Friday, December 24, 2010

THEOTOKOS (Luke 1:46-55)


SINCE PARENTHOOD BEGAN

MOTHER AND CHILD ARE INSEPARABLE

SINE QUA NON



MARY WAS GIVEN THE TITLE THEOTOKOS

WHICH MEANS GOD BEARER

HER MAGNIFICAT PREDICTS

THAT ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED

WE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

WOULD DO WELL TO PAY HEED

THE CHILD THAT MARY BORE IN HER WOMB

HAD TWO NATURES

HUMAN AND DIVINE

A FACT IF WE BELIEVE IN THE INCARNATION



MANY WOULD RELEGATE MARY TO OBSCURITY

EXCEPT FOR THE SINGING OF AVE MARIA

FEW KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORDS

OR ITS RELEVANCE



BUT AS GOD AT THE BEGINNING SAID BEGIN

CREATION CAME INTO BEING

MARY SAID FIAT

AND GOD-MAN BECAME FLESH IN MARY’S WOMB



SHE IS THE MODEL FOR ALL OF US

TRUSTING IN GOD

AND HIS WORD

EVEN WHEN THE FUTURE LOOKS DARK

HOLD ONTO HIS WORD



WE LIKE MARY

ARE IN GREAT TRAVAIL

FOR GOD WILL BE BORN INTO THE WORLD

THROUGH US



GOD WAITS OUR FIAT



FRANK A VOLLMER

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

PIGTAIL (Luke 2:4)



WITH ONE EAR

AND THE OTHER ONE DOWN

A TAIL THAT CURLED

LIKE A PIG

HE WASN’T A PROMISING ARTICLE



NE MATTER WHAT THE DONKEY MERCHANT SAID

HE KEPT IT TO BUILD UP SALES ON THE OTHER MULES

AT WHICH HE WAS MOST ADEPT



SO WHEN THE CARPENTER CAME

NEEDING A RIDE

HE COULDN’T AFFORD THE BEST



NOR THE MEDIOCRE



BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL WAS PIGTAIL



NOW HE WASN’T A BAD MAN

BUT A BUSINESSMAN

A SALE WAS A SALE

RATHER A RENT WAS A RENT



HE ONLY NEEDED IT

TO GO TO BETHLEHEM FOR CENSUS



HIS WIFE WAS PREGNANT

THE ROMANS DIDN’T CARE

IF SHE MISCARRIED

ONE LEST JEW TO MAKE TROUBLE



WHEN THE TRIP WAS OVER

THE MULE MERCHANT

NOTICED A CHANGE IN PIGTAIL



PHYSICALLY HE WAS THE SAME

BUT HE CARRIED HIMSELF

WITH AN AIR OF WORTH

AND CONFIDENCE

THAT CHILDREN RESPONDED TO



HE BECAME THE VILLAGE TOY

MAKING MANY A CHILD

FEEL LIKE A KING

RIDING HIM



STRUTTING PROUDLY

BAYING LOUDLY



BUT HIS FAVORITE

WAS THE CARPENTER’S SON

WHO GAVE HIM THE NAME PIGTAIL

HE WORE IT WITH DIGNITY

AND LOVE



FRANK A VOLLMER


Saturday, December 11, 2010

CHILDREN (Matthew 18:6) (Mark 9:42)


HERE

WHEN SOMETHING IS BAD FOR CHILDREN

WE SHIELD THEM

LEST THEIR YOUNG MINDS BE HURT



BUT IF A HUNGRY CHILD

IS SHOWN ON TV

WE LET IT RUN



SHOULD WE NOT CARE FOR THAT CHILD TOO



WHEN I WAS A CHILD

WE WERE SENT TO BED WITHOUT SUPPER

FOR ANY FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE



WHAT FORM OF DISOBEDIENCE

DID THIS HUNGRY CHILD DO



TO BE BORN POOR

TO BECOME POOR

TO BE RACIALLY DIFFERENT

TO SING PRAISES

TO A FOREIGN GOD

TO BE UNECONOMICALLY FRUITFUL

TO BE PAWNS IN A POWER GAME



WHATEVER THE REASON

WHAT CHILD

SHOULD BE DENIED

A WARM BED

A FULL BELLY

A LIFETIME OF PROMISE

AND OPPORTUNITY



IT IS WELL TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN



BUT ALL ARE OUR CHILDREN

WE WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT




AS CHRIST SAID





IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THEM

TO BE THROWN INTO THE SEA

WITH A MILLSTONE

TIED AROUND THEIR NECK

THAN TO CAUSE ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES

TO STUMBLE





FRANK A VOLLMER



Monday, December 6, 2010

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE (2 Samuel 11:1)


IN SPRING

WHEN KINGS GO OFF TO WAR



SO MANY THINGS IN LIFE

ARE CYCLIC



TIDE

SEASONS

PLANTING

HARVESTS



THE BIG ONE

FROM BIRTH TO DEATH

WHICH WE ALL MUST SHARE

AND GIVES MEANING TO ADVENT



THE YEARLY CYCLE

OF THE LIFE OF THE CORN KING

THE WHEAT KING

THE FISH KING

THE LIFE KING



THE CIRCUMFERENCE

OF THE WHEEL OF LIFE

IS VARIABLE



SOME

SO SMALL

AS TO BE A SPECK

OTHERS

HUGE

OLD

AND CREAKING

GRIND UNGRACEFULLY

TO A HALT



WE ARE GUILTY

OF WAITING MESSIAH

AS IF HE WERE A MAGICIAN

WHO WILL HEAL ALL OUR WOUNDS



NO EFFORT

ON OUR PART

BUT A WAVE OF A HAND



WHICH LEAVES US IN DARKNESS

LOOKING FOR LIGHT

BUT THE LIGHT IS IN US

WE WON’T LET IT SHINE



WE’D RATHER SIT IN DARKNESS

ASKING HIM TO COME

WHEN HE’S ALREADY HERE



FRANK A VOLLMER

Sunday, December 5, 2010

SNOW (Matthew 27:46)

THE SMELL OF JEW WAS IN THE AIR



AND FLAKES LIKE SNOW CAME FALLING DOWN



CRISP PIECES OF FLESH



LIKE SNOW FELL DOWN



THE SLAVES KEPT FILLING THE OVENS



WITH AN UNENDING SUPPLY OF BODIES



NO EMOTION ALLOWED



IF THE NEXT ONE WAS KNOWN



PARENT



CHILD



FRIEND



SPOUSE



LIKE A LIFELESS MACHINE



THEY HAD TO KEEP ON WORKING







DEATH WAS A HARRASED GATHERER

AS SHOWER HEADS DID THEIR WORK







THE CHILDREN ASKED THEIR PARENT WHY



THE PARENT STRUGGLED TO REPLY



BUT FOUND NO WORDS ADEQUATE



TO EXPLAIN



WHY THE CHILD WOULD NEVER FIND SOMEONE



AND PLAN A FUTURE







BUT WITH CHRIST



IN WHOM THEY DO NOT BELIEVE



CRY OUT



WHY







FRANK A VOLLMER

Friday, October 29, 2010

FATHER’S BUSINESS (Luke 2:49)


DID YOU NOT KNOW

I WAS ABOUT MY FATHER’S

BUSINESS

THIS FROM A TWELVE YEAR OLD BOY

EXPLAINING WHY HE WANDERED OFF

A COMMON PROBLEM

AN UNCOMMON EXCUSE

THAT HAS PUZZLED SCHOLARS

SINCE IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN

IT PUZZLED HIS MOTHER

WHO KEPT THE MEMORY OF THIS

IN HER HEART

ALONG WITH THE WORDS

OF ANNA

AND SIMEON

BUSY WITH MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

A SENSE OF URGENCY

AT AN EARLY AGE

BUT HE WAS TWELVE

HE HAD PARENTS

HE HAD TO LIVE AS A MAN

THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS

OF ORDINARY EXISTENCE

HE HAD TO LEARN

TO LAUGH

AND CRY

TO OBEY

COMMAND

LEARN A TRADE

LEARN HIS FAITH

LIVE HIS FAITH

BE BUSY

AS A SON

MAKING HIS PARENTS PROUD

AND WE

ARE WE MAKING OUR PARENTS PROUD

AND OUR FATHER



FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, October 18, 2010

BODY-BLOOD (1 Corinthians 10:16)




1 Corinthians 10:16



Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?









IS NOT THE CUP WE SHARE

A MAKING OF US ONE



IS NOT THE BREAD WE SHARE

A MAKING OF US ONE



ONE WITH CHRIST

AS FOOD BECOMES

ONE WITH OUR BODIES



HOW CAN THERE BE DISSENSION

IN THE BODY OF CHRIST



BUT THERE ARE THINGS

WE MUST DO

IN THAT BODY

WHICH WE DO NOT WANT TO DO



THERE ARE THOSE

WE MUST LOVE

IN THAT BODY

WHICH WE ARE UNWILLING TO DO





CAN WE SAY

I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF CHRIST

IN ME



OR RATHER

I ONLY WANT A PERCENTAGE OF ME

IN CHRIST



I WANT HIM AS A SPECIAL ASSISTANT

BUT NO MORE



I DON’T WANT THE NIGGLING THOUGHT

DO BETTER

FOR WHICH HE IS FAMOUS



I ONLY WANT HIM

WHEN I’VE FOULED MY NEST SO HORRIBLY

I NEED OUTSIDE HELP



IT’S THEN I KNOW

WHAT IT MEANS

TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT



AS THE HARVEST OF THE WHEAT

AND THE WINE ARE CYCLICAL

SO CHRIST COMES CONTINUALLY

SAYING

THIS IS MY BODY

THIS IS MY BLOOD

TAKE AND EAT

AND BE ONE



FRANK A VOLLMER

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A MAN SHOULD BE WILLING

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” –Greek proverb

 

 A MAN SHOULD BE WILLING
TO PLANT A TREE
UNDER WHO’S SHADE
HE WILL NOT SIT
A TRIBUTE
TO THE FUTURE
A SIGN OF HOPE
FROM THE PAST
A TREE
WHERE OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN
CAN CARVE THEIR LOVED ONE’S NAME
WE ARE TOLD
TO PLANT WHERE WE WILL NOT REAP
 TO REAP
WHERE WE HAVE NOT SOWN
TO BE THE DOER
NOT NECESSARILY
THE ACHIEVER
TO PLANT A TREE
WHERE OTHER’S CHILDREN
CAN HANG A SWING
AND PRACTICE GOING HIGHER
FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, October 4, 2010

WANDERING THOUGHTS


ONE OF THE LASTING IMPRESSIONS I HAVE

OF THE HOLOCAUST

IS A SHORT FILM

OF A YOUNG BOY

SITTING ON A TABLE

SHAKING

SHIVERING

HE WAS BEING SUBJECTED

TO REPEATED BLOWS

ON THE HEAD

TO STUDY THEIR EFFECTS

HE WAS A JEW

A NON-PERSON

USELESS AS A STONE

THROWN IN A LAKE

RINDS OF MELON

THROWN IN THE GARBAGE

TOOLS TO BE USED

TILL THEY BREAK

THEN DISCARDED

IT WOULD BE NICE TO THINK

THAT IT HAPPENED

IN ANOTHER PLACE

IN ANOTHER TIME

BUT IT’S HAPPENING NOW

AND HAS HAPPENED NOW

WHILE DIVES DINES

LAZARUS DIES

LIKE A PIECE OF PAPER

A TOY OF THE WIND

PLAYED WITH

THEN FORGOTTEN



WHEN WILL YOU COME

LORD JESUS

WHEN WILL YOU COME

TO RESCUE US FROM OURSELVES



TO GIVE DIGNITY TO DIRT

WATER TO DRY LAND

VISION TO THE BLIND

DREAMS TO THE DUNG HEAP

AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF OTHERS

AND A HELPING HAND





FRANK A VOLLMER





Wednesday, September 22, 2010

LISTEN BUT DO NOT HEAR


You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better were no one hungry, and you could give it to no one. You clothe the naked person. Would that all were clothed and this necessity did not exist. (Tractate 1 John 8,8) Augustine of Hippo



WHEN PAUL CAME TO JERUSALEM

FOR WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN

AS THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM

OR

THE APOSTOLIC COUNCIL



PAUL CAME TO PRESENT HIS CREDENTIALS

THE RIGHT TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES

WITHOUT INFLICTING JEWISH CUSTOMS ON THEM



PAUL PREACHED WELL

PAUL COULD PREACH THE SPOTS OFF A DALMATIAN



WHEN ALL THE INTELLECTUAL DUST HAD SETTLED

THE APOSTLES HAD ONLY ONE MANDATE TO GIVE HIM

REMEMBER THE POOR



REMEMBER THE POOR

RINGS LIKE A REFRAIN

DOWN THE CENTURIES



MOSTLY IGNORED

MOSTLY FEEDING THE HUNGRY

WITHOUT ASKING WHY



CHRIST KNOWING

THAT WE ARE OFTEN

UNAWARE OF THE WORLD AROUND US

SAID

YOU HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU



IT’S A REBUKE TO THE BLIND

AND THE DEAF AMONG US



IT’S A REBUKE TOO ALL OF US

WHO FEAST AT DIVES TABLE

AND NOT SEE LAZARUS



WHO WALK BY THE WOUNDED MAN

ON THE ROAD TO JERICHO

AFRAID TO BE CONTAMINATED



CHRIST WHISPERS

FEW HEAR

WHATSOEVER YOU DO….



FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, September 16, 2010

FOXES HAVE HOLES



THE BIRDS HAVE NESTS

THE FOXES HAVE DENS

BUT THE SON OF MAN

HAS NO PLACE

TO LAY HIS HEAD



STOP LAUGHING LORD

YOU’VE GIVEN ME

SOME MANY PLACES TO LAY MY HEAD

I’VE FORGOTTEN HOW MANY



EACH TIME SAYING

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE LAST TIME I’M MOVING

I’M LEAVING THIS PLACE IN A BOX



NEVER SAY NEVER TO GOD

NEVER SAY NEVER

TO THE HAND THAT LEADS YOU

NEVER SAY NEVER

YOU’LL NEVER WIN



BUT LET US PRAY

FOR THOSE

WHO UNWILLINGLY

FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPLE



FOR SOLDIERS

SPENDING THE NIGHT

ON THE BATTLEFIELD



FOR THE HOMELESS VETERAN

WHOSE SEEN TOO MUCH OF LIFE

IN TOO SHORT A TIME



FOR THE SLUM DWELLER

BESIDE RICH ESTATES



FOR THE WORKER

WHOSE WAGES

ARE DEBASED

SO THAT HE WORKS

FOR SUBSISTENCE







FOR THE LOWLY PRIEST OR MINISTER

STRUGGLING WITH THE IMAGE

OF A CHURCH THAT FAVORS THE RICH

OVER THE NEEDY

THAT FAVORS

PROTECTION OF THE INSTITUTION

OVER THE NEEDS OF THE FAITHFUL



FOR THE CHILD

WHOSE BREAKFAST IS AIR

LUNCH IS SOMEONE’S THROWAWAY FOOD



FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN CARS

WHILE FINANCIAL MANIPULATORS

RIDE IN CADILLACS



FOR ALL OF THESE

LET US PRAY



FOR THOSE WE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN

LET US PRAY



FOR MY NEW NEST AND DEN

THANK YOU



FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, September 9, 2010

CUP AND PLATE


WHEN WE BECAME SICK

WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN

MY MOTHER

BEING A PART TIME WITCH

HAD A TREASURE TROVE

OF FOLK MEDICINE TO CURE US

SUCH AS

THE JUICE OF ONIONS AND SUGAR

CURED EVERYTHING

HONEY FOR ANY WOUND

MUSTARD PLASTER FOR COLDS

CASTOR OIL AND ROOT BEER MIX

FOR GENERAL MALAISE

BUT THE COUP GE GRACE

FOR ANY SICKNESS

WAS WHEN MUM BROUGHT YOU

TEA IN A YELLOW CUP

TOAST ON A BLUE PLATE







BEFORE WHICH

RASH DISAPPEARED

FEVER ABATED

IF IT FAILED

THE DOCTOR WAS SUMMONED

FUNERAL PLANS WERE MADE



AS AN ADULT

WHEN MY WORLD

GETS TWISTED

UPSIDE DOWN

I MISS THE CUP AND PLATE

THE HEALING IT BROUGHT





FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, September 6, 2010

HATE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER?


CHRIST WAS NOT A MODERN CARPENTER
SKILLED IN THE USE OF AUTOMATED TOOLS

BUT A JEWISH JACK OF ALL TRADES

WHO SPECIALIZED IN WOOD



CHRIST WAS NOT A CONTEMPORARY

ENGLISH SPEAKING WORKMAN

BUT A FIRST CENTURY SEMITE

WHO THOUGHT SEMITIC

WHO EXPRESS HIMSELF SEMITIC



SO WHEN MOST ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

OF LUKE 14:26

HAVE CHRIST SAY

UNLESS YOU HATE YOUR MOTHER

AND FATHER

YOU CANNOT FOLLOW ME

WHAT IMAGES OF STERNNESS FOLLOW



BUT A BETTER TRANSLATION

EXPRESSED IN JEWISH THOUGHT

IS THAT HATE EQUALS

LOVE LESS



GOD CREATED THE WORLD

ALL THAT’S IN IT

SAID

THAT’S GOOD



WHAT IMAGE OF GOD

PROMPTS US TO TRANSLATE THAT WORD

AS HATE



THE JEW PRAISES GOD FOR EXISTING

FOR FILLING ALL THE LONELY PLACES

IN HIS LIFE



HOW COULD HE HATE WHAT GOD HAS MADE

WHEN HE HIMSELF SAID

HONOR YOUR MOTHER

AND FATHER





IN A SIMILAR SITUATION

ABOUT FOODS

GOD SAYS

DO NOT CALL ANYTHING IMPURE

THAT GOD HAS MADE CLEAN



WE ARE ALL GOD’S CREATION

BORN CLEAN

WE STRIVE TO LEARN TO LOVE

FIRST OURSELVES

THEN THOSE CLOSEST TO US

OUR MOTHER AND FATHER

OUR SIBLINGS

THE REST OF THE FAMILY

THE PERSONS WE MEET

WHO HAVE CHRIST WITHIN



NOWHERE IS HATE PERMITTED

EVEN TO OUR MOST VIOLENT ENEMY

A HARD SAYING

BUT NO HARDER

THAN WHAT WE WERE WILLING TO BELIEVE



HATE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER





FRANK A VOLLMER

Saturday, August 28, 2010

MOSQUE


WHEN I WAS A YOUNG

CATHOLIC

SEMINARIAN

THE MISSIONARIES

IN THE SOUTH

WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE

CHURCH LAND

UNDER ALIASES

THE SOUTHERNERS

DIDN’T WANT

CATHOLIC CHURCHES



IN THE NORTH

IT WAS NO BETTER

I COULDN’T JOIN A BOY SCOUT TROOP

BECAUSE IT WAS IN A PROTESTANT CHURCH



IF THERE WAS ANY INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

IT WAS USUALLY DONE WITH SNARES



ONE WOULD HOPE

THAT AFTER WAR AFTER WAR

TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY

WE’D ACT OUT OF OUR BELIEFS

OR WAS THERE SACRIFICE FUTILE



THEY SAY

YOU CAN’T BUILD CHURCHES OVER THERE

THAT’S TRUE

BUT THIS IS AMERICA

RELIGION IS FREE

TO BE OBSERVED

OR IGNORED

BUT NOT PROHIBITED

HERE



IF WE SAY THIS IS A CHRISTIAN NATION

WHERE IS OUR CHRISTIAN ACTION



IF WE ACT LIKE OUR ENEMIES

WHY ARE WE ANY BETTER



AS A CHRISTIAN NATION

WE HAVE NO DARK AGES

BUT MANY DARK PAGES



OUR NATION

SHOULD BE SEEN

AS ACTING ON OUR BELIEFS

NOT AS A NATION

THAT EXUDES HATE

FOR THE STRANGER





FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, August 23, 2010

TOIL


From the Book of Common Prayer

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life

we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep,

and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each

other's toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.







I AM REMINDED OF A WOMAN

ON A RETREAT

WHO SAID

I’M GOING AWAY FOR A WHOLE YEAR

TO DISCOVER MYSELF



BESIDE HER

WAS A WOMEN

A MOTHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN

WHO WAS THANKFUL

FOR THE FREE TIME ALONE



I’M REMINDED

THAT OFTEN THE MARYS

NEED A MARTHA

TO SUSTAIN THEM



I WAS IN A RESTAURANT

ENJOYING MY SABBATH REST

WAITED ON BY A LATINO

PROBABLY UNDERPAID

MAYBE TWO JOBS

HER SPIRITUAL LIFE

WAS PROBABLY

JESUS

HELP ME MAKE IT THOUGH THE DAY



THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

FOR MOST OF US

IS NOT NEAT AND PRETTY

BUT CATCH

AS CATCH CAN

JESUS REMEMBER ME

WHEN I CANNOT REMEMBER YOU



HELP US LORD

TO REMEMBER

OUR TOIL

HAS WORTH

AND DIGNITY

WE ARE THE NECESSARY LEAVEN

WITHOUT WHICH NOTHING



WE ARE THE BASKET OF FOOD

LIFTED TO THE TOWER

WHERE THE MONK PRAYS

FOR US ALL





FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Golden Girl





GIRL OF MY GOLDEN YEARS

THANK YOU

THANK YOU FOR GENTLING ME

FOR STAYING BY ME WHEN I WAS LOST

WHEN SOMEONE CHANGED

THE CITY’S NAMES AND STREETS

AND NIGHTMARES WERE COMMON

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HUMOROUS THINGS YOU DO

WHICH MAKES LIFE WITH YOU QUITE AN ADVENTURE

AND YOUR NAIVETY AT TIMES

LIKE WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE REDOING THEIR HOUSE

HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING NEW IN YOUR BEDROOM LATELY

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AS I TRY TO FIND THE QUICKEST SHORTCUT FROM A TO B

AND USUALLY GETTING LOST

A SKILL YOU USED WELL IN PULLING ME OUT OF DARKNESS

THANK YOU GOLDEN GIRL

YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF PAUL’S DISCOURSE ON LOVE

FOR YOUR GENTLENESS I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL





FRANK A VOLLMER

Basket Tree




BY THEIR FRUIT YOU SHALL KNOW THEM

THEN WHAT DOES THIS TREE PORTEND

COVERED WITH BASKETS

PUT OUT TO DRY

WHAT ODD FRUIT

EACH ONE HAND MADE

EACH ONE DIFFERENT

EACH ONE WITH A TOUCH OF IMPERFECTION

YET EACH ONE BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY

FROM PRIMITIVE TO ARTIST'S WORK

LIKE PEOPLE

SO WHAT SHALL WE PUT IN THEM

BUT ALL OUR DREAMS

AND ALL OUR STRIVING TO BECOME

THE QUALITY THE ANGEL WHISPERED IN OUR EAR AT BIRTH

BE JOYOUS HAPPY LOVING TRUTHFUL AND KIND

EVEN AT BIRTH WE KNEW THAT GOD WISHED US WELL

WHERE SHALL WE FIND A BASKET

BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD GOD'S LOVE

WE NEED A BIGGER TREE







FRANK A VOLLMER