BILL'S BLOG:POETRY

HELP US MAKE OUR DAY GO THROUGH

4/26/2018

HELP US MAKE OUR DAY GO THROUGH

"An open hand, an easy shoe
And a hope to make the day go through"
                                          --Author Unknown

                                                  When dark perils thick surround us
                                          At the dawning of the day
                                          Give us words to greatly cheer us
                                          As our trust in thee holds sway
                                          Turn our gray, gray skies to blue
                                          Help us make our day go through

  Give us Lord, thy calm assurance
                                          Lead us gently by thy hand
                                          Quit us with thy spirit's armour
                                          Let his promptings be our command
                                          When risks are high and friends are few
                                          Help us make our day go through

Let thy hand, O Lord, be open
                                          Give our foot an easy shoe
                                          Give us hope that produces courage
                                          To do the things we ought to do
Wake us to thy loving kindness
And help us make our day go through

  (Written on August 31, 1978)

A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

12/7/2017

A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW

No matter how far we have travelled
No matter how far we have roamed
There's a light in the window that beckons
Calling and guiding us home

Sometimes during life's journey
When misfortunes have laid us quite low
'Tis only a light in the window
That illumines our path with its glow

We may wander astray if we wish to
Down trails of pathos and sin
But there'll still be a light in the window
Lighting our path as a friend

Oh, there's a light in the window that's shining
It's shining for you and for me
Placed there by the Lord of all lanterns
For all, who would, to see

(First posted on January 1, 2012)

PLAY BALL!

5/6/2017

   PLAY BALL!

                                            From out of the closets once again
                                            Come a bat, a ball, a glove
                                            As youngsters from both far and wide
                                            Warm up for the game I love

                                            Practice is about to begin
                                            For those who like to score
                                            And if you judge by anxiousness
                                            A great season is in store

                                            They're cracking bats and chewing gum
                                            My sons of the sultry swat
                                            They're eager boys who've left their toys
                                            To show us what they've got

                                            It'll be a strikeout here, a homerun there
                                            Lots of cheers and heartaches too
                                            But they will've grown into little men
                                            Before the season's through

                                            For baseball's quite a game, you see
                                            It's life before your eyes
                                            It teaches those who raise their gloves
                                            To reach gamely for the prize

                                            Around the bases they will run
                                            Footloose and fancy free
                                            And I have yet but one regret
                                            It's them instead of me

(First posted in April 2012)

THE GREAT AMULET

12/30/2016

  THE GREAT AMULET

  “To love is the great Amulet
that makes this world a garden.”
-Robert Louis Stevenson

                                                        Thy love O Lord
                                                        What great and gracious
                                                        Charm this be
                                                        That wards off all
                                                        The evil one may send
                                                        And purchases for us
                                                        Thy calm serenity.

                                                        Hang gently round our necks
                                                        O charm of fragrance sweet
                                                        Make of this evil world
                                                        A refuge and retreat
                                                        And cause the winds
                                                        Of pain and sorrow
                                                        Waft rose petals
                                                        At our feet.

THE SOURCE

11/26/2016

      GOD IS THE SOURCE

                                                          God is the source...
                                                          Of every breath we breathe
                                                          Of every good thought
                                                          Of every kind deed
                                                          Of every lesson taught

                                                          God is the Source...
                                                          Of every word sublime
                                                          Of every victory won
                                                          Of every moment in time
                                                          Of every rising sun

                                                          God is the Source...
                                                          Of every sunset etched in gold
                                                          Of every seed of faith well sown
                                                          Of every hymn that stirs the soul
                                                          Of every crop of love full grown

IT REALLY MATTERS

10/2/2016

SPRING SLIDES DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDES

5/1/2015

    SPRING SLIDES DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDES

  The snow is melting
   Green grass is showing
Slowly spring slides
down the mountain sides
and takes us from
our winter's ride
Slide, spring, slide
Don't stop now
Come on into view
As humming birds take wing
Let the mockingbirds sing
Let there be joy in the budding
and rejoicing in the blossoms
of spring's flowers everywhere
And at eventide
Let the full moon shimmer
O let the full moon
shimmer, all the while

(Written on April 30, 2015,
my wife's, Donna's, birthday)

ME WITHOUT GOD

5/1/2015

    ME WITHOUT GOD

   Without God I cannot see
Without God I cannot hear
Without God I cannot talk
Without God I cannot walk
Without God I cannot taste
Without God I cannot feel
Without God I cannot think
Without God I cannot be
Me
Without God

                       (Written on March 15, 2015)

BE MY LAMP, LORD

5/1/2015

                                  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and
                                   a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

                                                 Be my lamp, Lord
                                                 Be my light
                                                 Go before me
                                                 Both day and night

                                                 With calm assurance, Lord
                                                 Lead me along
                                                 Let thy peace
                                                 Become my song

                                                 Be my light, Lord
                                                 Be my guide
                                                 Let me walk
                                                 By thy side

                                                 Guide my feet, Lord
                                                 Mark my way
                                                 Guide my feet
                                                 Both night and day

WHO SHALL CARRY THE CROSS TODAY

4/5/2015

Who shall carry the cross today
Who shall carry the cross for Jesus
Who shall carry his cross
Will it be you, will it be me
Who shall carry his cross to calvary
Who shall carry Christ's cross this day
Will it be me, will it be you
O, carry the cross for Jesus today
Carry Christ's cross today

(Written April 5, 2015 Easter Morning)