New Year :  New You

This Year,
[ All of the clichés ] :

Handplow, groundear
Nosegrind, mindgear,
Eyesprize, backwall,
Firefeet, shoulderwheel .

Keep thy gaze
On the golden square, not
Upon the devil’s ware .

Fist of Prayer

1. Thumb for those closest
   To the heart’s drum ;
2. Pointer for anointing
   Direction voicers ;
3. Bird for the secular tall—
   Often absurd ;
4. Ring for the downtrodden,
   Sickened, or weak ;
5. Pink for the self
   And to always stay meek .

God’s Plan for Saving Woman . . . and Man

LoveGraceBloodWordFaithRepentance
ConfessionBaptismHopeWorkEndurance .

Church Children

Necessity in church of not peeping—
People are sleeping .

Little boy prays,
“Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy,
Don’t fret,
I’m having a real good time as of yet .”

Harold be thy name.

Life in a Jar

The jar lid barely fits
Due to the brimming contents,
The threads full of grit .
Golf balls, pebbles, sand,
And coffee grounds
Fill the space of life
The glass surrounds
Interstices packed
With objects small,
Tidbits about
The foremost golf balls .
There’s room to sort by import
Otherwise, you’ll come up short,
And, no matter how full
Your life may be,
There’s always room
For friends and coffee .

Pious People

The life strata in
Churches ;  no matter
The demographic data .

Common :
Otherly love, gift to above,
Lordly vow, strength when down,
Hope for next, joy of text .

Bible Quiz

Brought to you by the letter “ Q . ”

Do not be partial to partial ;
Sum is better than some .

Not an Angel

In resurrection, death brings
Not a new host soldier with wings .
Paul writes of mystery :
It is not sleep that comes when we die
But change in the twinkling of an eye ;
A trumpet, then immortality .
Angels :  not divine or human ;
Jesus | lower | tasted death for everyone .

Stay Hitched

The wedding knot coupling couples
Often binds not, becoming a slip knot,
The rigging loose for the marriage launch,
Half–Sailing into choppy waves and squall .
Seek thee a counselor, not a canceler,
And give the sacred vow a chance .

Valued Sacrifice

Great spirits in the drought :
Everything dying,
Comanche dancing for days .

She–Who–Is–Alone with buckskin doll,
| Features painted with berries,
With leggings beaded
And a belt of polished bone,
The head feathers brilliant blue |
A warrior doll : cherished possession :
The only remnant of ancestor shadows
Cast by the drought .

The shaman returns speaking of selfishness
And valued sacrifice as recompense
The ashes scattered to the four winds .

In the night sounded by the red–winged bird,
The girl sacrifices her beloved doll :

Morning bluebells
Sprang where ashes fell—
Rains came as well .

[ Of course ;  superstition is unfounded . ]