WEDDING BLESSING

May long and happy years to come

May hearts and love ne'er grow numb

And life be dulcet as peach or plum 

That all your works and efforts spun

May total more than all their sum

Freed from cares of Life's humdrum

To bask in bliss beneath the Sun.

HER FIRE

 

HER FIRE

Dear Mirasyn,

Know this my daughter dear, the fire fierce that burns your own

While wild to woe filled worlds and warrants worried wonder

May seem to such a searing stab or sorrowed stumbling stone

To me and Mom, your fire’s flame roars true with awe and thunder

Your fire’s light inside your heart is pure and blazes bold

It stands for truth and lights the way for others’ dark dispels

A gift to give to all who need who shiver in the cold

Inspiring all to shed their fears and share their timeless tales

You give a blessing on the crowds of all who gather round

Ensuring all may feel your warmth and know that they are loved

And fill the souls of all your friends and family you surround

Your fire’s hearth is known by all, it’s cherished and beloved

Do no let dim become this fire, be fierce and rise up strong

Be true to you and to this flame that all have sung its praise

For flames that burn from fuel of God cannot be quelled for long

If ever small this flame becomes it shall return to blaze!

You are our fire, fuel your flame, and let your light so shine,

Unhid and true for all these things are ever by design.

Love Dad and Mom

THE RACE

Strong and fierce a beating heart

Starting line at your shoes

Waiting for the gun to pop

Thoughts to win or lose

Pop! The gun goes off

Muscles now come alive

Break ahead of the pack

Fueled by runner's drive

Breath and sweat left behind

Battle to change the lead

Ne'er give up this race inside

Acts you live and bleed

Finish line is now in sight

Leave it now on the track

Heart and soul you give away

Rev up, pass the pack

Lengthened stride, you dig in deep

Finding that grit so true

Finish now strong with no regrets 

Winner? Clear - it's YOU!

WITHIN THIS STONE

WITHIN THIS STONE

Soliloquy of Simon Peter

Up to the lended tomb of our laid Lord 

From whom received of Ar'mathea's heir

To know for mine own soul of what I've heard

I go to peer within this Stone now bare.

Hail John, ye man divine and full of grace

Who raceth quick a furlong's distance mete

And paused, to wait for whom your zeal outpaced

That I might enter first the barren suite.

John:

Lo, Simon JUST as Mary said would be

The hefty stone Sanhedrin's pact once SEALED

Is cracked and rolled withOUT some means or key.

Are THESE Hosea's fettered words fulfilled?

Peter:

O, John Hosea's wond'ring words behave

As water trickling down through paths unknown

He skried destruction O, to Death and Grave

This queried truth I seek within this stone

---

I dare to doff and shed my sandals loose

For holy ground upon hewn stone I tread

Yet brings to mind when last He latched these shoes

Aft washed my feet, though "Nay" to him I pled.

And there I see upon its stone-carved bed

His raiments white as alabaster chalk

A spice soaked shroud for body, veil for head

Fold'd neatly now in THIS abandoned rock.

A burial cloth of woven linen fine

That held the body bruised and broken through

Of He, the King of Kings and Rabbi mine

Betrayed, then beat by Rome whom I beshrew!

But nay, this devil'sh heart that beats within

It turns and tears with pains of hatred's groan

Revealing plain my hypocritic sin

For just as they this heart unseen is Stone

Had I not cried three times to those who asked

And plain as stars in heaven's sky denied

My Lord; and with those words my fate was cast?

This Stone within, my emptiness's pride.

O Wretchedness your weight around my nape,

It suffocates within this chest my breath.

What peace affords and grants secure escape

To leave this vacant Stone, my tomb of death?

Lord Rabbi, hear my cries and know thy son,

Thy promised Holy Spirit send to burn

Away this rot and all decay undone.

Might I again unto thy Grace return?

Ye called me! "Thou art Peter, Cephas, rock."

Am I this man to take this mantle up;

And wend my brethren whither they should walk?

Thou trusteth still this Stone to stay thy cup?

Return O Master, blessed Adonai!

Return from whence they took you cruel. Draw near.

Within this Stone, return to John and I!---

---Alas---, thy words to us made fast I fear

You'd go unto Thy Father up on high.

For you who slept sojourns no longer here.

The Temple gone: its bricks but all torn down

Yet here within this sepulchre of Stone

My Lord took up His body, robes and crown

And crushed Death's head while rising to His Throne

Come John, our time within this Stone hath fled

No more for eye to doubt, nor ear to fear

The testimony true to this be spread

That He who slept sojourns no longer here.

Yea John ---

---He who slept sojourns no longer here

This was a soliloquy I wrote for an Easter ward activity called Psalms to Our Savior. I performed it with my son, Canon.

ETERNAL BEAUTY

ETERNAL BEAUTY

Boast beauty thine, to thee a fig upon a verdant limb

Red ripens rich, replete as Ra's gold rays grow stretched and dim

In Isis' gaze now guards your gift to keep pristine and prim

Thy lovely lips of splendor's touch lack not for depth or lush

They move so graceful like a wisp of Hathor's godly brush

And sing awake the birds to fly between the reeds and rush

Ne'er can compare the sparkled Nile, your eyes of emerald green

In all the world's wealth untold cannot be found nor seen

Earth's treasured jewels are only owned by you my darling queen.

FLITTERING

Flittering

To flit among the flowers and the trees 

Elusive, humming like a hive of bees.

Resplendent plumes of oscillating wings

E’er here then there around in all the things.

Sensational this sight, this bird so small

A hummingbird in flight is awed by all.

MY P.E.A.R.L.S.

 

My P.E.A.R.L.S.

Within my Book of Life, I lay each part,
The Pearls, great in price, that touched my heart.
A key the letters, P.E.A.R.L. guides my days,
To write my path through questions, truths, and ways.

P for the Pond'rings, prayers I plead to Him,
My wond'ring whys and wily whats of whim.
That plague this poor percepting pauper's pleas
And drives my soul, "find strength upon your knees."

E for the Expectations I set high,
My goals and dreams, the stars in my own sky.
Enlightening like elevated guides
That chart my course and carve me through the tides

A for the Answers, all that I have sought
From prayers I've asked, the echoes of each thought,
Replies, responding revelations gained,
Awake! My heart with answers I've attained.

R for the Record, moments gone that came
My joys and trials, written just the same.
Each penciled page a precious portrait penned,
Of stories etched, preserved and unamend.

L for the Lessons learned from living life,
The wisdom trials lend to beating strife.
Today, I learned, and for those yet to be,
I share these gifts for all my Legacy.

S for the Scriptures and the Spirit's flame,
We write the words in which our heart they came,
A burning pow'r within, we can't deny,
And gives us strength and joy in rich supply

Each entry writ, like precious pearls in hand,
Life crafted both, the planned and the unplanned.
This journal mine of pearled thoughts sublime,
Eternal troves to pass the test of time.

BEE-LIEVING

BEE-LIEVING

Behold the busy bee who yet believes

Amazed is she to see the bees, her peers

Renownedly she raises and reveres 

But cannot see the value she achieves

 

Amend your buzzy mind this day and seize!

Remember this that bees are more than bees

And from each bee the gene of queens unweaves

UNFOLDING

Unfolding

Amid the asters in the autumn dawn

Still slumb’ring on a sylphid maiden fawn

Her legs yet new begin to wake and bend

Lo, lured to life by mother’s loving tend

E’er grows in strength 'til they can leap & spring

Yoked nevermore to youth this yare yearling

This was an acrostic poem I wrote for a coworker as a Christmas gift. She was a newer employee that though new with her skills was becoming very competent. 

ALLEGORY OF A BROKEN ROBOT

 

ALLEGORY OF A BROKEN ROBOT

The broken BOT in pieced lay in dissembled disarray

Long years had BROUGHT the growing rust, its casing dull from all the dust

And soon forGOTten was its gleam, how once it was a proud machine.

Now all disTRAUGHT the pieces thrown, once piled high now it lay prone.

For This Just Was --- a Broken Robot

One day the SPOT on which it lay was bought and sold all in one day.

The owner CAUGHT sight of the heap, and said aloud, "These ones I'll keep."

In his arms BROUGHT each piece with care, amazed to find pieces so rare.

He hauled the BOT up to the space reserved for things that found his grace.

Though This Just Was --- a Broken Robot

Each day he FOUGHT with nuts and bolts, shocked once or twice with wild volts.

And sometimes HOT his temper grew, when nuttin' seemed to be gett'ng through

And though the THOUGHT had crossed his mind, to curse, give up, and trash his find

Like a piLOT stuck to his course, broke that bot like you'd break a horse.

Firm and Stern to --- a Broken Robot

In fine, He GOT the bot restored; but there beyond was so much more.

For he had TAUGHT and the bot had learned, strived to follow its heart that burned.

Fueled by the WATTS that flowed from above, always do good and walk by love.

Broken was NAUGHT the bot anymore, for the man had changed its very core.

Raised a man from --- a Broken Robot

MAKE THY BED

MAKE THY BED

A wise young sage to me once said

"Rise in the morn and make thy bed"

Great wisdom this was to my mind

That helps me pause and then rewind

To set in order, start of day

I set aright the bed I lay

And put to sleep the past I messed

To start anew on paths now blest

So tuck the corners make them tight

To stead the weight that's placed tonight

Then smooth the sheets of wrinkles made

To wipe the slate of struggles weighed

Now fluff the pillows plump as hens

That from the mind your worries cleanse

Pledge, make thy bed, set habit fast

Receive its strength and blessings vast.

VENUS

VENUS

O Venus, Venus Gaia's twin

Thy rocky surface, hot as sin

Lo brightly shines this jewel-crust crown

E'er draped in starlit ebony gown

Your sultry shine cause all to gaze

But closer look we see your haze

Your smuld'ring clouds of toxic breath

They lure all living to their death

So long ago thy surface shaped

Was once a lush blue oceanscape

Volcanic cones now dot your skin;

They bellow clouds to their chagrin

E'er raining wastes at rapid rates

Doth make us think of Earth's own fates

O Venus, Venus Gaia's same

E'er slowly turning round in shame

LET GO

 

LET GO

If would the World but willed to friend and foe

Of dove and olive branch this troth to show,

If would we only but this act be known

To set aside our sharpened spear or stone

And pledge our trust to He above alone

That He for us and for our foes atone

To bury that which bruise and breaketh bone

Or bend its ore to plows that prune and hoe

And with these tools make verdant gardens grow

Then we this people blind to what we owe

May once again seek out this truth to know

That He has mapped prophetic paths to go

Which lead through fields as white as fallen snow

So choose this day to let Him work and sow

Within your hearts to beat and ever flow

A peace once preached from thither long ago

When stood we all in wondrous glory's glow

Return with me, let lion and the doe

Together rest and cease their endless roe

Repent from this our constant heavy woe 

And rise to heights from darkest places low

Inherit now His celestial sealed chateau

Hate's heavy weights, let go, let go, let go

WALKABOUT

WALKABOUT

Come with me on Walkabout to dream in unity

Two by two we'll learn the land by Dreamtime ministry

High up amid the gum trees tall a Kookaburra sings, 

But not to laugh or play at all of merry gleeful things

He sings a song of woeful strains for he has lost his mate

He warbles to the air with pains to plea to Lady Fate

But no one can return his friend or fill this empty hole

Yet you and I can help him mend a harm'ny to his soul

Come with me on Walkabout to dream in unity

Two by two we'll learn the land by Dreamtime ministry

Way out far in the dusty bush we chance upon a trail

Three hungry dingo mobbed, ambushed a stalwart buru male

Three dingo dead now heaped upon the bruised and frightened roo

Shaken, beaten, and almost gone hopeless through and through

Come gently lay your hands to heal this hurting quaking beast

Give balm to calm and peace to still, green grass for him to feast.

Come with me on Walkabout to dream in unity

Two by two we'll learn the land by Dreamtime ministry

Beside the grassy billabong we spy a splendid sight

A gulung gray but somethings wrong what is this wombat's plight?

It wanders aimlessly to find his home, his safe burrow

But this old bloak appears is blind and knows not where to go

Let's call to him this wonky mole and let him hear our voice

We'll lead him back unto his hole to rest, remit, rejoice.

Come with me on Walkabout to dream in unity

Two by two we'll learn the land by Dreamtime ministry

For in the Dreamtime all are found and thus it makes us ponder

As we go on Walkabout we'll find all those that wander.

BIRTHDAY LIMERICKS

KNIGHT

A sword made of steel in the hand

To fight back the demons of man

Do all that you must, so your deeds never rust

Protecting our castles of sand.

To a friend who had just lost his brother to suicide

SPINNING

When everything 'round you is spinning

And no one here seems to be winning

Hold those who are close, who know you the most

They were with you e'er in the beginning

To a friend who has had a lot of changes in his life.

TOO COOL FOR CAT

A cat is a cat 'cause he can

He mustn't mingle in matters of man

So when he lazies about, just grooming his snout

He's preparing the pips of his plan

FLYING SAUCER

Look up in the starry sky black

A bright blip appears from a crack!

It's an alien ship? Or a drug-induced trip?

No, a frizbee too late it goes THWACK!

For a friend who plays ultimate.

MEMORY LOSS

If only my head allowed me

To remember a thing past day three

I'd never forget, those fears that I've let

Fly away like a bird that is free.

For my cousin who has had 8 brain surgeries due to hydrocephalus, and has forgot things after every surgery. I admire him for his strong outlook on life.

OLDER

There once was a boy who grew older

But ne'er wisdom gained like Ol' Gultar

He sung like an elf, had 80 games on his shelf.

And rolled natural ones with his smolder.

This limerick was for me. It represented many elements when I was younger of playing a role-playing game my older brother created called Elf.

LOOFAH

LOOFAH

In the shower in the buff

I have my own loofah fluff

Free of an unsightly sponge

Always ripe with gunk and grunge.

Need no store-bought one for foam,

I carry mine where'er I roam.

Only matched by manly studs

I have no problem making suds

Bars or bottles full of soap

It don't matter, I still cope

Lacking loofahs women get

Sudding up from where I sweat

Every fiber of my bein'

Helps me foam and gets me clean

Never having troubles when

Creating foamy bubbled-skin

From ancient old Cro-magnon Man

Descent from their great-grandson's clan

I received these loofah genes

Strands of keratin proteins

Sudding up my shampoo's squirt

With my furry Sasquatch shirt

Used when I need foam in showers

Beast Man's Castle-Gray-Skull-Powers.

For when loofahs you should reach

Think of this unshaved man-peach

Fuzzy covered toe to chest

In a carpet, Nature's Best

Saving bathing soapy waste

Without using poofy lace

Hair will make me lead this pack

Growing loofahs on my back.

TIME'S TEACHERS

TIME'S TEACHERS

Joy at times can fade like dusk of day,

And sorrow like a burning ball will dawn.

Giving light to all we hate and fear

Face these to rise return to laugh and cheer

As with time, joy's sun which once was gone

Returns, our darkest sorrows scare away!

We chase tomorrow, forget today,

Yet today, it's treasure is all we own.

A gift forgotten, alas forlorn

A pearled prize if lost to mourn

We own no tomorrows writ in stone

Today forgets us soon, e'er washed away

Moments are fleeting, blown like the breeze

But in each breath is life’s true lasting gift.

Pictures taken swirling in the soul

Each vision scrawled upon a neural scroll

For life’s gift is in each breath adrift

Though fleeting are the moments through the trees.

The past is gone, future sets to dream,

Yet dreams of future times will fade to gray.

For only now, in our time between

Is set the act of our important scene

Age shall dim our dreams which cannot stay

For past once stout shall sleep in slumbered scheme.

Sorrows though deep teach what joy forgets,

And joy reminds us what sorrows shall lose.

Give ear to these Teachers, hark and learn

Value their balance to them never spurn

For that which was lost, joy shall suffuse,

Sorrows shall flee when we turn from regrets.

(Poem by G. Grant Smith, Revised by Jayson P. Smith)

My brother Grant sent me this poem for my birthday. He said he had a concept for a chiasmus poem, but struggled to get his words out. Ultimately, he turned to A.I. for help. I loved the concept of these dual teachers in each stanza. Originally, each stanza had only 4 lines and had no rhyme. I am a sucker for rhyme. I added the middle lines of each of the stanzas, made some rearranging, and made it rhyme. It now has internal chiasmus in each stanza and structural chiasmus using each stanza. I also made it have a 9-10 rhythm between each line to give a nice cadence. Enjoy!

SUMMER VACATION #1

 

HARVEY

Hoards of hoary humeri hauled from holey grounds

Hardened heads of horses heaped in heavy mounds

An ancient race of majesty these equines once would roam

Dry fields, green vales and river beds of Idaho their home.

Among the heaps of fossiled bones a set complete was framed

To stand as symbol, replica, and Harvey was it named.

Harvey the horse of Hagerman silently saluted

Four decades of adults and kids, just bones, but aptly suited.

Go and see the bones inside, at Thousand Springs State Park

Greet old Harvey at the start o'this journey you embark.

SUNDAY POEMS ACROSTIC #4

 

SEE THE FRUITS

Simple, subtle seeds of potent packaged pow'r 

Energies awaken, burst, grow forth, then flow'r

Every fruiting tree shall bear their seeded code

Tenets true thus said, you'll know them by what's sowed

Have you seen their fruits, man? Study them, believe

Ever how they grow shall help your soul perceive

Fickle fruits confound and sour your inside.

Rip their rakish husks reveal the pith they hide

Understand this truth to know his servants sure

Inside every act you'll see their intent pure

Trees that bear God's fruits will always grow the same 

Sweetly fill your soul, give reverence to His name.

SUNDAY POEMS ACROSTIC #3

 

STUDENT IN THE PEWS

Silently amid the congregation, 

   savor every word, I must!

Tucked I am among sagacious giants, 

   gleaning from the wise and just

Underneath the shade of wisdom's shadow, 

   reaping lessons in repose

Downward falls the tender trickling teachings, 

   much in spite of my depose

Everyone around me like a river, 

   feeds my roots now deeply grown

No one asking for a pound or penny 

   for the precious seed they've sown

Thoughtfully they tend these chutes and buddings, 

   never knowing if I've bloomed

In this fertile living soil growing 

   fruits of wisdom I've consumed

Nurture now for time is short and fleeting, 

   one day I'll be moving on

Time ticks on that universal treasure, 

   only lost and can't be won

Here amid this holy congregation, 

   I will take their torch in hand

Ensign burning bright with faith-filled stories 

   guides me through new paths unplanned

Putting all my faith in God who giveth, 

   trusting much like those who taught

Each inspired pray-filled talk or lesson, 

   theirs will never be for naught

Woe to such who let the Word lay idle 

   on the shelf and gather dust

Student in the pews among the giants, 

   savor every word. You must!