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

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

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

Bring Out Your Dead

A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD THE WATCHMAN CRIED

IN THE CITY WHERE HE WAS RIDING

ON A CART PILED HIGH WITH LAST YEARS DREAMS

AND LONG REMEMBERED ANGERS

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THIS CITY THAT WAS ONCE SO FAIR

WHOSE WALLS WERE WHITE AND RIVERS CLEAR

WHERE MEN WALKED OUT ALONE AND UNAFRAID

HAS BECOME A STINKHOUSE OF REMEMBERED PAIN

AND PENT UP SORROW

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

LET WINDOWS ONCE MORE OPEN TO THE BREEZE

AND PIPERS PLAY NO MORE THE FUNERAL MARCH BUT GAY

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THAT MEN MAY SAY ON PASSING BY

A FAIR CITY THERE PLEASING TO THE EYE

AND HEAR

THE LAUGHTER RINGING IN THE AIR

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Dandelions

DANDELIONS ARE A NAUGHTY BREED

THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW THEIR PLACE

THEY GROW IN EVERYBODY'S YARD

A NATIONAL DISGRACE

BUT I LIKE THEM

I LIKE THEY WAY THEY CLAIM A FIELD

RUNNING RIOT IN THE SUN

LIKE SOME MOD PAINTER GOING WILD

SWIRLS AND DASHES DOTS AND SPLASHES

FRAGMENTS OF THE SUN

SPRINKLED IN THE GRASS

YELLOW SEQUINS IN HER HAIR

WHERE WOULD CHILDREN BE WITHOUT THEM

FOR TULIPS ARE A NONO

AND SO ARE NEIGHBORS ROSES

BUT DANDELIONS ARE FREE

FREE TO PICK FOR MOTHER'S SMILE

WHO CAN PRICE THAT MOMNENT

WHO CAN GIVE IT WORTH

WHEN A CHILD TINY FIST TIGHTLY CLENCHED

THE DANDELIONS DROPPINGIN A CIRCLE

SAYS, "FOR YOU I PICKED THEM

I PICKED THEM FOR YOU"

HOW MANY YOUNG ONES

WALKING THE FIELDS

HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE

PICKING THE FLOWERS

HOW MANY OLD ONES

OUT FOR A STROLL

HAVE REKINLED FLAME

DOING THE SAME

HOW MANY GRANDPARENTS

GRANDCHILD IN TOW

HAVE MADE THE AIR MAGIC

WITH DANDELION SEEDS

HAVE TAUGHT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN

THE OLD-NEW SECRET

OF HOW TO KEEP DANDELIONS

AROUND TO MAKE PRETTY

THE FIELDS AND THE MEADOWS

WITH FRAGMENTS OF SUN

O GOD GIVE ME FRIENDS

WHO ARE DANDELION LOVERS

GOOD FRIENDS WHO ARE ROWDY

AND EASY TO LAUGH

AND PRETTY GIRLS WHO SAY THEY LOVE ME

ESPECIALLY THEM THAT LIKE TO WEAR

DANDELION FLOWERS

IN THEIR HAIR

FRANK A VOLLMER

Gentle Rebuke (Matthew 16:21-28)(Mark 8:27-38)

SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE

IMPULSIVE PETER

SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE

THE WORDS WERE OUT

BEFORE HE HAD TIME TO THINK

BUT OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS FRIEND

AND THE IMPACT

OF THE WORDS HE HAD SAID

I MUST GO TO JERUSALEM AND DIE

HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND JESUS

AND DREW HIM TO HIMSELF

SHELTERING

AND SAID

IT MUST NOT BE

AND JESUS HEARTBROKEN

BECAUSE PETER

STILL

WAS UNAWARE OF HIS MISSION

SAID SOFTLY

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

ADVICE GIVEN A CHILD BY A PARENT

DON'T STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY

THERE’S NO FUTURE

LONG HOURS

AND LOW WAGES

SHELTERING THE CHILD

OR THOSE

WATCHING BOX CARS

RATTLING ACROSS EUROPE

FILLED WITH HUMANITY

AND SAYING NOTHING

OR PREACHERS

PREACHING BROTHERHOOD

IN A SEGREGATED CHURCH

WHILE LAZARUS

WAS UNDER THE TABLE

BEGGING CRUMBS

OR WORKMEN

AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE

FINDING NO PENSION

WHILE CEOS MAKE MILLIONS

WHERE IS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE

MUTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

AND JESUS SAYS

GET BEHIND ME SATAN

UNLESS A MAN

IS WILLING TO TAKE A STAND

AND SUFFER WITH ME

HE IS NOT WORTHY OF ME

JESUS SAYS

GIVE ME PEOPLE

LIKE MOTHER TERESA

MAHATMA GANDHI

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

DOROTHY DAY

DANIEL BERRIGAN

JOHN XXIII

TAKE YOUR ARM FROM AROUND ME

I AM NOT A TOY

OR PRETTY FEELING

TO BE SHELTERED FROM THE STORM

I KNOW YOU LOVE ME

BUT YOUR ARM AROUND ME HINDERS ME

I NEED TO STRETCH

MY ARMS OUT

FOR THE CROSS

I AM YOUR FRIEND

WHO DOES NOT SHIRK

FROM EMPTYING HIMSELF

AND DYING ON A CROSS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Reality

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WAY

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LION TAMER

DRAGON SLAYER

WOOD GATHERER

GUARDIAN AT THE GATE

BUT LIFE HAS CAUGHT UP WITH DREAMS

REALITY WITH FANTASY

IT WASN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN THIS WAY

BUT IT HAS

AND NOW SHE WATCHES OVER ME DAY AND NIGHT

I'M GUY ENOUGH TO ENJOY IT

WHILE FEELING GUILTY

DON QUIXOTE

WITH DENTED ARMOUR

AND BROKEN LANCE HAS RETIRED FROM THE FIELD

TO ENTER INTO A DIFFERENT FRAY

THAT OF GETTING WELL

THE ENEMY HERE IS HARDER THAN ANY I HAVE FOUGHT BEFORE

BUT I HAVE MOTIVE IN WIFE

CHILDREN

AND IN

GRANDPOP “YOU'RE SO FUNNY”

LIFE IS BEING REDUCED TO LOVING

AND BEING LOVED

AND LETTING PEOPLE PRACTICE ACTS OF KINDNESS

BY OPENING DOORS

AND REACHING THINGS

THAT ARE TOO FAR

A MOMENTARY

BROTHERHOOD

SISTERHOOD

THAT SAYS

IT’S STILL GODS WORLD

ARMOUR MAY BE RETIRED

LANCE MAY BE PUT TO REST

BUT I CAN LOOK IN THE MIRROR

AND SEE GOD’S FACE BEHIND ME

frank a vollmer

Beaver College

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

THE COLLEGE THAT LOOKED LIKE A CASTLE

A CASTLE WHERE KNIGHTS WOULD DO THEIR MIGHTY DEEDS

A CASTLE A COLLEGE

ON THE WAY TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

IT WAS MY FATHER'S ONE DAY OFF

AND FOR A BARGAIN FARE ON A TROLLEY CAR

THE FAMILY WOULD GO TO THE PARK

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

HOW WE WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO RIDES

WE WOULD EAT THE LUNCH WE PACKED

AND LISTEN TO THE BAND MUSIC ON THE GRASS

WHERE SAT ALL OF US WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A TICKET

BUT I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

MY DAD WAS WITH US

ON HIS ONE DAY OFF

HOW TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY

WE'D RIDE THE MERRY GO ROUND

NOT KNOWING THEN

BUT KNOWING NOW THAT HE'D WALK TO WORK IN THE MORNING

YES I REMEMBER I REMEMBER

BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER BEING POOR

BUT RICH

GOING HOME

NESTLED AGAINST MY FATHER

ON THE TROLLEY

SLEEPING WITH MY FATHER'S ARM AROUND ME

AND FEELING LOVED AND WARM

Frank Vollmer

Carousel

MERRY GO ROUND

MERRY GO ROUND

HELD BY MY PARENT

ON A MERRY GO ROUND

WHEN I WAS SMALL

AND THE WORLD WAS TALL

CHASED BY DRAGONS

OR PERSUING THEM

ON HORSES, LIONS OR FANTASIES

WHICH NEVER WERE

BUT REAL TO ME

ON THE MERRY GO ROUND

THE MERRY GO ROUND

HELD BY MY PARENTS

WHEN I WAS SMALL

THEN LATER I WAS TOO GROWNUP

EXCEPT TO ESCORT A GIRL

THEN LATER I WAS TOO GROWNUP

EXCEPT TO ESCORT A WIFE

UNTIL NOW WHEN I AM MUCH GROWNUP

I STILL FIND

THE MUSIC OF THE CAROUSEL

INVITING

EXCITING

I WILL NOT RIDE THE SEATS

PROVIDED FOR THE OLD

NO

I MUST MOUNT A HORSE

A LION

OR A FANTASY

IT MUST MOVE

AS IT MOVES ME

TO BE A CHILD AGAIN

IN A WORLD

THAT OFTEN

HAS GROWN

TOO TALL

f. a. vollmer

Mother's Spit (Mark 8:23) (JOHN 9)

I REMEMBER

BEING SPIT POLISHED

BEFORE CHURCH

WITH MOTHER’S SPIT

I ALSO REMEMBER

HAVING MY CLOTHING WET CLEANED

BEFORE BEING SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD

AND BRUISES AND CUTS

WERE STARTED ON THE WAY TO HEALING

WITH THE SAME

MOTHER’S SPIT

MIRACLE POTION

HEALING TEARS

WHILE RESTORING

A CRYING FACE

TO ITS ORIGINAL SHINE

SOMETIMES I LONG FOR MOTHER’S SPIT

TO PUT THE WORLD BACK TO WHERE IT WAS

I LOOK AT MY GRANDCHILDREN

AND ALL THE BACTERIA

KILLING PRODUCTS

AND KNOW THEY'LL NEVER REPLACE

A MOTHER’S

ANXIOUS

AND LOVING FACE

SAYING LOOK AT YOU NOW

PLAYING STICK BALL

IN YOUR SUNDAY CLOTHES

COME HERE WHILE I FIX YOU

AND LIKE JESUS

BENDING OVER

THE BLIND MAN

THE DEAF MAN

SHE'D RESTORE ME

TO PRISTINE GLORY

AND SEND ME ON MY WAY

FRANK A VOLLMER

A Poem for Newlyweds

I LOVE YOU

IT'S SIMPLY SAID

AND ALL THE OTHER WORDS I'VE USED

BOILS DOWN TO THIS

I LOVE YOU

I'VE OFTEN WISHED

I COULD SAY IT ONCE WELL

WITH ALL THE MAJESTY OF LANGUAGE

TO TELL IT ONCE WELL

AND BE DONE WITH THE TELLING

BUT IT SEEMS LOVE NEEDS TELLING

IT ENJOYS THE TELLING

BUT WHY ONLY ONE WORD

FOR I LOVE SUNSETS AND SWEET WINE

LONG COUNTRY WALKS AND DOG'S COLD MUZZLE

FRIEND'S EASY LAUGHTER OR GROANS FOR MY JOKES

A MAN'S HANDSHAKE WHEN MY FINGERS HURT

THE SAME STRENGTH IN A WOMAN'S EYES

DOES EACH NEW THING I LOVE

PREPARE MY HEART

TO LOVE THE NEXT THING BETTER

DOES EACH NEW LOVE EXPAND MY HEART

IS THIS WHY THEN

WITH ONE SMALL WORD

THE UNIVERSE IS TOLD

IS THIS WHY THEN

WITH ALL THE BURNING IN MY HEART

TO HAVE IT SAID IN WORDS IMMORTAL

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO THIS

I LOVE YOU

frank a vollmer

Among the Stones

I AM DOWN AMONG THE STONES

AMONG THE ROCKS THAT LITTER THE SHORE

AMONG THE POOLS THE OCEAN HAS LEFT

LITTLE TREASURE TROVES OF SEA LIFE

I AM DOWN AMONG THE STONES

IT IS PEACEFUL HERE

THE OCEAN IS A SIBILANT IN THE DISTANCE

I AM BETWEEN THE TIDES

I AM BETWEEN INFUSIONS

THE POURING IN OF MEDICINES

TO MAKE ME WELL

ODD WORD FOR ME

IT HAS ALWAYS MEANT

THE POURING IN OF THE SPIRIT

HIS INDWELLING IN ME

HIS WORKING LIKE THE MEDICINES

DRIVING OUT THE BAD

THE MEDICINE

IS GIVEN TO ME

WHEN I AM AT MY BEST

BETWEEN THESE TIMES

THERE COMES THE POINT

WHEN I AM AT MY WORST

PHYSICALLY

EMOTIONALLY

THEY CALL IT THE NADIR

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TROUBLED

AND UNSURE

ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE

PAIN AND SORROW

SHOULD I BE ANGRY AT MY FATE

SHOULD I ACCEPT IT

AND MAKE IT WORK

OR WILL I BE OVERWHELMED BY IT

IN TRUTH I OFTEN HAVE DONE ALL THREE

SOMETIMES SIMULTANEOUSLY

THE BEST SEEMS TO BE

TAKE IT AND MAKE IT WORK

TO TRY TO BE AT PEACE

SO I AM DOWN

AMONG THE STONES

AMONG THE ROCKS

QUIET AND PEACEFUL IN THIS PLACE

BETWEEN THE TIDES

BETWEEN INFUSIONS

I AM OPEN

TO THE WHISPERINGS OF THE SPIRIT

WHICH STRANGELY SOUND

LIKE THE SIBILANT SOUNDS OF THE SEA

frank a vollmer

Sign

HE WOKE ONE MORNING BEFORE DAWN

AND IN THE QUIET

AND LONELINESS OF THE HOUR

SAID

GOD

GIVE ME A SIGN THAT YOU DO EXIST

BUT NO ANSWER CAME

BUT A MILLION CELLS

LIVED

DIED

REPRODUCED

AT DAWN

THE SUN CAME UP

WITH MATHEMATICAL PRECISION

AND COLORS

THAT CHALLENGE AN ARTIST’S PALETTE

AND QUIETLY

A MILLION CELLS

LIVED

DIED

REPRODUCED

WHILE HE WALKED THE EARTH

HELD IN PLACE BY GRAVITY

GIVE ME A SIGN

THAT I MIGHT BELIEVE IN YOU

HE CRIED

WHILE TIDES

AND PLANETS

MOVED

TO SCHEDULE

LIKE A SLAVE

LONGING FOR THE EVENING SHADOWS

OR A HIRED MAN

WAITING EAGERLY

FOR HIS WAGES

HE WAITED FOR A SIGN

AS THE EARTH PUSHED BACK

WITH FORCE EQUAL TO HIS WEIGHT

SO HE WOULD NOT SINK INTO THE GROUND

HE WAS A GOOD MAN

HE LOVED HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN

HE DID NOT QUESTION THE SOURCE OF THAT LOVE

IT WAS JUST THERE

HE WAS AN HONORABLE MAN

WHO WORKED TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD

AND NEVER QUESTIONED THE SOURCE OF THAT IMPULSE

THERE WERE TIMES HE FELT AN INCREDIBLE LONELINESS

AND DID NOT KNOW WHY

LOST IN A FOREST

HE SAW NO TREES

WITH NIGHT

CAME THE WONDER

OF SUNSET AND EVENING SKY

AND HE REPEATED HIS MORNING PRAYER

HE DID NOT HEAR THE WHISPERINGS ALL AROUND HIM

AND RETIRED

DISAPPOINTED AGAIN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Rowboats

THE BOATS WERE GATHERED AROUND THE DOCK

WONDERING WHERE THEIR SAILORS WERE

SOON THEY WOULD BE PUT AWAY

IT WAS THE TIME

FOR THE PUTTING AWAY

THE TOYS OF SUMMER

THE TREES HAD DRESSED FOR ONE LAST DANCE

THE HAWK GOOSE AND BLACKBIRD

DECORATED THE SKY WITH THEIR PASSING

THE LOON

IT SEEMS JUST RECENTLY BORN

WAS PRACTICING TAKEOFFS

AWKWARD AND UNGAINLY

MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM LAKE TO OCEAN

AS AWKWARD AND UNGAINLY

AS MOST TRANSITIONS ARE

AND THE LAKE

FLAT AS A MIRROR

SENT A RIPPLE

TO PASS BENEATH THE DOCK

WHERE I SAT

ENJOYING THE WARM FALL DAY

RESTING FROM THE PUTTING AWAY OF TOYS

WAS IT AN ANSWER FROM GOD

FOR A PRAYER I'D SAID

AND ANSWERED

AS SO MANY PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED

WHEN THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION

AND IN THE MIDST OF CHANGE

WE SEE A LEAF IN FLIGHT

ACTING AS IT WERE ENJOYING THE MOMENT

WE LIFT WITH THE LEAF

WE FEEL ITS JOY AND FREEDOM

SO THAT WE ARE MOVED TO TAKE A STICK

AND RIPPLE THE WATER

SENDING A THANK YOU

BACK TO GOD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Nostalgia

I HAVE WATCHED THE CEASELESS SURGING

OF THE SEA ON THE SHORE

THE SURGE AND THE ROLL

THE PEBBLES FLINGING ON THE SHORE

THE MYSTERY OF THE FOG I HAVE KNOWN

THE GRACE AND SYMMETRY

OF SEA GULLS FLYING

HAS MOVED ME

I HAVE HEARD THE HAPPY LAUGH OF CHILDREN

CATCHING THE OCEAN IN A PAIL

AND WATCHED THE TIDE COME LAPPING

IN SPOILING DREAM CASTLES BACK TO SAND

I HAVE HELPED THE FISHERMEN WITH THEIR NETS

OR ROWED ON THE LAKE

LATE AT NIGHT

TO BE ALONE

I HAVE SAT WITH THEM

AT NIGHT ON THE SHORE

TIRED FROM WORK

EATING SUPPER

TELLING JOKES

DRINKING BEER

I HAVE ENJOYED THEIR TELLING OF THE WEATHER

TOMORROW WOULD BE FAIR OR FOUL THEY'D SAY

THE WIND THE CLOUDS THE SEA BIRDS FLIGHT

HAVE TOLD ME SO

AND IT WOULD BE SO IT WOULD BE SO

I WONDER IF THEY WOULD BE SO EAGER TO GO

IF THEY COULD TELL THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS EASY AS THE WEATHER

BUT... NO… NO… IT IS BETTER THEY DO NOT KNOW

JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM

HOW MANY MEMORIES HAS A NAME

JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM... JERUSALEM

THERE TO GO IN MY FATHER' S NAME

JERUSALEM…JERUSALEM

BORN IN A SUBURB

TO DIE THE SAME

MY COMPANIONS CALL

IT'S TIME TO GO

GOOD BUDDIES THERE

JAMES

JOHN SO INNOCENT

PETER STRONG

I WOULD TARRY

THEY SAY COME

I WOULD LINGER

THEY SAY GO

I WOULD STAY

BUT NOT MY WAY

BUT I SHALL MISS

AND I SHALL WANT

AND I SHALL LOVE

THE CEASELESS SURGING OF THE SEA

 

 

frank a vollmer

Soliloquy in a Darkened Bedroom

WHEN I WAS YOUNG LAD

AND ON MY COT

THE CARS GOING BY

MADE MONSTERS

RUN ACROSS THE WALLS

TO HIDE IN CLOSETS

AND BENEATH MY BED

AND DARE ME TO MAKE A BATHROOM CALL

I HAVE NEW MONSTERS NOW

OF WHOM I’M NOT AFRAID

I DON’T MEAN TO SOUND SO BRAVE

BUT I’VE LIVED WITH THEM AWHILE

THEY ARE COMPANIONS OF MY OLD AGE

A READING FROM 4 ESDRAS

ETERNAL REST GRANT TO THEM OH LORD

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. AMEN.

A COMMON QUOTE IN EARLY CHRISTIAN TIMES

A BEAUTIFUL QUOTE

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN

IS IT THAT GOD WILL LEAVE THE LIGHT ON

SO THAT THE MONSTERS WILL BE KEPT AT BAY

IT NEVER MADE THE BIBLE

BUT WAS WIDELY CITED

AMONG THE EARLY DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH

WAS MADE PART OF THE SERVICE FOR THE DEAD

ETERNAL REST

A THING TO BE CRAVED

PERPETUAL LIGHT

NO DEMONS WILL COME NEAR

ODD THOUGHTS

BROUGHT ON BY PROLONGED BED REST

AND THE MEDICINE

THAT KEEPS ME IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF OVERDRIVE

AND LET’S MY IMAGINATION SOAR

AS SHADOWS FLY ACROSS MY ROOM

WHISPERING

WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE GIVES CHURCH’S A BAD NAME

WHY

TO QUOTE JONATHAN SWIFT

DO WE HAVE ENOUGH RELIGION TO HATE

AND NOT ENOUGH TO LOVE

WHY SHOULD THERE BE A DRESS CODE AT CHURCH

SO HIGH

THAT A POOR MAN

WOULD NOT FEEL WELCOME

WHY SHOULD A CONVERSION TO CHRISTIANITY

CARRY WITH IT AN APPRECIATION

OF EUROPEAN CULTURE

OR HYMNODY

WHY DO MEN SUFFER

KIND OF LATE AT NIGHT FOR THAT

NOT MUCH ELSE HAPPENING

I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT GOD GAVE JOB

A SUITABLE ANSWER

OH I WAS PROPERLY IMPRESSED

AWED

SCARED EVEN

BUT NOT IMPRESSED

WE MUST BE QUIET

SHE

WHO WATCHES OVER ME IN THE NIGHT

WILL CHECK ON ME

IF SHE HEARS A NOISE

GOD IS REALLY HER ASSISTANT

BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW IT

WE ARE MINDED THAT THE POPE

WAS COMMENDED

FOR HOW GRACEFULLY HE SUFFERED

AND HE DID

BUT IN THAT BELIEF SYSTEM

SUFFERING

CAN BE USED TO MERIT

TO ALLEVIATE

THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION

OF A SOUL IN PURGATORY

ONE CAN SUFFER THEIR MOTHER

INTO HEAVEN

OH STOP FLYING AROUND THE ROOM MARTIN

THIS IS MY ARGUMENT WITH MY SELF

NOT YOURS

I WAS ASKED ONCE WHEN I SAID THESE THINGS

HAD I FOUND GOD

I TOLD THEM I DIDN’T THINK HE WAS LOST

WHY DOES GOD ADVOCATE GENOCIDE IN THE BIBLE

IS THIS GOD’S VOICE

OR THAT OF THE AUTHOR

I WANT A GOD WHO HOLDS ME IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

A PALM INSCRIBED WITH MY NAME

A GOD WHO LOVES ME PERSONALLY

I DO NOT THINK THAT A GOD WHO LOVES US

WOULD SPEAK TO US IN RIDDLES OR CODE

HOW MANY PARENTS

HAVE WE TORTURED AS IN HELL

BECAUSE THEIR BABIES WERE NOT BAPTIZED

IF GOD SAYS LOVE

CAN WE EXPECT HIM TO DO OTHERWISE

CAN WE DEMAND OF HIM

THE SAME HE DEMANDS OF US

THE SHADOWS FLY ACROSS THE ROOM

LESS NOW THAT DAY COMES

LIKE A WATCHMAN I WAIT FOR DAWN

MY EYES ARE GROWING WEARY

THE LIGHT COMES ON

THE MONSTERS GO TO SLEEP

AND I AM SHELTERED IN GOD’S HAND

FRANK A VOLLMER