Sonnet

 I will drink blood; Thy wine or, failing, choke

on such diminished sludge as yet delights

and puppeteers this brittle frame to flights

macabre - the wit of ego's vicious joke. 

I will eat bread; burnt black o'er ordure-smoke,

yet from Thy hand. Else, gluttony incites

I gnaw my flesh to quell dark appetites, 

my kith to tease the thirst my tastes awoke. 

Curst lies this sciolist of love divine

who crafts excuses to palaver grace

and vaunts the depths of his own acumen. 

What worlds might be with love that mirrored Thine?

Or deeds o'er words which serv'd t'unveil Thy face?

Let wisdom turn upon Thy mere Amen!

~

AMDG

Leave None Untouched

 YHWH, our God, our defender and champion,

the nations are raging, encircling around.

See! How your enemies boast in their anger? 

They trumpet the vapors with which they are crowned 

Crueller than iron, consuming like death, 

Father, rescue our souls from their ravenous clutch! 

Walk through their midst in the dark of Your fury; 

No recreant spare, nor leave heathen untouched!

Jesus, Your bride is beset on all sides! How 

the nations despise her for good You have wrought! 

See! How they bow to themselves alone! Idols 

of death unto death else can render them naught. 

Happy we bear the reproach and false witness; 

our witness of grace will, by faith, produce much.

Plead we "forgive them," as we have been pardoned 

As seed drops our blood; leave no sinner untouched!

Spirit, the walls of Your borderless city 

Are wholly surrounded by nations in ruin.

See! How the blind man demands of us glasses,

and hear how the deaf man cries out for a tune! 

Starving, they steal what we offer them freely;

Our Healer, we, too, were as broken as such.

Blow through our midst in Your sweet condescension, 

And stretch out our hand, leaving no soul untouched!

~

AMDG

All Glory

All glory, King Jesus, to You! You alone 

by merit have earned the celestial throne.

The nations parade by that merciful seat,

as spoils of Your vict'ry are cast at Your feet.

No splendor of nature below will be found

To polish the gleam of Your testament crown.

Nor artifice fashioned by man may exceed

the majesty of Your unparalleled deed.

What wonder a cross would be balm to our pain;

what marvel that blood should eliminate stain! 

Such wisdom is deeper than angels may reach; 

Such honor a mystery no magus can teach! 

No glory we bear, but as You have assigned, 

nor reason, except You have purposed our mind 

as talents for which You will reckon account 

when, lovely, Your foot splits the Olivet Mount.

All glory is Yours, and I tremble to see

what grandeur illuminates eternity!

How awful to witness Your unclouded face; 

more terrible, yet, to give measure Your grace!

All excellence, Jesus, our hearts swell to sing 

is rightfully Yours as Redeemer and King.

The scarlet, the golden, the radiant white

raise hands to obedience, my soul to delight!

AMDG

Yours Is The Word

We, YHWH, hear Your chariot thund'ring by

and tremble at the sparks her eye-wheels throw

which rend the shrouding veil of roiling sky, 

reveal the arc by which You come and go. 

Yours is the word that sends the wind and rain

on beast and man alike, on sand and stone. 

Your breath goes forth, returning not in vain, 

but 'pon the fearful heart is heard and known. 

O! YHWH, 'neath Your tread the very earth

portends her doom; her failing pillars groan

and quake, ere worlds meet for eternal worth

be rattled loose from 'midst her splint'ring bones. 

Yours is the word that brings high places down. 

Ravines are, as by labor-moanings, raised. 

The cedars splinter, casting down their crowns, 

And temples turn't to gravel pave Your ways. 

We, YHWH, feel Your all-consuming flame

which spares not elements themselves, reveals

to altar-sons Your hidden, Holy name, 

and blinds the fool, Your glory to conceal. 

Yours is the word that sets the world ablaze

to try the work and worth of mortal hands.

It sears the hardened heart; the heart which prays 

is, daily, kindled bright by joy's demand.

Yet, YHWH, now Your whistle, whisper, breath

passes not by, nor lingers, nay, but dwells - 

The living Word of faith has set His hearth

between the souls of men! Immanuel!

Yours is the word that names Your chosen flock

and leads to quiet leas where want may cease.

Attune our ears as, through our midst, You walk, 

and bond our heart and tongue in hallowed peace. 

~

1 Kings 19:9-12

Ravus

2.26.25

AMDG