Mr. Robin— the gentleman in my yard— shirt of rust, tux of grey— standing still— thoughtful, grave— bowing politely before the feast.
Mr. Robin
poetry
Choosing Death
You were just a boy when you came to us— a gentle soul— an artist— with a big smile. We gave you food and water and let you feast your eyes on blue skies, stone mountains, flowered meadows. We led you to the gates of life, unlocked them, pushed them back on creaking hinges, just … Continue reading Choosing Death
Blindfold Me
When I pray, blindfold me— shut the windows, cover my ears, and numb me— because awareness of burdens still unchanged unnerves me— I don’t have the heart to pray if prayer means nothing. But You are invisible. And, more often than not, Your works are invisible too. So black out my perceptions that I may … Continue reading Blindfold Me
True Love
We come to Him in terms of eloquence. Pledged in poetry to build cathedrals out of words for housing adoration. And if we can, we should— words have their place in love. Jesus loved in words— but sealed that love with silence, nails, and blood. We can transliterate ourselves, rising on the wings of words, … Continue reading True Love
My Poet
Most people come in prose— masterpieces that the world could not do without. But when You wrote me, you wrote poetry— imaginative, concise, and rhyming You. And when I look around, I see glory where others see cliche— bits of poetry sprouting in the grass, jumping trees with squirrels, resting moon-like in the clouds. I … Continue reading My Poet
No Map Needed
I spread the map before the King— the best route circled on the page— a line that joined points A and B. But He said, “Put the map away.” Aghast, I wondered—didn’t He know? Travel by heart is dangerous art for hearts will often tell you lies. “Yes, my child, and so will eyes.” Then … Continue reading No Map Needed
Drawing Hearts
I like drawing hearts— crude but satisfying reflections of the bubbling swirl of warmth and determined goodwill inside us when we love. But if I could draw hearts forever, sketching galaxy to galaxy across the universe, I could not capture, even in part, the breadth of Jesus’ love. ❤️ .
What Would Have Been
The clench of pain, the darkness pressing; the future robbed, all longing wasted; the music quenched, the pleasure hollow; the loves in vain, the friendships fading; all losses sealed, the grief unbroken; all hope unknown, all roads unsteady; a failing breath, and death forever— if Jesus had not risen. .
Song of Easter
All the hopes of wise men and of shepherds, all the dreams of captives in the night, all the longing of the generations— nailed upon a cross and crucified. All the years of watching and of praying, all the light of prophecies foretold, all the groaning of the earth, awaiting— wasted, poured out on the … Continue reading Song of Easter
The Day before the Resurrection
Do you feel the shock of sorrow? The Foundation taken, the walls collapsing ‘round you. How deep does the shame go, burrowing far beneath the ground? I built in a bad place. The Rock you thought you found was sand, and now you know. But which of You is true? We often feel forsaken— waiting … Continue reading The Day before the Resurrection
