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

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

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



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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

[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

(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



(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