Tuesday, April 26, 2011

FERNS

I LIKE FERNS
I LIKE THEIR OPENNESS
THEIR GRACEFUL LINES
HOW THEY SURVIVE
IN GOOD OR BAD CONDITIONS

NO CONVOLUTED FLOWER SHAPE
NO PISTILS
STAMENS

SIMPLE IN SHAPE
COMPLEX IN DESIGN

THEIR DESIGN SHAPE IS CALLED VASE
LIKE A BUNCH OF CUT FLOWERS
IN A CONTAINER

A FRIEND OF MINE
KNEW I LIKED FERNS
SO SHE DUG
AND PLANTED
A GARDEN OF THEM

STANDING OVER THEM WHEN SHE FINISHED
SWEATY
DIRT STREAKED
SHE SAID
I HOPE THEY LIVE

WHETHER THEY GO TO DUST
AS ALL MUST
THE KINDNESS OF HER ACT
IS LIKE A CANDLE IN A DARK PLACE

IT MAKES THE NIGHT LESS FRIGHTENING
ITS GLOW MAKES ONE FEEL WARM

IT MAKES A MEMORY
TO CHERISH
AND LOVE


FRANK A VOLLMER

WITH THANKS TO PAM
WHO DUG THE GARDEN

Thursday, April 21, 2011

DONKEY AND A CARROT

 I OFTEN THINK
THAT CHRISTIANITY
REDUCES ITSELF
TO THE PICTURE
OF A DONKEY
CHASING A CARROT ON A STICK

THAT HEAVEN IS A REWARD
FOR GOOD CONDUCT
THAT WE SOMEHOW MERITED IT

GOOD CONDUCT
IS FAITH IN ACTION
DONE
 BECAUSE
IT IS THE PROPER THING

EXPECTED
OF ONE
WHO LOVES GOD

NOT FOR REWARD
BUT OUT OF LOVE

LIKE THE ISRAELITES
WHO SERVED GOD
WITHOUT A HOPE OF RESURRECTION

WE GAIN NO MERIT FOR GOOD CONDUCT
IT IS THE FRUIT OF OUR FAITH

ABIDE WITH ME
I AM THE VINE
YOU ARE THE BRANCHES
ABIDE WITH ME
YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT


FRANK A VOLLMER

You are always on their lips

You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.
Jer. 12:2b

I IT WOULD BE NICE
IF FAULTFINDERS
LIKE MYSELF
WERE FAULTLESS
BUT I MISS THE MARK OFTEN
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS
THAT LOOM LARGER THAN MY FAILINGS
AMONG WHICH
ANY CHILD WHO IS STARVING
JOBS
AT DECENT WAGES
AND CONDITIONS
POLITICIANS WHO PRATE MORALITY
LIKE A PARROT
WITH AS MUCH SENSE
TAXES ON THE POOR
WHILE THE RICH PAY LITTLE
A MAN JUDGED BY RACE OR RELIGION
CHRIST DIED FOR ALL OF THESE
CAN WE NOT HONOR HIS DEATH
BY DEALING WITH THEM
JUSTLY

FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, April 4, 2011

MUD


IN HIS CONSTANT DARKNESS
HE GROPED HIS WAY TO THE POOL
AIDED BY THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
IT WAS NOT HIS NORMAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
HIS PARENTS
WOULD DELIVER HIM
TO THE TEMPLE CONFINES
WHERE HE BEGGED
FROM THE GUILTY GOING IN
THE JUSTIFIED COMING OUT
PEOPLE ANXIOUS TO PERFORM A MITZVAH

LIKE THIS PERSON
WHO HAD JUST SPOKE TO HIM
HAD SPOKEN AS IF TO AN EQUAL

THE THOUGHT WAS
THAT SALIVA
HAD HEALING PROPERTIES

SO JESUS SPAT ON THE GROUND
MADE MUD
COATED THE MAN’S EYES WITH IT
TELLING HIM
GO WASH IN THE POOL
OF SILOAM
WHICH MEANS SENT
AS JESUS WAS SENT
TO BRING LIGHT

HE PLUNGED INTO THE POOL
NOT GRACEFULLY
BUT A FULL BELLY FLOP

THEN STOOD UP
WATER STREAMING
THE MUD WASHED AWAY

SAW A FUNNY FACE
RIPPLES DISTORTING THE IMAGE
GRADUALLY THE WATER STILLED
A BEAUTIFUL IMAGE EMERGED


HE WEPT
AND PRAYED
NOW LORD
WHEN I LOOK AT THE HEAVENS
THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS
THE MOON AND THE STARS
THAT YOU HAVE MADE

WHAT ARE WE
LITTLE ANTS
THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF US
YET YOU HAVE MADE US
A LITTLE LOWER THAN GOD
CROWNED US WITH GLORY AND HONOR
AND GIVEN ME A BEAUTIFUL FACE

I SHALL SERVE THIS SON OF MAN
THIS HEALER
CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS HEALING
BUT MORE
HE SPOKE TO ME AS AN EQUAL


FRANK A VOLLMER


BASED ON A SERMON BY PASTOR MOODY