way to the rising bright. RP 2009
A Midsummer’s Night
I awoke during a midsummer’s night
I sat up in bed, and wondered
“What have I gotten myself into?”
My eyes focused and the darkness became clear.
I noticed that my daughter of two years, who sleeps in her bed snugged next to ours,
Was fast asleep halfway in-between beds
Her feet where in her bed, and her top half was upon ours
It was as if her journey to climb into our bed was stopped short, and
Comfort set in, and the journey was declared over.
I smiled to myself and gently moved her back into her bed where she slept in peace.
As sleep began to set back in I repositioned myself and my slumbering eyes
Gazed upon another figure in the dark.
She was asleep lying on her back. There was a smile upon her face.
Her head was resting on her hands, elbows out.
It seemed as if she was in heaven, in complete rest from the hectic life she lives.
She was not in heaven, but in perfect rest.
Satisfaction filled my heart.
Knowing that the two women I love most in life where resting in complete joy.
I then lay back down and fell asleep.
And then I knew exactly what I got myself into.
© Robert Penner 2001
COMPLACENT
Quiet darkness nearly silent, yet but a constant chirp gentle ripple.
A soft warm breeze faintly fades the fear upon my brow.
I try to scream.
Only the loudness of my plea echoes within my mind.
I cannot move, I can barely twitch a finger tied so strongly behind.
Yet here I am so complacent
My darling still adjacent.
I plea some more for her awaken
Nothing, nothing, nothing but the soft motion handle oar.
I try to see, I try to move, can I somehow, somehow turn back the hands of time?
Not this night.
Not this time.
Splash!
Splash! What just happened as I sway from side to side? I feel the wet upon my face.
Yet here I am so complacent
My darling is no more.
I plea some more for the angels to rescue.
My sin so deep the devils heap.
Suddenly my fear at a pitch, I nearly pass.
Only to see the empty eyes, empty past.
Splash!
Splash! Noise is muffled. I choke. I cannot breathe.
I sink down, down.
As darkness looms and conscious fades;
Here I lay so complacent
My darling lay still adjacent.
©Robert Penner 2015
GRACE CAME DOWN
The stars looked out into the vast of space
Fixing gaze upon a quiet place
Quiet water lapping to shore
Gentle breeze blowing ore
Green with life the dew’s gentle journey
Drink it up the ground thirsts plenty
A seedling sprouts up through the mud
Life has begun again
This quiet place no more
Death, pain, and sorrow know
Sin, sin, arrogance grow
I am the creator! man exclaims
I am what I am my kingdom reigns.
This cannot be one star said to the others
I shall proceed
I will succeed
Fixing gaze on that quiet place
Leading the way for all to grace
There it is the perfect spot
A desert land
Bethlehem
I shall show the way
For the Lord has asked
Come and see! Come and see Shepherd men
Come and see your salvation.
ONE RULE
The smell of dirt on my tongue
Blades of grass tickle by belly
So much the world overlooks
I can see, I can feel more down under
Why should they live?
Who am I that I should be stuck here?
That silly rule, that golden rule
I must do something to get Him back
I must do something to get even!
A simple question, simple truth
Not a lie, just deceit.
Am I not smarter, more cunning than all the others?
This should work
It’s got to work!
Fool proof. Smile with a laugh.
Oh, hello there I almost didn’t see you
You must not sneak up on me like that.
Life in a fruit, taste so sweat
Good for food, good for eating
Variety is so abundant here
Who could want anything more?
Who could need anything more?
Life is perfect, perfectly wonderful!
Only one rule
Not so hard, not hard at all to understand.
Life and death can you believe it, is in our hand?
I would never do anything to hurt You!
I would never even give it a thought!
The chill, the cold, the embarrassment
Quick! Hide!
May it never be revealed?
May it never be told?
I cannot bare the thought of losing You
I cannot bare the pain of seeing You in tears
Toil, toil, toil
It’s too hot under all this!
My hands feel the sting
The agony, the agony, the agony
Should have never listened to him
Should have believed, obeyed the rule
Living was so much better then
Living was beautiful then.
What Happened to Christmas?
Chill is in the air
Lights all aglow
Music is a cheer, but
Something is missing here
Rudolph is in the air
Frosty is on again
Saint Nick is near, but
Something is missing here
Merry X-Mas is on some windows
Happy Holidays is what is said
Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are in, but
Something is missing here
Family's are gathering
A log on the fire
Presents under a tree, but
Something is missing for me
Children so happy
Pocket books empty
I'm so glad this is over
Until next year, something definitely was missing here
What happened to Christmas?
The Angels singing
Marry and Joseph kneeling
Baby Jesus in a manger
Something happened to Christmas
Shepherds in the field
Wise men seeking
Mankind's redemption
The Lord God reaching
What did happen to Christmas? RP 2005
Camping in Bishop
Beautiful is what I can say
The cool breeze blows gently
Weaving its course about the flickering leaves
You can hardly tell the hot sun wreaks havoc on the earth below
The roar of the moving waters drowns out the speed of life
Droplets fly through the air only to disappear in the foam of white
The mighty pine dug his roots deep, drinking its water strength
A symbol of power he shouts aloud:
"This is my life!" while stretching his branches towards the heavens
Truly said, for life is all about, surrounded with more life, by more life
Living, breathing earth, I welcome you
Living, breathing earth, I am part of you.
Sitting in silence, how strange it feels
Yet noise is all I hear
My thoughts are strenuously exercised from stress of yesterday and future come
How can my restless mind tune it all out?
How can my attention be turned to peace?
A black bird small and nimble hops from rock to rock amidst the roaring creek
I ask myself
"How might I be like the carefree bird as it doesn't worry about a thing?"
"How might I be?"
"How might I be?"
A lonely white cloud drifts along a sea of blue sky
As he looks down on me from above does he sense by restless heart?
Does he see my aching mind?
Whatever he thinks it's no matter
He continues on his way
Drifting on a sea of endless blue
Strain my eyes feel
Sore and tired, must rest
Close off the world
Rest the clinched jaw that
Locks like iron and steel
The vice that squeezes my head
The gerd that fluxes
Where is the relief?
Inhale slowly
Feel the lungs expand with life
Try to ease the tension
Learn to relax
Learn to sit still
Learn to walk again.
The threat of rain looms large
Bowls of thunder
Flashes of electricity charge the mountain air
The clouds of moisture give shelter from the suns extreme heat
Cooling the day, what a treat
The winds blow harder
But the rain never comes
Joy to the Lord
God is good.
Oh starry host twinkle your shine through the clouds, come to me
I know your there, I can feel your energy pulsating throughout the cosmos
I long to see you and the other heavenly bodies circling your courses far
behind the misty shroud.
Wait a minute!
I think I see something peering through the open window...I see it!
It is you my shinning friend
Thank you, thank you
It is good to see you.
A symbol of strength
A symbol of power
Never a hint of fear in you
Over time you grow to new heights
Stronger, more powerful than before
Time moves about you
Life lives over you and around you
But you change ever slowly
Only the rhythm of the earth can move your foundation
Strength
Power
Trust
Always dependable
Magnificent rock.
Fear consumes me
But what am I afraid of
Fear controls me
How can I not be afraid?
Sickness of the mind
Illness of the soul
Frail and fragile body
Someone come and rescue me
Save me from myself
Beg for mercy cruel world
Must reach for something outside myself
Must rely on a higher power
Must let the Holy One revive my dying heart
Hear me oh Lord of host
Lover of my soul
Hear you come again
Flashing lights
Clap your thunder
Shout your menacing roar
Flood your rain
Blow your wind
Threaten us
But do it quickly
And be on your way
Rain is steady
I enjoy the pitter patter
Tip Tap drone that puts my mind at ease
The earth is watered
The plants drink
The stream grows stronger
The people are forced to cope
Forced to rest
Forced to contemplate
Worship
I hiked in Your precious garden
I weaved my way through Your thick green growth of trees, shrubs, bushes, and seedlings.
I stepped over small cactus plants and around pretty desert flowers
I climbed upon Your rocks large and small
I paused to take in the magnificent, majestic mountains surrounding me
Trapping me in their gaze
The sun, Your sun, warms me
Makes me sweat
A woodpecker comes to join me off in the distance
Its red head shines like none other if but only for a moment we are sharing together the same glimpse of time
I drink it all in
All Your beauty
Tiny sparks float gently towards the heavens dark sky
Only to fade its bright light into nothing
Flames dance to their own mystical beat
Heat warms us as the burning wood glows and shifts patterns
The stars peak at us from high through the open clouds that once before brought us rain
Laughter and physiological banter fills the nighttime hours
Oh to forget the stress of life
But only for a moment © RP 2010
PANIC
Adrenaline
Adrenaline
Tightness
Tightness
Pressure
Panic
Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath
Relax
Relax
Take it all in
Soak it all in
Breathe it all in
Take a breath
Take a breath
Notice before your eyes
Blueness of, brightened sky
Take notice
Take notice
Feel the wind upon your face
Soak it in
Feel life pass you by
Watch the path of the butterfly
See its wings flutter
Take notice
Green grass, flowers in bloom
The trees, their leaves blowing back and forth
Feel your heart beat
Feel it
Feel it
Beat, Beat, Beat
Watch the strangers passing by
Holding hands, enjoying each other
Breathe in another
Breathe in another
Fill your lungs stretch full
Exhale
Slowly
Soak it in
Take a breath
Take a breath RP 2009
Avraham's Song
When beauty fades
Innocence gone
Choices made
What went wrong?
Life in splender
Web is woven
Great pretender
Devil's chosen
Ugly heart, black as stone
Deathly eaten, no atone
Time to change, pay your debt
Too late now, much regret
Beauty fades
Innocent gone
Choices made
What went wrong? RP 2009
Danger in a Smile
Eyes of a tear
Sweet smell of the orient
Danger lies within her smile
Hair as soft as night
Glisten under the moonlight
Fragrance of desire and a
Voice that calms the storm
The world stands still, and all is safe
Danger is within her
A twist of fate, or a walk in death
Destruction becomes her
Lust so strong, curves temptation
Eyes of a tear
Danger in a smile
Endless Nights
Concrete fallen, twisted mettle
Bones crushed, screams of pain
Flesh bloated, agony of heart
Spirits lifted, released at last
What a question man must ask
How can it be such anguish wrought?
Endless thirst, hunger, darkness
Despair, abyss of nothing
Hope floats gently away
No one can reach or grab a hold of
Where is God?
Where are you love everlasting?
Cry out, Cry out, Cry out
Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!
Show Thy Mercy
Endless Night. RP 2010
IF
If there was a time
Time to get it right
If there was peace
Peace of mind, a place to think
If there is something, something to believe in…Please let me know.
If there was light
Light to shine out the darkness
If there where rest
Rest of perfect sleep
If there is faith
Faith in something greater…Please let me know.
If there was pain
Pain of a broken heart
If there were healing
Healing in His wings
If there is love. Love so true…Please let me know
If there was wind
Wind blowing afresh
If there where blue
Blue skies so clear
If there is…Please let me know
Believe me…I know.
Quagmire
Through the quagmire of life
Ash and soiled garments exist
From the burning tinder
Smoke seeps into the open sky
Through the quagmire
Inside eternal darkness
Lies blackened souls
A glimpse of light is far from the open mind
No peace is found there
Through the quagmire
The piled rubble, broken bones
Is not a cause for free thinkers
Poured blood, spirits freed
Is not the price for fee thought either
Within the quagmire we
Search for eternal life
Swimming in the pool of immoral waters
Absolute truth is in ones own matter
Total hatred, blind denial
Attempt to burry the diamond in the dark
For we are our own prisoners in this
World of quagmire.
Secret Faith
Rain keeps falling in the depth
Of the heart
Like a dungeon dark and damp
Drips of water fall, seeping.
Moisture rots, decay sets in
Disease spreads like sin.
Strains of fibers beat blue
And turn to light upon death
Setting free frozen faith.
Secrets kept silent.
The Throne
Built so strong all alone
Big and mighty
Jewels adorned, fit for a king
Such a tempting thing.
Just my size!
Climbed atop and shone in glory
Filled my heart with sinful story
I am King!
Who better to sit up here than me?
After all it is MY throne.
As time marched on and glory faded
I did not realize how and jaded.
An awful thing.
Throne so large I became frightened
I might fall off and die!
It was then I realized.
This throne was too big for me
It was never meant to be.
Only one is worthy to sit on the throne of my heart.
I bowed my head in shame
Forgive me Lord I cried
Your rightful throne.
The Food Poem
Single Treasure
Simple Pleasure
Ode to Thee
Tis what you see
Or is it
You are what you eat?
Cookies, cakes, and ice cream waits
For a set of teeth to make it’s move
Swishing, swirling, and down the slide
Into the belly the food must hide.
Hot dogs, burgers with
Other mergers
More than that
It turns to fat.
Hundreds of pounds
In your epidermis
You have become a
Walking thermos
Don’t think of diet
For once you try it
Less than a week
You’ll be saying
“When do we eat?’