BY
FRANK A VOLLMER
Wildflowers
WILDFLOWERS
YOU SOMEHOW EXPECT THEM BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
LIKE SOMEONE PUT THEM THERE FOR PRETTY
BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROAD
WHEN YOU SAY TO YOURSELF
I'LL WALK TO THAT TREE OR HILL
OR I'LL WALK STRAIGHT NORTH
AND OFF YOU GO
THROUGH THICKET AND BRIARS
AND COOL WOODED SLOPE
AND THERE YOU FIND THEM
IN PLACES
NOT EASILY REACHED
OR OFTEN PASSED
THE EARLY SPRING FLOWERS
SPRING BEAUTY
VIOLET
MARSH MARIGOLD
FIDDLE HEADS OF EMERGING FERN
WHAT A WASTE
WHY NOT SAVE THEM ALL FOR THE ROADSIDE
WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM
BUT HERE IN A HIDDEN CORNER
ARE THEY A LURE
ARE THEY A REWARD
FOR STRIKING OUT ON ONE'S OWN
ARE THEY A GIFT FOR FINDING OUT
WHAT WEALTH INHABITS A BIT OF EARTH
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME
THAT NOW I SEE THINGS THAT I ONCE RUSHED BY
IS IT AGE THE GROWING OLDER
THAT MAKES ME MORE REFLECTIVE
IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN
WHICH MAKES ME THRILL TO SPRING TIME QUICKENING
IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN
WHICH MAKES ME FEEL A KINSHIP TO AUTUMN
I DO NOT KNOW
I ONLY KNOW
I HAVE THIS URGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT IS OFF THE ROAD
OR ON TOP OF THE HILL
OR IN THE VALLEY
AS IF I WERE COUNTING DAYS
AND FOUND THE DAYS NOT QUITE ENOUGH
NOT QUITE ENOUGH HOURS UNTIL SUNSET
WHEN I AM DONE I GO HOME
TIRED
HAPPY
A LITTLE SAD
THAT I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME
RUSHING
TO WHERE
I DID NOT WANT TO GO
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I Was Mom's Favorite
I WAS MOM’S FAVORITE
IN MY MOTHER'S COFFIN
WERE PLACED FOUR ROSES
ATTACHED TO THEM WAS A CARD
THAT SAID
FROM YOUR FAVORITES
A SEMI-SERIOUS GAME
MY THREE SISTERS
AND I HAVE PLAYED
MOST OF OUR LIVES
THE GAME OF
WHO WAS MOM'S FAVORITE
I HAVE RECEIVED BIRTHDAY CARDS
FROM MY SISTERS
THAT SAID FOR MY BIRTHDAY
MOM GAVE ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS
WHAT DID SHE GIVE YOU
OR HAS MOM TOLD YOU YET
THAT YOU WERE ADOPTED
IT WAS A SILLY GAME
IT WAS A FUN GAME
MOM ENJOYED IT.
THOUGH IN SECRET
SHE TOLD ME
THAT I WAS HER FAVORITE
LATELY I'VE SUSPECTED
THAT SHE TOLD MY SISTERS THE SAME THING
LUTHER
AS A YOUNG MAN
AS A YOUNG MONK
CERTAINLY DID NOT THINK HIMSELF
AS GODS FAVORITE
LUTHER AS A RESULT
OF HOW HE WAS TAUGHT RELIGION
HAD EVOLVED A SET OF FOUR QUESTIONS
FROM WHICH HE COULD NOT ESCAPE
THEY WERE
CAN YOU BE FREE FROM SIN
NOOOO HE ANSWERED
IS THERE A DAY OF JUDGMENT
YESSSS HE ANSWERED
IS GOD INDIFFERENT TO SIN
NOOOO HE ANSWERED
WILL YOU BE DAMMED FOR YOUR SINS
YESSSS HE ANSWERED
LUTHER HAD NO TROUBLE
UNDERSTANDING WHAT NATHAN SAID
IN WHICH GOD IS QUOTED AS SAYING
BECAUSE YOU DAVID HAVE SINNED
YOUR CHILD MUST DIE.
THERE WAS NO LOVE IN LUTHER'S GOD
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN
BUT JESUS SAID TO PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
YES LORD I DO
PETER FEED MY LAMBS
AGAIN JESUS ASKED PETER
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
LORD YOU KNOW I DO
FEED MY SHEEP
A THIRD TIME JESUS ASKED
PETER DO YOU LOVE ME
TO WHICH
IF PETER HAD GROWN UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
HE WOULD HAVE SAID
YO JESUS I ALREADY TOLD YOU TWICE
BUT PETER SAID
LORD YOU KNOW EVERYTHING
YOU KNOW MY HEART,
YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU
JESUS SAID FEED MY LAMBS
THIS SCENE TO ME
IS ONE OF THE TENDEREST SCENES
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
I VISION PETER
AS A BIG INARTICULATE BEAR OF A MAN
GIVEN TO RASH ACTION
STRIVING HARD TO FOLLOW THE LORD
SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT AS HE GOES.
SUFFERING FROM FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE
AS WITNESSED BY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
FOR PETER TURNS AROUND
SPIES JOHN
RUMORED TO BE JESUS' FAVORITE
HE SAYS
WHAT ABOUT THAT MAN
JESUS SAYS
WHAT IS THAT TO YOU
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GOES PETER
GO PETER
EVERY MORNING WHEN I WASH MY FACE
I THINK I SEE PETER.
TOP TO BOTTOM IN ZERO SECONDS
GO PETER
THERE WAS A MAN
WHO HAD TWO SONS
THE YOUNGER ONE SAID
FATHER GIVE ME ALL THAT IS MINE
I WANT TO LEAVE.
THE FATHER DID AS THE SON REQUESTED
THE YOUNG MAN WENT OFF
SPENT ALL HIS MONEY
ENDING UP EATING WITH THE PIGS
HE SAID TO HIMSELF
MY FATHERS SERVANTS LIVE BETTER THAN THIS.
I WILL RISE AND GO TO MY FATHER
BEG HIM TO LET ME BE ONE OF HIS SERVANTS
EVERY EVENING SINCE THE SON HAD LEFT
THE FATHER HAD CLIMBED A HILLSIDE
FOR A BETTER VIEW
HE HAD WATCHED
AND WAITED FOR HIS SON TO RETURN
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
HE RECOGNIZED HIS WALK
AS ONLY A PARENT CAN KNOW A CHILD'S WALK.
WHEN HE SAW HIM AT A DISTANCE
AT A LONG LONG DISTANCE
HE RAN TO HIM LAUGHING
CRYING
SHOUTING
MY SON HAS RETURNED
THE ONE I THOUGHT WAS LOST
HAS RETURNED
HE RAN TO HIM
EMBRACED HIM
BEAR HUGGED HIM SO TIGHT
THAT THE SON'S MUMBLED
I WANT TO BE ONE OF YOUR SERVANTS
WAS NEVER HEARD
WAS NEVER HEARD
IN THE FATHER S EXUBERANT JOY
HIS COMING HOME
WAS MESSAGE ENOUGH
NOW YOU AND I
AT SOME TIME IN OUR LIVES
WE ARE THE OLDER BROTHER.
THE ONE WHO DID EVERY THING RIGHT.
WE SEE THE HAPPINESS OF THE FATHER
HOW THE FATHER HAS RESTORED
THE YOUNGER BROTHER
TO A PLACE OF HONOR
WE ARE JEALOUS.
I THINK IF THIS WASN'T A BIBLE STORY
WE WOULD ALL THINK
THAT THE OLDER BROTHER
WAS POORLY TREATED
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO THINK
ABOUT THIS STORY
LEFT TO OUR OWN JUDGMENTS
THE YOUNGER SON
WOULD HAVE BEEN BANISHED FROM THE FARM
ALL HONOR GIVEN TO THE OLDER SON
WHO HAD DONE NO WRONG
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING
TO KILL THE BABY TOO
BECAUSE SIN NEEDS PUNISHMENT
IN OUR MIND
BUT JESUS WANTS US TO KNOW
THAT WHAT
WAS
IS NO
MORE
THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH
HIS RESURRECTION
THE LOVE OF GOD FOR HIS CREATURES
HAS BECOME IRRATIONAL,
DOES NOT GO BY RULES
BY WHICH WE FEEL COMFORTABLE
THAT WHEN GOD LOOKS AT US
THAT WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALLY
HIS FAVORITE
THAT HIS FORGIVENESS IS THERE
BEFORE WE SIN
WHILE WE SIN
AFTER WE SIN
THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO
IS ASK FORGIVENESS
TRY TO SIN NO MORE
THIS IS THE LESSON MARTIN LUTHER LEARNED
WHILE STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
INDIVIDUALLY AND TOTALLY
THAT FORGIVENESS WAS FREE
AND FREELY GIVEN
THIS IS THE LESSON PETER LEARNED
THAT GOD LOVED HIM
GOOD TIMES AND BAD.
WHETHER STRONGLY DEFENDING JESUS
WITH A SWORD
OR COWERING BEFORE A SERVANT MAID’S GLANCE
HE WAS LOVED BEFORE
DURING
AND AFTER
HE WAS LOVED
THIS IS A LESSON MY MOTHER
TAUGHT MY SISTERS AND I
I WILL LOVE YOU TOTALLY
INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL MY HEART
THE LESSON IS
THAT EACH OF US
INDIVIDUALLY
IS GOD’S FAVORITE
THAT WHEN HE LOOKS ON US
HIS CREATION
ALL IS FORGOTTEN
AND FORGIVEN
EXCEPT HIS LOVE FOR US
OUR GOD HAS CARVED OUR NAME
ON THE PALM OF HIS HAND
THAT OUR NAME MIGHT ALWAYS BE BEFORE HIM
THAT EACH OF US
HAS A SPECIAL PLACE
IN HIS HEART
OVER THE DOOR
OF THAT PLACE
IS A SIGN THAT SAYS
HOME OF MY FAVORITE
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NURSING HOME VISIT
I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT TENDS MY HANDS
ASKS ME QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOMES I SHOULD REMEMBER
SOMETIMES THE SNOW WHIRLS
BLOTS THE LANDSCAPE OF MY HORIZON
WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT PRATTLES ON
I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
THE SNOW TWIRLS
THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGED
IN ITS PASSING
WHO IS THIS WOMAN
DOING MY HAIR
I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
A MESSAGE THAT MUST BE TOLD
BUT THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE SNOW TWIRLS
I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
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LET US SING A DIRGE ABOUT DIVES
WHO SUPPED AT A BANQUET TABLE
WHILE UNDERNEATH SAT LAZARUS
WAITING FOR CRUMBS
FROM BREAD
DIVES USED
TO CLEAN HIS GREASY HANDS
FOOD FOR THE DOGS
WHO LICKED HIS SORES
HE FELT GRATEFUL FOR THE CRUMBS
DIVES DIVES
WHY ARE YOU THERE
IN HELL
WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG
NOTHING
THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE
BECAUSE LAZARUS WAS INVISIBLE TO ME
I NEVER BEAT HIM
OR CHASED HIM FROM MY TABLE
HE WAS INVISIBLE TO ME
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THE SHEPHERD LOOKED AT THE STARS
SO CLEAR IN THE AIR
SO BRIGHT IN THE NIGHT
HE LOST HIMSELF
IN THE WONDER OF A GOD
WHO COULD CREATE A UNIVERSE
SO GREAT
I WONDER IF HE TENDS IT
LIKE I DO MY SHEEP
DOES HE FUSS WHEN THEY ARE SICK
CRY WHEN THEY DIE
BE ANGRY WHEN THEY ARE LOST
HAPPY WHEN THEY ARE FOUND
THE SHEPHERD SAT
HE WATCHED THE STARS
CONTENT
KNOWING THAT GOD
WAS SHEPHERDING HIM
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Goats and Lambs
THE GOATS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE BARN
AFTER THEIR DAY IN THE FIELD
THEY COULDN’T STAND THE COLD
BUT THE SHEEP REMAINED OUTSIDE
WARM IN THEIR COAT
MILKING THE GOAT WAS WOMEN’S WORK
A DEBAUCHED WOMEN WAS CALLED A GOAT
THE GOATS WERE BLACK
THE SHEEP WOOL WHITE
THE GOATS WERE PROMISCUOUS
THEY SHARED THEIR MATES
THE SHEEP DID NOT
OUT OF ALL THIS FOLKLORE
JESUS SPUN A TALE
USING IMAGES THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD
HE STARTS BY SAYING
THE KING COMES IN GLORY
SO CRITICAL IN THE EAST
THE DEMAND FOR RESPECT
SO HE COMES IN GLORY
HE SITS ON THE GLORY THRONE
COMMANDING RESPECT
AS BEFITS A KING
HE TELLS A COMMON STORY
OF SEPARATING SHEEP FROM GOATS
SEPARATING THE GOOD
FROM THE INDIFFERENT
THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY BAD
THE GOATS
THEY WERE INDIFFERENT
HE SAID TO THE SHEEP
WHO WERE CARING
AND HUDDLED TOGETHER FOR WARMTH
COME INTO THE KINGDOM
I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU
I’LL SHALL BE YOUR SHEPHERD
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Carcer
THE WORD CARCER IN LATIN
MEANS PRISON
TO INCARCERATE
MEANS
TO SEND TO PRISON
THE EARLY CHURCH
KNEW WELL
WHAT CARCER MEANT
EARLY ON THE PRISONS
COULD NOT KEEP THEM
CHAINS FELL OFF
DOORS WERE OPENED
THEY WALKED FREE
BUT LATER
CARCER MEANT
A DOORWAY
TO HEAVEN
IN FACT IT WAS A FATE
THAT MANY SOUGHT
TODAY
WE HAVE MANY
WHO WILL DIE FOR A CAUSE
WE SCOFF
FORGETTING
THAT THE CHURCH
IN ALL ITS FORMS
HAS MANY MARTYRS
SO WHERE
DOES IT END
HOW DO WE JUDGE
WHEN IT’S RIGHT
WHEN IT’S WRONG
TO PARAPHRASE PAUL
IF WHAT YOU DO
HAS NOT LOVE
THEN THE ACT
IS A CLANGING BELL
THAT IS OUT OF TUNE
BELIEFS
WHICH SHOULD
BETTER MAN
BELITTLE HIM
BETTER A WASTELAND
THEY THINK
THAN LET ANOTHER
SURVIVE
THE CHURCH
HAS A POOR TRACK RECORD
OF LETTING THE OTHER SURVIVE
IF WHAT WE DO
HASN’T GOT LOVE
MANY THINK
IT’S NAMBY-PAMBY
BUT TO LOVE ANOTHER
AT COST TO ONESELF
IS LIKE PETER
MEETING CHRIST ON THE ROAD
ASKING
QUO VADIS DOMINE
THE ANSWER
LED PETER
BACK TO ROME
TO DIE
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Fear Not
IT WAS THE EVENING
A COOL BREEZE WAS BLOWING
WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE SUN
THE BIRDS
HAD SETTLED
FOR THE EVENING
PERCHING ON TREE AND HOUSE
SHE WAS FINISHING HER PRAYERS
WITH
MAY MESSIAH COME
WHEN SHE HEARD A SOUND
AS IF
A LATE ARRIVING BIRD HAD COME
SHE SAW AN ANGEL
SHE HEARD A VOICE
SAYING
GOD’S CONSTANT GREETING
BE NOT AFRAID
THE CHOICE WAS HERS
THE CHOICE IS OURS
TO LET GOD SWELL WITHIN US
WHEN WE SAY SON OF MAN
WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
WHEN WE SAY SON OF GOD
WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
GOD WAITED
LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR
FOR A YES
GOD WAITS
LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR
FOR US TO SAY YES
TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
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Coin
WHOSE IMAGE IS PRESSED UPON THE COIN
A MAN’S HE ANSWERS
HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH
THEY ARE ALL VALUED THE SAME
HOW CAN THAT BE
THEIR MAKER DETERMINES THEIR VALUE
GIVE TO CAESAR HIS DUE
BUT GIVE TO GOD FULL VALUE
ANYTHING WHICH DIMINISHES A MAN
IS WRONG
ANYTHING WHICH DEBASES THE COIN
IS WRONG
THE COIN’S IMAGE
IS AN ECHO OF GOD’S FACE
BUT WE ARE ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE
THE REST OF THEM ARE RABBLE
YOU ARE ALL OF THE SAME VALUE
BUT…BUTBUT..BUTBUTBUT…
IS YOUR EYE JEALOUS
BECAUSE I AM GOOD
HOW DARE YOU CALL INFERIOR
WHAT I HAVE MADE
HOW DARE YOU
TRY TO CHEAPEN
ANOTHER’S COIN
IF YOU TRY
YOU ARE ONLY HOARDING DUST
AND YOUR WEALTH
IS ONLY SAND TRICKLING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS
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I’VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE REFORMATION
THE MORNING STARS THAT PRECEDED IT
LIKE HUS AND WYCLIFFE
ABOUT NOBLES WHO KEPT A HOUSE PRIEST
WHO AFTER DALLYING WITH THEIR MISTRESS
WOULD CONFESS
AND BE RIGHT AGAIN
ABOUT HOW MANY MOVEMENTS
BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
CALLED FOR ITS RETURN
TO EARLY POVERTY
SO THAT CHURCH LIFE
MIGHT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE
PEOPLE’S LIFE
AND BE TAUGHT THEM IN A LANGUAGE
THEY COULD UNDERSTAND
BUT AFTER THE BREAK
ARE WE ANY BETTER
DO WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
AS OURSELVES
IF HE IS DIFFERENT
IN FAITH
RACE
NATIONALITY
DO WE PREACH LOVE
AND PRACTICE HATRED
IF CHRIST CAME
WOULD WE KILL HIM FOR BEING A JEW
AS WE KILLED SIX MILLION CHRISTS
AND THE CHURCH WAS SILENT
MILLIONS OF AFRICANS
ARE DYING NOW
SO FEW CARE
WE’D RATHER INVADE A COUNTRY FOR OIL
BUT WHEN CHURCH AND STATE ARE JOINED
WE HAVE LUTHER BETRAYING THE PEASANTS
OR COUNSELING THE PRINCE
TO PRACTICE ADULTERY
QUIETLY
AND FINALLY
AGREEING TO DIVORCE
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BROKEN LANDSCAPE
OF THE CHURCH
EACH ONE LOOKING AT THE SHATTERED SHARD
OF THE MIRROR
SAYING
THEIRS IS THE TRUE REFLECTION
HOW MANY FACES HAS THE TRUTH
BUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING
WE’VE HAD DISSENSION
WE’VE HAD
PAUL VERSUS PETER
JEW VERSUS GENTILE
PURE VERSUS IMPURE FOOD
WOULD NOT A BETTER LITMUS TEST BE
NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE
BUT WHAT WE DO
DOES KNOWING THE HYPOSTATIC UNION
MAKE ONE HOLY
IS IT NOT BETTER
TO LIVE THE WORD
AND WHAT IS THAT WORD
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
LOVE GOD
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
THE REST IS COMMENTARY
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MY GRANDFATHER USED TO FILL MY HEAD
WITH TALES OF MONSTERS OF THE SEA
OF STORMS
OF THE WEE PEOPLE
THAT WOULD GET ME
IF I WAS NOT HOME FOR TEA
NOW I AM GROWN
AND KNOW THE TALES TO BE
GRANDPOP'S FAIRY TALES FOR ME
BUT STILL
WHENEVER I AM ON DEEP WATER
I WAIT FOR THE DRAGON HEAD TO EMERGE
MY HANDS ACHE
WHERE HE WOULD SQUEEZE THEM
AND I HAVE THIS DESIRE
FOR TEA
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WITH TALES OF MONSTERS OF THE SEA
OF STORMS
OF THE WEE PEOPLE
THAT WOULD GET ME
IF I WAS NOT HOME FOR TEA
NOW I AM GROWN
AND KNOW THE TALES TO BE
GRANDPOP'S FAIRY TALES FOR ME
BUT STILL
WHENEVER I AM ON DEEP WATER
I WAIT FOR THE DRAGON HEAD TO EMERGE
MY HANDS ACHE
WHERE HE WOULD SQUEEZE THEM
AND I HAVE THIS DESIRE
FOR TEA
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