Parables of Earth – Part VIII

Hard work is needed for a crop to thrive,
and this labour does not instantly yield
results. It would be wrong, though, to arrive
at the conclusion: “toiling in this field
has no value.” Ask The Farmer who’s gone
through this process year after year. He’ll say
to you, “wait a week, then look once more on
this piece of earth. It won’t stay like today,
and in a few months you’ll see golden grain
where now you can only see the soil.
Wait for the results of the sun and rain
then enjoy the results of your toil.”
Although sometimes it may seem oh so slow
Those seeds that fall on fertile land will grow!

Thermopylae (Hades’ Gate)

At Hades’ Gate they stood in wait
They knew the Persian host was great
A million strong was Xerxes’ throng
The Spartan men all knew their fate

“One hundred plus to each of us”
Were odds that they did not discuss
Their force was small but they stood tall
At Hades’ Gate they made no fuss

With sword and shield they held the field
For seven days they did not yield
With spear and bow they slew their foe
Perhaps their fate was not so sealed!

But out of dread one lone Greek fled
Into the Persian camp and said
“Spare me today, I know a way”
And to a different path he led

Without a sound the foe went ’round
And thus the Spartan army found
The Persian horde, like water poured
It covered ev’ry inch of ground

There is no doubt it was a rout
The Greeks though fought with wild shout
Until, tis said, they all were dead
Scarlet the ground from blood spilled out

Thermopylae, the poets say
Was more than tragic loss that day
The bards all sing, their voices ring
Of heroes headed Hades’ way

Winter Evening

sky dims in the west
as the sun lays down to rest
– white hare forages

Winter Morning

I have recently revived my site haikugesundheit.wordpress.com where i focus on silly or humourous haiku. Over on this site, however, i thought I’d once again try my hand at a haiku more traditional in nature.

dawn’s easterly glow
silhouettes bare tree branches
– the wind tells stories

Parables of Earth – Part VII

The Farmer won’t let things get it of hand
in any part of his business. Between
harvest and seeding, while snow hides the land,
it may seem that He’s nowhere to be seen,

but that is not the case. The Earth may sleep
beneath its wool blanket, but in His shop,
out of sight, the Farmer has tasks to keep
Him busy through the winter. He won’t stop

doing chores like mending harnesses or
resharpening ploughshares until the Spring’s
warm dawn pulls back the covers, and once more
He’ll work His land as He joyfully sings!

Even before the warmer months arrive
Hard work is needed for a crop to thrive

Parables of Earth – Part VI

“The grass withers and the flowers fail, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

The crops that grow will struggle to survive
in those years when the sky seems hard as brass.
When rain is scarce, how can anything thrive?
All fades…withers…like the flowers and grass

But if you watch the Farmer, you will see
that he toils all day long, bringing pail
after pail of water from the stream. He
won’t willingly allow his crops to fail

Around his land, the earth is cracked and dry;
The Farmer’s fields, though, are fertile and green.
It’s when rain clouds don’t appear in the sky
that the Farmer’s work is most clearly seen

Though our lives often don’t go as we’d planned,
the Farmer won’t let things get out of hand.

The painter’s praise

“Sing songs of praise!” The pastor said,
“extolling God above
for is there any better way
besides of course to stop and pray
to show to Him our love?”

And as he looked out at the crowd
they all rose up to sing
except one man, still sitting down
looked up and stated, with a frown,
“I have no song to bring”

Upset by this, the pastor asked,
“Why don’t you wish to praise?”
“I do not have a singing voice
so I don’t sing. That is my choice
yet glories still I raise!”

I paint, you see, and canvas is
where I see God most clear
with ev’ry brush stroke that I place
I breath His name and feel His grace
and know that He is near

At this the pastor paused and said,
“I see that you are right,
that praise in song is just one way
to tell God of our love each day
and walk within His light”

So maybe singing is your gift
Perhaps though it is not
My friend if praising is your aim,
we don’t all have to praise the same
Just praise with what you’ve got!

Lily

A rather poor attempt at painting a lily… but probably my first attempt to use water colours since, oh, elementary school.

Parables of Earth – Part V

If rocks or thorns are left upon the ground
by those who have been hired to tend to
his field, the Farmer won’t keep them around
very long. Instead, He will look for new
farmhands who will care for the land. The crop
is, after all, the purpose of His field.
He will seek for workers who will not stop
striving to find ways to increase the yield
produced by the land. Labourers like these
are worth every penny that they are paid,
but woe to those who do not seek to please
the Farmer. They have cause to be afraid!

Without care taken to help the plants thrive
The crops that grow will struggle to survive.

~~

Just a note about the image:  I decided to try my hand at drawing a thistle.  I’ve never been much of an artist, but had the desire to try anyways.  Watercolor pencils on paper.  I utilized the “watercolor” aspect of the pencils in the top of the thistle only.

Philipians 2:6-11

In the church that I attend, or pastor taught us that many scholars believe that Philipians 2:6-11 was actually an early church hymn. I wanted to try my hand at turning the text into a poem/song. I haven’t set this to music yet, but here are the lyrics:

You were in very essence God
and could have worn a crown
but that’s not why you came to earth
and so you set that glory down

Becoming nothing for our sake
the flesh of man you wore
you chose to fill a servant’s role
though you were worthy of much more

Chorus:
In heights above and depths below
and here upon the earth
let each knee bend down at the name
and ev’ry tongue and voice proclaim
let praises and Hosannas flow
extolling Jesus’ worth

To please your Father was your aim
with each and ev’ry breath
you humbly sought to do his will
obeying even in your death

Willingly you faced the cross
and willingly you died
so God exalted you on high
to where you sit on His right side

Chorus:
In heights above and depths below
and here upon the earth
let each knee bend down at the name
and ev’ry tongue and voice proclaim
let praises and Hosannas flow
extolling Jesus’ worth