Monday, November 9, 2015

WIDOW'S MITE

WIDOW’S MITE

JESUS WAS RESTING
IN THE COURT OF THE WOMEN
HE’S BEEN WRESTLING WITH THE SCRIBES
THEIR MOTIVES
WERE NOT TO MAKE MEN’S LIVES BETTER
BUT TO MAKE RELIGION ONEROUS

HE WAS WATCHING THE OFFERING PRACTICES
OF SOME INDIVIDUALS
A MAN RICHLY DRESSED
MAKING DRAMATIC GESTURES
AS IF SEMAPHORING GOD
LOOK HOW GENEROUS I AM
THREW VIOLENTLY
HIS COINS AT THE TRUMPET
A METAL DEVICE
LIKE A FUNNEL
IN WHICH COINS WERE PLACED
TO FALL INTO THE COLLECTION BOX
BELOW IT

HIS OBJECT
WAS TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE
COINS AGAINST METAL
SO BYSTANDERS WOULD KNOW HOW GENEROUS HE WAS
HE’S ALREADY TOLD GOD

ADJUSTING HIS ROBE
FROM HIS ACTIVITIES
HE WALKED PROUDLY
HEAD HELD HIGH
SURE HE WAS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION
INTO THE TEMPLE

BEHIND HIM
A NEW WIDOW
WITH CHILDREN CLUTCHING AT HER SKIRT
DODGING THE RICHMAN’S WINDMILL ARMS
GENTLY PUT IN TWO LEPTON
COINS WHICH TOGETHER
WERE WORTH LESS THAN A PENNY
THEIR NAME MEANS THIN ONES
IT WAS ALL SHE HAD

THE COINS FELL LIKE A WHISPER INTO THE BOX
THE WIDOW WALKED AWAY
REGRETTING IT WASN’T MORE

NOW NOT ALL RICH PEOPLE ARE EVIL
NOT ALL POOR PEOPLE ARE GOOD
JESUS USES HYPERBOLE
EXAGGERATION
STEREOTYPES
TO TEACH LESSONS

IT WASN’T THE AMOUNT OF THE COINS
THAT WAS IMPORTANT
BUT THE HEART THAT GAVE THEM

PERHAPS SHE WAS PRAYING FOR HER HUSBAND’S SOUL
PRAYING THE HAZKARA
JEWISH PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
Have mercy upon him; pardon all his transgressions . . . Shelter his soul in the shadow of Thy wings. Make known to him the path of life."

THE SOUND OF THE GENTLE FALLING COINS
OF THE WIDOW
HAVE BECOME AN ECHO
A LESSON
TO WHICH WE SHOULD GIVE HEED

FRANK A VOLLMER

Friday, November 6, 2015

CHRIST THE KING

CHRIST THE KING



THE ROOTS OF THE WORD KING
ARE TRIBAL LEADER
SOMEONE THE GROUP WOULD TRUST
SOMEONE THE GROUP COULD TRUST
OVERTIME THE WORD GATHERED MANY CONNOTATIONS
UNPLEASANT CONNOTATIONS

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
WAS ESTABLISHED
 TO DECLARE GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF CREATION
TO A WORLD
WHICH WAS DENYING HIM THAT ROLE

CHRISTIANITY WAS SPLIT
INTO MANY GROUPS
ARGUING HOW MANY ANGELS ON A PINHEAD
WITH NO THOUGHT BEING GIVEN
TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MAN

INSTEAD OF BREAD
THEY SAID ROSARIES
INSTEAD OF MERCY
THEY QUOTED LAW
THINKING
QUESTIONING
LED TO ANATHEMA

IN CHRIST’S UPSIDE DOWN WORLD
KINGS BECAME SERVANTS
SHOWERING HIS SUBJECTS WITH GIFTS
SELLING HIS CROWN IF NEED BE
TO PAY FOR THEM

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE KING
IN THE ROYAL PALACE
HE’S THE ONE WEARING AN APRON
WASHING FEET

FRANK A VOLLMER

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

MATILDA MY CAT

MATILDA

MATILDA
MY MALTESE CAT
IS A BRAT
IF A CAT CAN BE A BRAT
SHE IS
WITH HER TAIL HELD IMPERIOUSLY HIGH
LIKE A SCEPTER
SHE WALKS AMONG HUMANS
CONDESCENDLY
A GODDESS
WHO RELUCTANTLY PUTS UP WITH PEOPLE
THEY’RE GOOD FOR DOORMEN
LET ME IN
LET ME OUT
LET ME IN
LET ME OUT
SLEEP LATE
SHE’S ON YOUR CHEST
DEMANDING FOOD
SHE CRAWLS IN YOUR LAP
AS IF IT WERE A PAPAL BLESSING
THEN SPOILS THE MOOD
BE TURNING AROUND
TO SHOW YOU HER DERRIERE
NICE VIEW
SHE WANTS HER TAILBONE SCRATCHED
SHE LAUGHS
A LITTLE CAT LAUGH
WHEN SHE HEARS ME SAY
MATILDA IS MY CAT
SHE THINKS
EVEN IF HE RISES
TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE
HE WONT OWN ME
I
AM
CAT
HEAR ME ROAR
 
FRANK A VOLLMER


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

OLIVE THE OCTOPUS




OLIVE





OLIVE THE OCTOPUS

HAD EIGHT ARMS

BUT NO ONE TO HOLD

SHE FELT UNWANTED

SHE TURNED BLUE

CECIL THE CEPHALOPOD

FANCY NAME FOR OCTOPUS

HAD SEVEN ARMS

HE’S LOST ONE IN A FIGHT

FELT HE WAS DISFIGURED

HE TURNED BLUE TOO

ONE DAY WHEN THEY WERE OUT

TAKING THE SEA

THEY SAW EACH OTHER

BOTH THOUGHT

HE/SHE TOO GOOD FOR ME

THEY TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER

BUT LOVE LEAPED THE DISTANCE

THEY FELT ITS MAGNETIC PULL

NOW OLIVE HAS SOMEONE TO HOLD

CECIL FELT COMPLETE

WHEN HE HELD HER IN HIS ARMS

EVEN OCTOPI NEED LOVE AND AFFECTION

LIKE YOU GIVE ME

THANK YOU



FRANK A VOLLMER
OLIVE


OLIVE THE OCTOPUS
HAD EIGHT ARMS
BUT NO ONE TO HOLD
SHE FELT UNWANTED
SHE TURNED BLUE
CECIL THE CEPHALOPOD
FANCY NAME FOR OCTOPUS
HAD SEVEN ARMS
HE’S LOST ONE IN A FIGHT
FELT HE WAS DISFIGURED
HE TURNED BLUE TOO
ONE DAY WHEN THEY WERE OUT
TAKING THE SEA
THEY SAW EACH OTHER
BOTH THOUGHT
HE/SHE TOO GOOD FOR ME
THEY TURNED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER
BUT LOVE LEAPED THE DISTANCE
THEY FELT ITS MAGNETIC PULL
NOW OLIVE HAS SOMEONE TO HOLD
CECIL FELT COMPLETE
WHEN HE HELD HER IN HIS ARMS
EVEN OCTOPI NEED LOVE AND AFFECTION
LIKE YOU GIVE ME
THANK YOU

FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, October 15, 2015

TYPICAL OF MARY

TYPICAL OF MARY

IT WAS TYPICAL OF MARY
THAT  SHE
NEWLY PREGNANT
SHOULD GO TO ASSIST
HER COUSIN ELIZABETH
HERSELF NEWLY PREGNANT
AT AN ADVANCED AGE

AS THE FETUS JOHN
SENSED
THE FETUS JESUS
IT MOVED IN ADORATION

TO ME
THREE THINGS HAPPENED DURING THIS VISITATION
ELIZABETH DECLARED THAT MARY’S FETUS
WAS GOD INCARNATE

MARY SANG AN EXUBERANT SONG OF PRAISE TO GOD

LASTLY
BUT NOT THE LEAST TO ME
A MEDITATION ON COMMUNION
THAT GOD
HAVING IMPREGNATED US BY RECEPTION
WANTS US TO TAKE HIM WHERE HE IS NEEDED

MARY DID A GOOD THING
MANY WOULD CALL IT A MITZVAH
MARY JUST FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO
WOULD THAT WE SHOULD FEEL IMPELLED
BY THE PRESENCE OF GOD WITHIN US

FRANK A VOLLMER


Sunday, October 4, 2015

STUPAS

STUPAS




IN CHRISTIANITY WE HAVE WHITE SEPULCHERS
IN THE EAST WHITE STUPAS
IN BOTH CASES
A PLACE FOR DEATH RUMINANTS
MADE TO LOOK PRETTY
IT WAS A JESUS NAME FOR A HYPOCRITE
ALL OF US TUG ON OUR TOGA
WHILE SAYING NOT ME
WE ARE QUICK TO DETECT THE SPECK
IN OUR NEIGHBOR’S EYE
IGNORING THE BOULDER IN OURS
OUR COMMON FAULT
IS TO FIND FAULT WITH OUR NEIGHBOR
EXCUSING OR DIMINISHING OUR OWN
GOD WHO LOVES ME
WARTS AND ALL
HELP ME REMOVE THE SCALES FROM MY EYES
REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO ME
BY ME
WHILE I HELP
MY DAMAGED BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHOM NOW I SEE
UN-BLINDED BY PRIDE

FRANK A VOLLMER





Friday, September 25, 2015

OUROBOROS

OUROBOROS





IT WAS
IS AND WILL BE
AN OUROBOROS 0F LOVE
FATHER LOVED THE SON
SON LOVED THE SPIRIT
SPIRIT LOVED THE FATHER
WHO LOVED THE SON
WHO LOVED THE SPIRIT
WHO LOVED THE FATHER

THIS NARCISSISTIC GOD DID SOMETHING
THAT HAS PUZZLED MAN EVER SINCE
I SHALL MAKE A FRIEND
WHO LOVES ME FREELY


BEING GOD IS GOOD
BEING LOVED IS BETTER

IT KNEW FULL WELL
THAT THE WORD FREELY
WOULD CAUSE HAVOC
BUT HIS NEED FOR LOVE
REMOVED ALL DOUBTS
I SHALL LOVE MY CREATION
TO THE POINT OF DEATH

SO AT THE ECHO OF TIME
GOD SAID BEGIN
GOD SAID REMEMBER ME
GOD SAID FEED ME
I HUNGER FOR YOUR LOVE

FRANK A VOLLMER


.
 


Monday, September 21, 2015

Aylan Kurdi…DEAD SYRIAN CHILD

Aylan Kurdi…DEAD SYRIAN CHILD
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”…MARK 9:36
 

HE CAME ASHORE LIKE DRIFTWOOD
LIKE JETSAM NOT NEEDED
TO LAY UPON THE SAND
NOT SLEEPING BUT DEAD
WHAT PIECE OF LAND IS WORTH THE DEATH OF A CHILD
WHAT RANK OF IMPORTANCE JUSTIFIES IT
WE PRAY FOR PEACE
PREPARE FOR WAR
WE ARE LIKE THOSE WHO GO TO A RAIN DANCE
WITHOUT AN UMBRELLA
LET THE EARTH REST GENTLY UPON HIM
FOR LIFE WAS NOT
THOSE WHO CLAMOR FOR WAR
SHOULD HOLD A CHILD’S BROKEN BODY
I WONDER IF IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WE THE KEEPERS OF THIS WORLD
MUST ANSWER THESE CHILDREN SOMETIME
WHEN THEY ASK
WHY

FRANK A VOLLMER

Sunday, September 6, 2015

WRESTLING WITH GOD

WRESTLING     (Mark 7:23-26)

WRESTLING WITH GOD IS NOT A SIN
BUT A TIME HONORED EVENT
AS WHEN A SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN
SAID TO JESUS

HEAL MY CHILD

HE SAID
BECAUSE SHE WAS A GENTILE
 A PAGAN

IT IS NOT RIGHT
TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S FOOD
TO THROW IT TO THE DOGS

SHE REBUFFED HIM SAYING
EVEN THE DOGS
EAT THE CHILDREN'S
CRUMBS

YOU CAN SEE HIM SMILING
HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT
 HE REPLIED GENTLY

GO
YOUR CHILD IS HEALED

FRANK A VOLLMER

Saturday, September 5, 2015

EL SHADDAI - MANY BREASTED ONE

EL SHADDAI

EL SHADDAI
EL SHADDAI

EL SHADDAI
EL SHADDAI
MANY BREASTED GOD
WITH MILK FOR ALL
AND PLENTY
EL SHADDAI
SHADDAI

WHERE WERE YOU GOD
WHEN I WAS LOST
WANDERING THE CAVERNS OF MY MIND
WHERE WERE YOU GOD
WHEN I WAS LOST

HERE

EL SHADDAI
EL SHADDAI
MANY BREASTED GOD
WITH MILK FOR ALL
AND PLENTY
EL SHADDAI
SHADDAI

HERE



FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, September 3, 2015

GIDEON BIBLE




GIDEON BIBLE

THE WEARY TRAVELER
FOR WANT OF SOMETHING TO READ
PICKED UP THE GIDEON BIBLE
FROM THE BUREAU
IT FELL OPEN TO JOSHUA
HE READ
HE READ IT THROUGH
THEN PUT IT AWAY DISGUSTED
IT READS LIKE HITLER’S QUEST
FOR LEBENSRAUM
WITH TOTAL DESTRUCTION
OF THE PRESENT INHABITANTS

I CANT BELIEVE IN A GOD
WHO SAYS HE’S LOVE ON ONE HAND
 TOTAL DESTRUCTION ON THE OTHER
WHO WOULD FOLLOW SUCH A GOD

THE GOD WHO MADE ME
DOES NOT WANT ME TO BE CANNON FODDER

HE’D BE LIKE A POTTER
WHO MAKES A BOWL
THEN SMASHES IT ON COMPLETION
THEN CALLS IT
AN ACT OF LOVE

FRANK A VOLLMER


Monday, August 31, 2015

NOW THE DAY IS OVER





NOW THE DAY IS OVER
Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

THE CAMPING SEASON WAS OVER
IT WAS OUR CUSTOM
TO SING THIS HYMN
THE LAST NIGHT
Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds, and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
THE LITTLE ONES WHO HAD FOUGHT SLEEP
WERE NOW IN THEIR SLEEPING BAGS
AFTER TELLING US
THAT PIECES OF FLAME
FROM OUR FIRE
WERE ANGELS GOING TO GOD
WHO WAS I TO DENY IT
Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May mine eyelids close.

GIVE TO ALL THE DOWNTRODDEN
WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LEISURE
TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF YOU SKY
A PEACEFUL NIGHT
TO THEM AND TO ME
Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee;
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep, blue sea.

GRANT TO THOSE ENTRUSTED TO US
THAT THEY MIGHT GROW UPRIGHT
LIKE THE CEDARS OF LEBANON
THAT SAILORS
AND ALL THOSE TOSSING ON A SEA
MIGHT FIND A SHELTER FOR THEMSELVES  AND ME
Comfort those who suffer,
Watching late in pain;
Those who plan some evil
From their sin restrain.

GRANT PEACE TO ALL WHO SUFFER
AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM
MAY GOOD CONQUER EVIL
CHANGING GOATS INTO SHEEP
Through the long night watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.
MAY I KNOW YOUR PRESENCE
NOW AND IN MY FINAL HOUR
WATCH OVER ME AND MINE
THROUGH THE NIGHT WATCH HOUR

When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure, and fresh, and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.
GUARD ME AS I START ANEW
CHARGING WINDMILLS WILLY NILLY
MAY I ALWAYS BE YOUR KNIGHT
MAY MY PLUME BE ALWAYS WHITE




Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit,
While all ages run.

FRANK A VOLLMER