MONKEY TRAPS

MONKEY TRAPS

Sensuous luster of dew-sweet desire

Placed gingerly in a box with one goal.

A need? A want that's fueled by base ire?

It captures first sense, then heart, and then soul.

No lock or a key is used to entrap

Each monkey who comes so curiously

To win and take hold the fruit through the gap

With strength to rip it out furiously.

Their little monk-might then leaves them soon lax

To easily take them without surprise

And capture them quick with cords made of flax

And lead them away the rest of their lives.

Be wary my friends of these simian snares

Pay heed the shrewd tales of primates with pride

Disguised so subtle are the devil's wares

That'll cheat you of joy and trap you inside.

SPRING HAIKU OF A TESTIMONY MEETING

1 

Praying for a Soul 

Losing sleep each night, I weep:

"Lift her Heart, oh Lord!"

2

The Book of Mormon

Words to change our hearts and homes

And heal fractured faith

3

Through His Atonement

Those lost to me through Death's grip

Are loosed, found once more!

4

I can feel a love

In our community strong

Embraced by these truths

5

Deep impressions left

From words and deeds so small

We're profoundly touched

6

As His disciples

We feel His arms warm round us

Turn—Do thou also

7

Coincidences?

You deny God's hidden gifts?

Tender mercies laid.

8

Alabaster cloth

Pure upon the tokens lies

Veiling death and life

9

Blended family

Many children: yours and mine

One in Love and Christ

10

We wait to be sealed

In the Father's Temple pure

Bound eternally

11

We came as strangers

You welcomed us as your own

Sad, we leave, hearts filled.

12

Be not troubled, lambs

My tender flock in parched fields

Verdant vales await

13

I know Jesus lives!

Once an offered lamb for sin

Rose to heal the world

14

In a halcyon grove

Amid the umbrous maples

God and Son appeared

GOD'S ARMOR

GOD'S ARMOR

Lift up your hearts. This day rejoice!

Gird up your loins. Hear heaven's voice.

It speaks to us, to our hearts, our core,

"Protect thyself with God's armor."

The evils all around us whirl,

Whate'er the devil's demons hurl

God's armor whole, it will help withstand

Protected sure by God's own hand.

With confidence do all thou must

To stand against the lunge and thrust

Of evil's sword, stratagems and plot.

To gain your ground, and win what's fought.

This armor whole the Lord proposed

Of many parts it is composed

To guard your frame, and most vital parts:

Thy head and loins, thy feet and heart.

Your head, a vault of precious thought

That minions want to warp and wrought.

Strap on the helm of salvation sure

To keep your mind and precepts pure

Your loins, a sign we can partake

In God's own pow'r to create and make.

Ensure the loins, they are girt with truth

To bloom in age, preserved in youth.

Your feet when planted point your way.

Desiring demons prod and sway.

Resist you must with your feet now shod

With preparations, truths of God.

Your heart, the source of life's intents

The devil wants in twain to rent

The breastplate strong, forged of righteousness

Will stave his shearing strains that stress.

Against the vile you need a shield

To block their fiery darts' unyield.

So choose to bear the true shield of faith.

From their barrage you'll be unscathed.

When you are called to strike the foe

You'll need a blade to bring them low

Take up the sword of the Spirit's light

Poured down from God 'pon those that fight.

Let armor whole about you gird

And ever heed His holy word.

Committed angels to you are bound

When where He is you too are found.

HONKY TONKY MICROPHONE

 

HONKY TONKY MICROPHONE 

Upon a lonely concert stage, 

Such solely stood a microphone.

Its singing soul was hushed and still

Its voice now quiet, so dispone.

Yet once, this mic had buzzed and chimed.

Before, twas rich in pitch and tone.

It sang the songs and lullabies

In keys of bass and baritone.

Electric blues it belted well

And from its soul sang tunes well-known.

Transducers in its housing rang

A thund'rous sound of megaphone

A jailhouse rocking, hound dogs, too,

And fools rush in while wise men moan,

Blue Christmases and lonesome nights

On which was sung this microphone.

Yet, from its mouth it praised God too

Through singing hymns of peace renown.

And softly beckoned to we lambs

To join God's flock, kneel at His throne.

Its twangy hum was soft and sweet

To calm the hearts with overtone.

And asked so tender with its call:

Remember He who did atone.

For this old mic was just a means

Through which the Master's light was shone.

This metal vessel silent now

Perfection mastered on love's hone

Not all the crooners treated well

This mic and stand, such we bemoan.

But still this mic to each a chance,

Forgave each drop, and squeal condone.

Each singer through this mic had sung

And with each concert it had grown.

Despite the treatment it withstood

Through cracks and dents became its own.

And now the mic and stand stood still

Upon that stage, so aged, alone

A wire here and there were frayed

Its amplifier gave no tone.

Solemn the sight of which was seen

Of low was brought this microphone

To stand upon this stage so drear

And could not give a buzz or groan.

Could this old sav'ry can once more

To life give harmony through song?

Would ever with sweet melody

Should raise a crowd to sing along?

Fear not, oh child, for such is called

For here in life are we on loan,

A borrowed piece from heaven's halls

When due is called we're herald'd home.

And there amid the gilded shop

Of golden wires and rhinestone

To life renewed He'll work upon

This honky tonky microphone.

So shall it sing the songs once more

To croon and warble, hum and moan.

And never more shall this mic drop,

But ever charged with joys unknown.

 

LIBERTY -- OVER TEA

 LIBERTY — OVER TEA

Liberty! We call for LIBERTY!

Down with this tax upon our tea

No British tax in our colony

Where our voice and vote are absentee

That does not bear our own decree

With such is a tax we disagree

Rise up all ye Sons of Liberty!

Freedom now! We demand to be free!

Down with King George and the Monarchy

March in the night down to Boston’s quay

Faces disguised as Mohawk and Cree

Throw all their crates of tea in the sea

Rebellion is brewing this I foresee

Rise up and make our country be free!

My son had an assignment in school to present a diorama and synopsis of an event in the Revolutionary War. He chose the Boston Tea Party. I decided to take some of those events and write a quick poem

WHITE CHRISTMAS

 

Before my parents passed away, my brothers want to sing them a tribute Christmas song. Dad's mom's (Corabel) favorite croner was Bing Crosby, so it was no surprise we chose White Christmas. My youngest brother Levan was excited to write an arrangement for four men's voices that we would all double up on. I wanted to also put my mark on it. I added two more verses to the song. Here are those lyrics:

WHITE CHRISTMAS 

(EXTRA VERSES)

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

Just like the ones I used to know 

Where the treetops glisten, 

And children listen 

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

With every Christmas card I write. 

May your days be merry and bright, 

And may all your Christmases be white. 

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

Everyone 'round the Christmas tree

Where we sing the carols 

Of angel heralds 

And hymns sung with jubilee. 

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas. 

Don't tell me they're all out of sight! 

May our hopes be merry and bright, 

And may all our Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

For all the children far and near. 

So let Ever After 

Be filled with laughter

And joy of little ones so dear.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas 

With every loved one I hold tight. 

May their dreams be merry and bright, 

And may all their Christmases be white.

We never got to sing this for Mom and Dad before they were gone. Nevertheless, the feelings of togetherness and the desire to be united are still strong. My hope is that we cherish each moment together with those we hold dear. Just as the flash of a golden sunbeam can melt away the perfect crystalline form of a snowflake, or the heat of coming spring can take away the white blankets of snow, so too can life steal away what truly makes a white Christmas, those precious moments with perfectly imperfect people most important to us. May your moments be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white.

PRIDE

 

Straight and steady is the soul of she who walks in trust

Of that God with whom her heart, yea, knows is kind and just.

Infinite His goodness gives, and prospers all who turn

From their pride of falsehoods now, and towards His feet to learn.

But we see the heart is fickle, changing with the ease of gifts

Given from a God who's giving. From our lowly lives He lifts.

Gold and silver, every kind of gilded art and precious piece,

Fields and flocks and herds of plenty doth to us the Lord increase,

Sparing lives, delivering, and softening the savage heart

Of the men who would do war, and fight to tear our world apart.

All of this is done in love. But do we hastily repay this debt?

Nay! Instead's the time that hearts congeal and quick the Lord forget

Quashing 'neath their brazen feet like reeds beneath the blazen sun,

Ease of wealth doth wither souls to trample down the Holy One.

Thus we see except the Lord doth choose to chasteneth and chide

With afflictions, even death His people bloat swell more with pride

They'll remember not their God and turn away towards sinful ways

O, how foolish, vain, and quick, these harken to the devil's praise

Wisdom's paths are far removed they trust just in their own device.

Proudly boasting in their sins and slow to heed the Lord's advice.

"No one rules my life!" they cry unto their Lord who formed their soul

With distain and frenzied minds they thrash away from God's control.

False is this belief, dear child, and foul's the beast from which supplied 

Feeding endlessly this wretch upon our envies and our pride

More it wants and more it takes till in the darkness we are lost.

Fooled to think we've mastered life and destiny, but at what cost?

Pride's your master, O deceived, and steers your course to reef and waves

Tears asunder, sinks your ship, then drags you down to lonely graves.

O how great the nothingness, ye children from the dust you're made

By God's Word your dust was formed, and by His Word your course was laid.

Stray not from His mighty voice, for 'tis the same commandeth all.

Hills and mountains cannot stand, against His voice they break and fall.

Brought down low made smooth as sand, and with one word raised up again,

Yea, commanding heavens and the earth. Then can He do the same for man?

Can He raise you up to be a saint who's better than this dust?

Can He take away pride's curse and help you live a life of trust?

Blessed are they who heed God's voice, repenting of iniquity

Grace for grace are they restored, and saved from grips of pride, set free.

But we read, despite this truth, men's hearts are fickled still in doubt.

Come the great and final day, there's some who'll choose to be cast out.

Misery shall be their choice, a cursed and evil endless fate

But to they who worketh good, a blessed and everlasting state.

Thus it is in days of old, and thus will be as prophesied,

Blessed is she who walks in trust whose soul with God is freed from pride.

This poem is inspired by the 12th chapter of Helaman. Mormon places a conjecture following the ministry of Nephi, and preceeding the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite. It is a very powerful chapter. It reminded me of today, and the atmosphere I am seeing.