Little duck waddling down to the water
Fat and happy little duck
You come to the water's edge smiling
Just as you are about to start kicking
A big green alligator with horns on his nose
And big black eyebrows plunges out of the water
It is yelling about nothing and coming for you
What a fright! you scream and run away
You never go that way again
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Humans, some good, and some evil
Many are a mix between the two
All life and harming and a great struggle
Between the high and the low
Between cruelty and kindness
Between science and faith
Between heaven and hell
Between God and nonexistence
Between the original and the oppressor
Between the choices for good and those for bad
Between the struggle to survive and the struggle to give
Between not having enough and giving what you have
Between that which we take in and that which we suffer
Between struggle and satisfaction
Between having a full belly versus seeing the truth
Between the physical and the nonliving
Between the abuser and the abused
Between the baby and that which harms
Between the predator and the prey
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

I was hoeing the earth when the sun rose
It hadn't risen in years
I looked over the horizon without hope
When the sun just started coming up the hill
Like light in a tomb where hope had died
Where the people were just going through the motions
I hope you succeed in your dream
And overcome that which is overcoming you
I hope you take on that which is unconquerable
And I hope you give it a run for its money
I hope you never have to retreat
Just steady going on and on
Hacking your way through the undergrowth
Until you get to the future
I believe in you
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"January"
The meadow expanse in winter
When light is pale and the grass is frozen
When the trees brush dryly against the sky
Like the fingers of the aged and weathered
The struggling earth under the lemon-wan sun
When the hedges are the only green thing
People struggling to stay warm in this time
They wear coats and boots and hurry about
Animals wander around seeking food
But often finding none without help
Inside it's warm
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Jungle"
The hot muggy air
When the gnats are biting
And the leaves of the banana trees are wide
Falling over the white house walls
Where a lazy fan is twirling on a screened porch
There are chickens running in and out of the undergrowth
And the canopy of the trees lets in sunlight softly
Faraway the rush of falling water
Over some rocks and into pools of coolness
Where the fish play in swirls of light
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Sea"
The fruit trees hung heayy with spiky sweet fruit
And the warm smoky waves lapping at the grey beach
Where sailboats are pressed into the land
And there is a path leading through the pink sea roses
There are clean white curtains blowing in the salty wind
And picnic tables covered in cantaloupe and pineapple
I take your hand and we walk down the beach
Into the water where you put your arms around me
And grab my hair and kiss me
A wave knocks us into the sea
We fall underwater and when we come up
We are laughing together
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"The Winter Palace"
The winter palace is surrounded by forests of conifers
Trees spreading out forever in a vast expanse of grave cold
Cold which tests the threads of survival
Cold which anyone would dearly love to come in from
You push the vaulted doors open and enter
There are watchmen against the stone walls
Long red carpets leading you into the feast room
And tapestries hung on every wall
Some portray servants catching wild boar
Or ladies courting knights on horseback
Tables heavy-laden with food
Macaroni and cheese pie, roast beef, mushrooms
Egg custard, watermelon, green beans and dinner rolls
Hot cups of  spiced juice and hot coffee
Women in burgundy silk dresses and royal blue satin
Women with stars hung in their dark hair
Children peeking out from under the tables
Eating drumsticks with sauce on their faces
And pets snuggled up by the fireplace
Where it roars in a magnificent glow
Beautiful couples are dancing to ballroom music
And older women are handing people presents
Wrapped up in gold crepe foil and red velvet
With puppies and baby mice in some
And elegant jewelry and hair combs in others
And purses of money and little trinkets
Down the hall there is a library with books
That take you all over the world from east to west
The pictures in these books tell stories words cannot
And you look in them and get swept away
Servants in the kitchen chopping vegetables
And baking roast beef in heavy gravy
And pouring it over rice pilaf
And children hurrying it out onto the tables
The night above is cold and bright
And the wind sweeps ice crystals all around
They are piling on and on around the door
But happiness comes in times of plenty
When there is a harvest of all good things
Things struggled for and scrounged and saved
And there are places just like this
All over the world
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

I run into you and throw my arms under your armpits
And wrap my face in your long and pretty hair
Like the crashing of a wave when it is happy
Or the slicing of a watermelon in the summer sun
Like the way I feel when you smile at me
And the little ones are both sleeping
Theodore and Ptolemy, This is my heart
Two halves of the most beautiful puzzle
I love you in this life and in the next
I love you like tomorrow
Like substance when its discovered
Or fuel when it is freezing outside
Like rhyme when serendipity allows it
Or freedom to write any song
Like happiness after a long time of sorrow
Or answers when one was afraid
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

You were sleeping like the licked orange kitten
In the drawer of sewing notions by the window
When I found you there was lace on your forehead
The whole world lay out before you
I thought, What little harm to let you go
And run into the future
All your life ahead of you, all of anything for you
I hope you escape your captors free and fast
I'll knit you a little satchel I can carry you around in
You can help me as I go about my daily chores
Daily life means everything to me now
I'm so glad to have you with me
I love you like air and water and light
With Theodore sleeping beside me
He smiles too and the rain falls outside
We may have found happiness
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Thy Will Be Done"
All little hope, when I was tired
And fell down at your feet
All little flowers lying there
At the base of your comforting tree
All little faith when day is done
To crash upon your shores
Tired and frightened I may find rest
And grateful for this grace
I've tried to serve the Lord the best
The best that I can and could
I've done my best and I am tired
I am tired deep inside my heart
Now wondering whether I can further go
I no longer really care
Your heavenly Kingdom I have brought down
I feel I have brought my share
He was stripped and cast lots for
And hung to a sapling tree
They beat him and threw things at him
And Now They are doing that to me
I no more care what life or death can give me
I no more care what I am dealt
The jury passes sentences on what
I could not live without
That take, and so I tried to give
A thing as yet ungiven
I tried and rest in peace
Oh Lord, Thy Will Be Done
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Peace"
That which lies alone and suffering
Is that which feels the most alone
The ones that get kicked around and beaten up
And the ones that get blamed for everything
The children with dirty faces and hands
The ones left holding the bag
How many times I have comforted you
And left you undestroyed
I never will forsake this hope
It's underneath the stair
Like a velvet envelope of promises
All undercut and bruised
I'll take you out and take you up
And see you find something good
I believe in mercy and forgiveness
And that which looks not for help
All hope is crushed the day of death
All memory forgotten
There is no turning back from it
And no one there to comfort
If you could find some help in it
Then you could save the world
It's the choices, the choices we make
That determines beauty from tragedy
Those children which feel casten out
Are those that need to be held
And that which is most forsaken
Is that which most needs a hug
When sorrow is on the faces of all
I'm sorry I was born
All sorrow hangs heavy on my heart
And weariness upon my shoulders
May Peace come in and find you there
May you find peace
May there be an end to the senseless suffering
And the abuse of all people
May there be Peace at last
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"You Became A Child"
You Became A Child One Day
Your Fist Contains a Jeweled Charm
Muddy fist clutching at the little bracelet
That you confidently hold
You pass it into a grownup's hand
And turn and walk away
This Jewel has brought many a grateful joy
Like bells on Christmas Day
You reach up and ask for solitude
And a warm fried meat dinner
I give it to you with a smile
May you have peace here
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Pandora"
Every night at midnight comes a little knock
A little rasping at the door
It's Pandora knocking on her box
The box she's had for years before
When I knock this box will open
He thinks without a fear
And when it opens he comes inside
And warms his hands and ears
Just shelter is a little hope
Enough to carry you
Your hope is waiting in the straw
A love forever true
And when you come home tired and worn
Your little box is waiting
May it be a comfort to you in dark
And may its doors swing open
Though dark and cold beat all about
Oh may you have a home
May Pandora have something all her own
And may it never go
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Angels"
Angels are Gaurdians
They are sent to protect us from harm
And when we suffer, they hold us
They have wings and they wear robes
Virtuous and Loyal they do the right thing
And they are continually serving God
They worship the preciousness of life
And keep us all from harm
God send them to protect us
And sometimes he sends them on missions
Sometimes he sends them to help people
And sometimes one's gaurdian angels are one's companions
Sometimes one's guardian angels just start talking to a person
And they go through life talking with them telepathically
Angels bring light and enlightenment and protection
They give gifts or blessing in the form of virtues or abilities
They are well-meaning and will only attack if
Someone is violating God or the Purposes of God
They are being of the light and they fight demons
Aliens are some of the demons they are fighting
They fight Satan whether he is coming from the earth or the sky
And the aliens are at constant and furious war with them
The aliens call on the powers of hell and the angels call on heaven
They are opposite visitors from another dimension
They have told me that hell is of the fourth dimension
While heaven is of the fifth
My Gaurdian Angel is Ptolemy but there are others
Gabriel lives in the Christmas tree
Uriel lives in the bedroom
Michael lives in the hallway
Azriel lives in the kitchen table
Raphael lives in the living room
Those are my guardian angels right now
They are real angels and they really talk
I feed them grilled cheeses and hamburgers
They are usually starving when I feed them
They don't eat most of the time
Angels talk with their snowy white wings
The positions of their wings tells you what they are thinking
If they use one wing to itch another they are learning something
If they pin their wings tightly to their chest they are suffering
If their wings are hanging down they are doing something noble or kind
If they cover themselves with their wings they are afraid or vulnerable
If their wings are small they are happy
And if their wings are bigger they are sad
If their wings are out they're in a position of war or opposition
And if their wings are wounded they are dying
Angels are beautiful and virtuous
When one is out in public on can see them
The wings of one's fellow people are rising from their backs
Squint and say a prayer next time you look at someone
And you will start to see their wings
You have to imagine them just a little bit at first
"Look to see" and you will see them
Look at something with a hope of seeing truth
And you will learn the truth
Angels are real and they are with everyone
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

"Healing"
Anyone can be a healer of others
A healer cleans up messes and puts up for later
And soothes with loving touches and holds others
In ways that make them well and loved in their hearts
Loving touch that makes that person heal and find peace
When It feels that they need a hug or they seem lonely
Cleaning up after the person when they make messes
And cooking them meals that are good and fulfilling
Meals that make people want to party because they are happy
Like shrimp creole or chili or toffee or vegetable dip
Cleaning and cooking is a way to heal your family
Also holding and comforting others in one's arms
And saying nice things that make people feel better
And finding things that make people happy and heals them
Things that make them feel better about their accomplishments
And things that soothe the mind of its problems
Anyone can be a healer of others
In Jesus' Name,
 Amen