Monday, December 31, 2012

the purse



THE PURSE

THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS


WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH


SO A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE
THAT HELPS PEOPLE
FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

THE WORD CALENDS
ALSO MEANS
THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER


WHO WOULD COME BY
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
WITH HIS PURSE OPEN
TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM

DURING THIS WINTER
WITH ITS MANY DISASTERS
SOME FELT THAT GOD WAS COMING  

TO COLLECT HIS DEBT

THAT HE WOULD COME

WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

LIKE A MONEY LENDER

DEMANDING PAYMENT

BECAUSE WE WERE IMPOVERISHED
WE COULDN'T PAY


WE WOULD BE PUNISHED

FOR OUR SINS

NOT A NEW IDEA


OUR FOUNDER
MARTIN LUTHER
LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
UNDER THE IDEA
THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT
HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD



 AS A RESULT
AN ANGRY
MEAN SPIRITED GOD
WOULD PUNISH HIM

BUT

HAVEN BEEN FORGIVEN OUR DEBT
HAVEN BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT
WE FEEL UNWORTHY


WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK
WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S
PURSE


UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH
WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED
BY ITS WEIGHT
BY ITS OBLIGATIONS

BUT JESUS SAYS
MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD


HE SENT ME


HE SENT ME
TO SAVE IT


 ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME
BELIEVES IN THE FATHER
AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT


TOO GREAT FOR US


TOO GREAT FOR US
WHO ARE TOO SMALL

HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU


BELIEVE IN ME
IS ALL I ASK


BELIEVE
AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW
FROM THAT BELIEF


BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE
BELIEVE IN ME


BUT WE ARE WEAK
BELIEVE IN ME


BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY
BELIEVE IN ME


BUT WE ARE SINNERS
I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES


AS COME HE WILL
TO MAKE YOU DOUBT
YOUR BELIEFS


TO MAKE YOU FEEL
UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD


TELL THE TEMPTER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE


TELL THE TEMPTER
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID


MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS


WHO DID NOT PAY
THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID


SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME
AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME

TELL THE TEMPTER


WHEN HE COMES
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE


TELL THE TEMPTER

MONEY LENDER
TELL HIM

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID



CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL BY JESUS



FRANK A VOLLMER

Saturday, December 22, 2012

THOUGHTS ON A CHRISTMAS SONG





THOUGHTS ON A CHRISTMAS SONG


THEY LOOKED FOR SOMEONE
WHO THIRSTED FOR ANIMAL BLOOD
THE SCENT OF BURNING FLESH
BUT ONLY A BABY CAME

FOR AN IMPRESSIVE FIGURE
WHO WOULD ROUT THE ROMANS
BUT ONLY A BABY CAME

A VOICE OF THUNDER
WHICH WOULD QUELL THEIR ENEMIES
BUT ONLY A BABY’S CRY

CLAD IN ROYAL GARMENTS
SPLENDID TO SEE
BUT ONLY A DIAPERED BABY

TO CHANGE THE WORLD
TO MAKE IN THEIR IMAGE
BUT ONLY A BABY NEEDING CHANGING

LIKE A CHILD
LOOKING THROUGH HIS LEGS
SEES THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
SO THE WORLD IS TOPSY-TURVY
BECAUSE A BABY CAME


FRANK A VOLLMER

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN

 
SUFFER/ALLOW
 
SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN
TO COME UNTO ME
SUFFER
AS IN ALLOW
 
WORDS I GREW UP WITH
 
NOT
LET THE CHILDREN SUFFER
 
WHEN OUR LITTLE WORLD IS SHATTERED
BY THE DEATH OF CHILDREN
WE ARE AGHAST
 
WOULD THAT WE WOULD TAKE THIS GREAT EMOTION
AND CHANNEL IT TO CONCERN
FOR ALL CHILDREN
 
WHO ARE HUNGRY
TRAUMATIZED BY BOMBING
OR KILLED
LIVING IN SLUMS
UNDER EDUCATED
SCORNED BY RACE

CREED
SOCIAL STATUS
DELIMBED BY MINES
OR KILLED
 
WOULD THE EMOTIONS
UNLEASHED BY THE DEATH
 OF OUR CHILDREN
WOULD SPREAD TO ALL CHILDREN
 
FOR THEY ARE ALL OUR CHILDREN
 
WE PRAY
OUR FATHER
OR SOME OTHER FORM
OF PARENTAL GODHEAD
 
WE ARE ALL
HIS CHILDREN
 
THE TEARS OF OTHERS
ARE OUR TEARS
 
FRANK A VOLLMER


Saturday, December 15, 2012

WHEN GROWNUPS DIE

WHEN GROWNUPS DIE

IT'S NOT SO BAD

ONE THINKS OF FLOWERS

READY TO BE PICKED


BUT CHILDREN

CHILDREN ARE ANOTHER THING


TO SEE THEIR GRAVE SITES

WET

AS IF THE SKY WAS CRYING


ALL STRUCK DOWN

SAME HOUR AND SAME PLACE


IN A SCHOOL

A PLACE OF REFUGE


LEAVING PARENTS

EMPTY

DREAMS BROKEN


CRYING WHY

WITH NO ANSWER


BUT ONLY LEFT TO GRIEVE


UNDER THE DISMAL WINTER RAIN

FALLING FROM DECEMBER SKY

ON THE LIFELESS TOMBSTONES


WET

WHILE RACHAEL’S SISTERS

WAIL WHY


HOW QUICKLY

WILL THE GRASS

CLAIM THE GRAVES


AUTUMN LEAVES WILL CLING TO THE STONES

UNTIL THE WIND BLOWS THEM AWAY


AS IF THEY WANTED TO KISS THE CHILDREN IN PASSING


HOW MANY POEMS UNBEGUN ARE BURIED HERE

HOW MUCH LAUGHTER, TEARS AND JOY

HOW MUCH SORROW IS ENTOMBED


THE CHILDREN NOT COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL

SPLASHING THROUGH EACH PUDDLE FOUND


THE PARENTS BUNDLED AGAINST THE RAIN

MAKE QUICK THE TRIP FROM WORK TO HOME

TO FIND AN EMPTY NEST

LAUGHTER GONE


THEY SHED TEARS

LIKE RAIN ON THE GRAVESITES

AS IF THE SKY WAS CRYING



FRANK A VOLLMER




 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

CHRISTMAS IS FOR CHILDREN

CHRISTMAS IS FOR CHILDREN


CHRISTMAS IS FOR CHILDREN
WE’VE OFTEN HEARD IT SAID

PERHAPS WE’VE SAID IT OURSELVES

IF IT IS
THEN IT MUST BE SOME KIND OF FAIRY TALE
WITH HORROR PORTRAYED AS FANTASY

WE DRESS THE CHILDREN IN COSTUME
AND THINK HOW CUTE

BUT THE REALITY
OF A PREGNANT TEENAGER
WITH THE COCKAMAMIE STORY OF AN ANGEL’S VISIT

HER FIANCEE
HURT
BUT TOO MUCH IN LOVE WITH HER
TO DENOUNCE HER

A BRIGHT MOMENT
WHEN A USELESS CHILDLESS WOMAN
BECOMES PREGNANT

AN OCCUPIED COUNTRY
RULED BY AN IRON MILITANT FIST

A JOBLESS IMMIGRANT
TRYING FOR WORK
WHO CAN’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

HOMELESS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN
LOOKED DOWN UPON BECAUSE OF IT

SOLDIERS ORDERED TO KILL CHILDREN


NO ROOM IN THE INN FOR POOR PEOPLE

SIGNING UP FOR A CENSUS
THAT WILL IMPOSE MORE TAXES

WHILE THE RICH AMASS FORTUNES

WIDOWS CHEATED OUT OF THEIR INHERITANCE

SHEPHERDS
LOOKED DOWN ON
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT OBSERVE SABBATH

SCHOLARS SEEK HIM
WHICH UPSETS KING AND PRIESTS

NOT A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SHOW
WITH CHILDREN IN BATHROBES

BUT A REALITY SHOW
WHERE MOST OF US LIVE

IT WOULD BE WELL IF THE CHARACTERS
WERE ADULTS
LIVING OUT THEIR ROLES
AS THEY WOULD IN REAL LIFE
PERHAPS A DESTITUTE MAN
LIVING IN A CARDBOARD BOX
WONDERING
WHAT HAPPENED TO GOD’S PLAN

WHY WOULD A SAVIOR COME
TO SUCH A HATEFUL WORLD
THAT CLEARLY DOESN’T WANT HIM

A WORLD THAT’S A DISAPPOINTMENT TO ITS CREATOR
WHY


BUT MY WAYS
ARE NOT YOUR WAYS

FOR IF AN OLD BARREN WOMAN
CAN HAVE A CHILD

THEN THE WORLD CAN HAVE A SAVIOR
WITH LABOR PAINS
BURSTING WITH SEED AND DREAMS
THE DREAMS THAT

THERE WILL NEVER BE HARM
OR WAR ON GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN
THAT LION AND LAMB SHALL DWELL PEACEFULLY


AS THE OLD WAYS
GIVE WAY TO THE NEW

CHILDREN IN BATHROBES
WILL LEAD THEM

FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, November 26, 2012

advent in auschwitz


ADVENT IN AUSCHWITZ


WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE

SO SINGS THE POET WILFRED OWEN
OF SOLDIERS
KILLED
IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR

WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIE LIKE CATTLE

WHAT PASSING BELL
FOR THOSE WHO DIED
AT AUSCHWITZ
BERGEN-BELSEN
TREBLINKA

NOT THE ONLY DISASTER
TO HAVE HAPPENED
BUT THIS HAPPENED
IN MY LIFETIME

TO PEOPLE
SOME OF WHOM
BORE MY LAST NAME

DID NOT MESSIAH
ROAM THESE CAMPS
CRYING
THIS IS NOT RELIGION
BUT
HATRED

EACH ONE WHO DIES
DIES AS CHRIST

EACH ONE WHO DIES
IS A LILY IN THE FIELD

BELOVED BY ITS MAKER


EACH ONE WHO IS SHOT
GASSED
STARVED
HUNG
BURNED
CRIES OUT
WHERE IS YOUR RELIGION

THE JEWS CRY FOR A MESSIAH

CHRISTIANS CRY FOR A MESSIAH

PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM NOT
CRY FOR A MESSIAH

BUT HE WILL NOT INTRUDE

HE MADE THE WORLD FOR US
GAVE US DOMINION

BECAUSE WE WOULD PREFER TO EAT THE FRUIT
HE GAVE US DOMINION

MAKE IT WORK

HE SAID
YOU WANTED DOMINION

MAKE IT WORK

I TREASURE
EVERY LILY IN THE FIELD

GARDENER
TEND YOUR FLOWERS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Friday, November 9, 2012

CHRISTMAS EVE


CHRISTMAS EVE

SANTA WAS IN A BIND
THE ELVES WERE SICK
THE REINDEER SNEEZING
RUDOLPH HAD BLOWN HIS NOSE OUT
AND CHRISTMAS WAS AROUND THE CORNER
CANCELING WAS NOT AN OPTION
BUT WHAT TO DO
WITH A SMILE HE HAD AN IDEA
I SHALL GO TO MY OLD PAL PIGTAIL
THE DONKEY WITH THE TWISTED TAIL
IN THE LAND OF NOT QUITE PERFECT
HE ENLISTED PIGTAIL
TO PULL HIS SLED

ALONG WITH SOME UNICORNS
WHOSE HORNS WERE EITHER MISSHAPEN
OR BROKEN
SOME HORSES
OFTEN CALLED NAGS
SLOW IN SPEED BUT FAST WITH EFFORT
SOME REINDEER
NOT PATHFINDERS
BUT FOLLOWERS
NOT LEADERS
SOME BIRDS CALLED
WHEREAREWE
FOR A GPS

THOUGH SANTA KNEW THE WAY
BUT IT MADE THE BIRDS HAPPY
HE THOUGHT
IT DOESN’T TAKE PERFECTION
TO GET A JOB DONE
THE ANT AND MOSQUITO
THOUGH SMALL
COMPLETE THEIR TASK
THE LESS FAVORED
ARE ONLY LESS FAVORED
IN THEIR MIND
INSIDE
WHERE IT COUNTS
THEY ARE JUST AS BEAUTIFUL
AND CAPABLE
AS ANYONE ELSE
SO CHRISTMAS EVE
IF YOU HEAR OF ALL THINGS
A DONKEY BRAY
YOUR GIFTS WERE BROUGHT
BY THOSE NOT PERFECT
BUT BEAUTIFUL


FRANK A VOLLMER


Monday, October 29, 2012

SIT TIBI TERRA LEVIS


SIT TIBI TERRA LEVIS



ENGRAVED ON A TOMB
IN AN OLD ROMAN GRAVEYARD
ARE THE LETTERS
S T T L
SIMILAR TO THE LETTERS
 R I P
WE FIND IN OUR CHURCHYARDS

IT STANDS FOR
SIT TIBI TERRA LEVIS
MAY THE EARTH LIE GENTLY ON YOU

MUCH OF OUR FUNERAL WORDS
ARE DEDICATED TO
PEACE
REST
SLEEP

AS A CHRISTIAN
WHEN WE VISIT THE GRAVE SITE
OF A LOVED ONE

WE ARE VISITING THE BODY AND MEMORY
OF THE DECEASED
THE IMPORTANT PART OF HIM
HAS GONE TO THE PLACE GOD HAS FOR HIM

WE MIGHT IMAGINE IN A FANCIFUL MOOD
 TO SEE AN ANGEL SITTING ON A GRAVESTONE
SAYING

WHY
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HIM AMONG THE DEAD
HE LIVES

HEART AND HE
AWAIT YOU IN GALILEE



THE BODY
WHICH MOST OF US
ENCLOSE GENTLY IN THE EARTH
IS NOT THE BODY OF THEIR VIGOR

BUT A BODY SCARRED
BY
AGE
DISEASE
CALAMITY

THE MULE HAS CARRIED US
TO THE JOURNEY’S END
AND RESTS

OUR BEING SINGS
HOLY
HOLY
HOLY

IT TELLS OUR LOVED ONES
I AM AT PEACE


FRANK A VOLLMER



Monday, October 22, 2012

GRANDFATHER'S POCKET WATCH






GRANDFATHER’S POCKET WATCH


MY GRANDFATHER WAS A SHOWMAN
HE LIVED THE LIFE

WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD
HE CARRIED A POCKET WATCH
WITH FOB AND CHAIN
AND GAUDY VEST

WHEN TIMES WERE BAD
IT SAT IN A PAWN SHOP
WAITING TO BE REDEEMED

WHEN WE WEREN’T UNEMPLOYED
BUT BETWEEN GIGS

EVENTUALLY THE WATCH WAS MINE
WITH A LETTER THAT SAID
OPEN ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY

MY WIFE WAS SICK
AT WORK THEY WERE CUTTING HOURS
BILLS WERE MOUNTING

NOT ONLY COULD I NOT MAKE ENDS MEET
I COULDN’T SEE THE ENDS

I OPENED THE LETTER

KIDDO IT SAID
IF YOU’RE BROKE
SELL THE WATCH

YOU’RE KEEPING IT FOR A MEMORY
YOU HAVE MORE MEMORIES IN YOUR HEART
MORE VIVID MEMORIES
THAN A WATCH

SELL THE WATCH

I REMEMBER MY GRANDFATHER FONDLY
SOMETIMES HOLES IN HIS SOLES
BUT THE TOP ALWAYS POLISHED



A GIFT FOR THE FUTURE HE SAID
AND WHEN YOU’RE ABLE
DO IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE


SO MANY BLESSINGS
WE CANNOT REPLAY
THEY’RE IN THE PAST

BUT THOSE WHO BLESSED US
WOULD BLESS US FOR THINKING OF OTHERS

GOD’S LOVE IS LIKE THAT WATCH


FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, October 18, 2012

PS 50:11

Psalm 50:11
I know every bird in the mountains



SOMEONE SAID
THAT LIFE IS LIKE A BIRD
AT NIGHT
FLYING THROUGH A LIGHTED ROOM
FLYING THROUGH AND OUT
FROM DARKNESS
TO DARKNESS
BRIEFLY ILLUMINED
THEN GONE
SOUNDING LIKE SOMETHING FROM ECCLESIASTES
BUT IS LIFE
THIS BRIEF MOMENT
ON THE STAGE
THEN THE CURTAIN
BUT THINK OF THE BIRD’S WONDER OF FLIGHT
THE POETRY AND MUSIC OF ITS SONG
THE SIGH OF RELIEF
AT ITS PARTING
THINGS TO BE TREASURED
AFTER IT’S GONE
A THING OF BEAUTY
WE ARE ASKED
TO MAKE OUR FLIGHT
BEAUTIFUL
IF WE HIT A WALL
TO TRY AGAIN
GOD FORGIVE ME FOR THE WALLS I'VE HIT
HELP ME TO MAKE THE REST OF MY FLIGHT
BEAUTIFUL
FRANK A VOLLMER

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

NINETY-NINE



NINETY-NINE

IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
THEY SAY
ALLAH
HAS NINETY-NINE NAMES

THE CAMEL
WEARS A GRIN
HE KNOWS THE HUNDREDTH
BUT WON’T TELL

HOW LIKE AMERICAN CHRISTIANS
WHO THINK
WE ARE GOD’S SPECIAL NATION
ALL SHOULD BOW TO US

WHO TREAT
THE STRANGER
IN OUR MIDST
WITH HOSTILITY

WE DEEM THEM
HEWERS OF WOOD
DRAWERS OF WATER

WE ARE A DISGRACE TO HIS TEACHING

LIKE THE CAMEL
WE ARE SMUG
IN OUR KNOWING

WE FACE THE WORLD
WITH A SMILING FACE
AND A BITE


FRANK A VOLLMER


Saturday, October 13, 2012

[Proverbs 29:18] ORIENTAL WISDOM




ORIENTAL WISDOM

A CHINESE SAGE
WAS ASKED BY HIS STUDENT
WHAT DOES A MAN NEED TO BE HAPPY

HE THOUGHT
AND SAID
AN ARMY

NOT FOR WAR
BUT FOR PEACE

SUFFICIENT FOOD
TO ELIMINATE WANT

TRUST IN LEADERS
BOTH CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS
THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING

THESE THREE
A MAN NEEDS

BUT WHAT IF YOU ONLY COULD HAVE TWO

THEN I’D OMIT THE ARMY
MAN WOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN PEACE
BY HIMSELF

BUT WHAT IF YOU ONLY COULD HAVE ONE

THEN I WOULD OMIT FOOD
MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE

WHY WOULD YOU KEEP FAITH

BECAUSE WITHOUT FAITH
THE PEOPLE PERISH

FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, October 4, 2012

(John 2:19) PROFANE

PROFANE

THE WORD PROFANE
MEANS
OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE
IT’S A WORD THE TEMPLE KEEPERS USE
TO PROTECT THE SANCTITY OF THEIR PLACE
THE ARE MANY TEMPLES
NEIGHBORHOOD
CITY
STATE
RACE
RELIGION
TOO OFTEN IT IS USED
TO SEPARATE THE PRIVILEGED
TO KEEP THE RIFFRAFF OUT
TO ADMIT THE SACRED
THE SET APART
TO KEEP THE OTHERS OUT
TO PROFANE THEM
TOO OFTEN THE TEMPLE KEEPERS
SHUN
RATHER THAN EMBRACE
BUT CHRIST SAYS
I WILL DEMOLISH THESE TEMPLES
REBUILD THEM IN MY IMAGE
IF YOU WILL LET ME
WE LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN
DREAMER
IMPRACTICAL
OUR VESTED INTERESTS
ARE MORE IMPORTANT
YOU’RE ONLY A ROADBLOCK TO PROGRESS
TO HELL WITH THE PROFANE
THEY DON’T BELONG
GO BUILD A WAYSIDE CHAPEL
WHERE BELONGERS
WON’T BE BOTHERED
AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT
TAKE THE PROFANE WITH YOU
FRANK A VOLLMER


Saturday, September 29, 2012

(Matthew 10:29) SPARROW


Matthew 10:29

Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s consent and notice


SPARROW


WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN
I WROTE A POEM
ABOUT A SPARROW DYING
IN THE GUTTER OF A BUSY STREET

I SUBMITTED IT
I RECEIVED A REJECTION SLIP

A COUPLE MORE
AND I CAN PAPER MY BEDROOM

ANYWAY
THE REJECTION SAID

SHOULD WE WORRY
ABOUT THE DEATH
OF ONE SPARROW

THIS WAS AFTER THE WAR
WHEN DEATH WAS CHEAP

IT ALWAYS BOTHERED ME
NOT THE REJECTION
BUT THE REASON

THE GOSPEL SAYS
A BIRD BOUGHT FOR A PENNY
IS NO LESS VALUABLE
THAN AN EAGLE

BOTH ARE EQUAL IN GOD’S SIGHT
AND NEITHER CAN DIE
WITHOUT HIS CONSENT

IF WE CARE FOR THE LITTLE THINGS
IN THIS WORLD

WILL WE NOT DO BETTER
IN THE BIGGER THINGS

SHOULD WE NOT HAVE RESPECT FOR LIFE
NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT IN OUR EYES

IF GOD CARES FOR IT
WHY NOT US

AN OCTOBER THOUGHT
 MAYBE
BUT ONE WORTH
OUR CONSIDERATION

FRANK A VOLLMER