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

Friday, August 21, 2015

SPARROWS

SPARROWS

THERE IS A LEGEND
THAT JESUS AS A BOY
WAS PLAYING IN A PUDDLE
MAKING MUD SPARROWS
WHEN HE WAS DONE
HE CLAPPED HIS HANDS
THE SPARROWS FLEW AWAY
I THINK THAT’S THE KIND OF GOD WE WANT
WHO’LL CLAP HIS HANDS
MAKE ALL OUR SELF MADE PROBLEMS
TAKE WINGS
FORGETTING HE SAID
THE WORLD IS YOURS
MAKE YOUR SPARROWS FLY
FRANK A VOLLMER

Thursday, August 20, 2015

OFFAL


OFFAL


OFFAL IS AN UGLY WORD
IT COMES FROM THAT WHICH FELL OFF
THE BUTCHER’S BLOCK
AS WASTE
TOO OFTEN
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
WHATEVER STRIPE
SEE OTHERS
WHO DON’T BELONG
TO THEIR PARTICULAR CLUB
AS OFFAL
CHILDREN
WHO DIE EARLY
ARE DENIED HEAVEN
FOR NOT BELIEVING
OR BEING RITUALLY MARKED
DID NOT CHRIST
HANGING LIKE LAUNDRY
ON THE LINE
I HAVE COME TO MAKE SCARLET WHITE
TO MAKE DIRTY CLEAN
TO SHELTER THE HOMELESS
WHO DARES PUT A LIMIT TO MY BENEVOLENCE
WHO DARES TO TREAT
ANY OF MY PEOPLE
AS OFFAL

FRANK A VOLLMER


Friday, August 14, 2015

WHO LIES THERE

WHO LIES THERE

 
I’M READING THE BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM DODDS
WHO WAS THE AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY IN THE EARLY THIRTIES
WHEN ASKED LATER
WHY THE UNITED STATES
DIDN’T COME ON STRONG TO GERMANY
ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF JEWS
HIS REPLY WAS
THE STATE DEPARTMENT FEARED THAT GERMANY
WOULD BRING UP THE STATUS OF BLACKS
IN THE STATES
ESPECIALLY THE PRACTICE OF LYNCHING
ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
AND BLACKS STILL FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES
HOW CAN A SUPPOSEDLY CHRISTIAN NATION
BEHAVE THIS WAY
HOW MANY OF US FAVORED WHITES
TREATED THAT WAY
WOULD REMAIN DOCILE
THEIR CHRISTIANITY SHAMES OURS
WE UNDER PAY
WE UNDER EDUCATE
TREAT THEM AS EXCREMENT
THEN BLAME THEM FOR THE RESULTS
IS THE SITUATION BAD
YES
BUT MORE HATE WONT SOLVE THE PROBLEM
WE ARE NO BETTER
THAN THOSE WHO PASSED THE JERICHO TRAVELER
 WE PASS THIS TRAVELER AT OUR OWN PERIL
FOR BY DOING
WE PASS CHRIST
 
FRANK A VOLLMER


Monday, August 10, 2015

UNCERTAIN

UNCERTAIN

I’M IN THE MIDST OF GOD
WONDERING WHERE I SHOULD FACE
 
LIKE A FISH
I AM SURROUNDED BY THE OCEAN OF GOD
I’M TEMPTED TO JUMP IN
BUT I HAVE A CAUTION
PAUL SAYS I LIVE
NOT I BUT CHRIST
 
WHY DID GOD MAKE ME
 THE UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL I AM
TO LOSE MY IDENTITY IN HIM
IS IT EGO THAT MAKES ME QUESTION
IS NOT GOD PLEASED WITH HIS CREATION
 
LOVING GOD SHOULD BE MORE THAN A SENSATION
WHICH WITHERS UNDER STRESS
BUT A DECISION TO SERVE
BUT A WILLINGNESS TO LEAP INTO DARKNESS
KNOWING BUT NOT KNOWING
 
ELECTRICITY
 WHEN IT HITS THE BODY
EXCEEDS THE BODY’S ABILITY
TO HANDLE ENERGY
SO GOD EXCEEDS OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND
THE ENERGY OF A DIVINE
BUT GOD’S ENERGY
WILL NOT KILL
BUT ENLIVEN
BEYOND THAT I’M IN DARKNESS
STILL UNWILLING TO LEAP
 
FRANK A VOLLMER
 


Friday, August 7, 2015

WIND

WIND

 
ON MY LAWN IS A WHIRLY-GIG
SPINNING
I SEE THE MOTION
BUT I DON’T SEE THE WIND THAT CAUSED IT
 
I’M WATCHING A METEOR SHOWER
I MARVEL AT GOD’S CREATION
FROM THE UNIVERSE TO ME
BUT I DON’T SEE GOD
MY VISION IS TOO NARROW
TO SEE ITS IMMENSITY
 
BUT THIS GREATNESS REMEMBERS ME
SO I EXIST
I SPIN IN THE WIND
OFTEN IMPERFECTLY
THE UNKNOWABLE IS PLEASED
WITH MY ECCENTRIC SPINNING
LIKE A PARENT WATCHING HIS TODDLER WALK
IT
WHO HAS NO BEGINNING OR END
RUFFLES MY HAIR
AS IF TO SAY HELLO
 
FRANK A VOLLMER
 


Tuesday, August 4, 2015

THOUGHTS FROM AN IMPERFECT MIND


  • THOUGHTS FROM AN IMPERFECT MIND



 

  • I THINK CHRISTIANITY HAS MANY BELIEVERS BUT FEW DOERS. THE BELIEVERS ARE SAFE BEHIND WALLS FROM WHICH THEY DO NOT SALLY.
  • WE PRAISE GOD AND REMIND HIM CONTINUALLY THAT WE ARE SINNERS AS IF HE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN. HE’D LIKE US TO ADMIT OUR FAILURES BY DOING BETTER.
  • MANY OF THE ANCESTORS OF MODERN DAY RELIGIONS REQUIRED SACRIFICES OF LIVING THINGS OR PLANT FOOD TO APPEASE THE GOD. FOR CHRISTIANITY JESUS WAS THE SACRIFICE.
  • MAN IS DESTRUCTIVE. HE DESTROYS ANIMALS AND PLANTS TO SURVIVE. PRIMITIVE MAN THANKED THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICE. A KIND OF GRACE.
  • PRIMITIVE MAN HAD NO CREED OR DOGMA. THE WHOLE WORLD WAS SACRED. THE SPIRIT WHO PROVIDED FOOD, CALLED BY SCHOLARS ‘MASTER OF THE ANIMALS’ WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE ANIMALS FOR THE HUNT, THEN WAS THANKED IF THE HUNT WAS SUCCESSFUL. GOING ON THE HUNT WAS OFTEN A RELIGIOUS EXERCISE. IF THE HUNT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL THEY WONDERED HOW THEY HAD OFFENDED THE MASTER.
  • WHEN RIVERS REACH THE OCEAN THEY BECOME ONE, WHEN SOULS REACH GOD THEY BECOME ONE WITH GOD AND THINK GOD-LIKE THOUGHTS. THEY CARE FOR HIS CREATION.
  • IT IS WRONG TO WITHHOLD CHARITY FROM SOMEONE WHOSE BELIEF IS DIFFERENT FROM YOURS. ALSO IT IS WRONG TO ASK THE OTHER TO CHANGE HIS BELIEF TO YOURS IN ORDER TO GET CHARITY.
  • IT IS WRONG TO CALL THE UNEMPLOYED LAZY, WHEN THE EMPLOYER REDUCES JOBS TO MAKE A GREATER PROFIT. IT PUTS THE ONUS ON THE VICTIM.
  • TO GO ON RETREAT TO RETURN A JUSTIFIED PHARISEE IS NO EARTHLY GOOD BUT TO RETURN AS A WIDOW WITH HER MITE – A PERSON WHO KNOWS THE WORLD IS IMPERFECT AND NEEDS FIXING – IS A GOOD THING.
  • THE SIN OF DIVES FOR WHICH HE RESIDES IN HELL IS NOT THAT HE ABUSED LAZARUS BUT THAT HE DIDN’T SEE HIM UNDER THE TABLE LIVING ON HIS SCRAPS.
  • THE TERM MYSTERY RELIGIONS IS A MISNOMER FOR MODERN MAN. IT DOESN’T MEAN A MUMBO-JUMBO EXPERIENCE OR SECRET KNOWLEDGE, THAT WAS THE PLOY OF THE GNOSTICS. RATHER IT WAS A PARTICIPATION IN A PSYCHODRAMA CENTERING ON THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A GOD. THE PARTICIPANTS FASTED AND THEN WALKED TO EXHAUSTION TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE EXPERIENCE. TO CHRISTIANS THE TRINITY IS A MYSTERY. IT CANNOT BE DESCRIBED WELL, BUT EXPERIENCED. THE EUCHARIST CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BUT THE FACT IS THE PARTICIPANT HOLDS GOD’S BODY IN HIS HAND. A SORT OF PIETA WITH A LIVE BODY.

 

 

FRANK A VOLLMER

Monday, August 3, 2015

THE CLOWN WHO CRIED

THE CLOWN WHO CRIED

 
HE WAS A CLOWN
WHO MADE FUN OF HITLER
FOR WHICH HE WAS INCARCERATED
AS A NON JEW HE HAD A JOB
ENTERTAINING THE CHILDREN
ON THEIR WAY TO THE GAS CHAMBER
 
SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS
HIS WAS THE ONLY KIND FACE THEY SAW
 
HE WAS USEFUL
HE LIVED
BUT THE SOUND OF LAUGHING CHILDREN
WAS AN EARWORM
THAT CHORUSED HIM
WHEREVER HE WENT
 
TILL HE FOUND PEACE
BY GOING INTO THE CHAMBER
ENTERTAINING THEM TILL THEY DIED
 
FRANK A VOLLMER