Poetry

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No Peace!
The Lion of Judah’s Claims
Mountaintop Prayer
After the Storm
The Reverend
Jason
Adored
What a Smile!
Calling Them Home
In My Reflection

No Peace!

Isaiah 48:22 (NIV) “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

There is no peace,
no peace for the wicked!
Oh, but there’s an abundance of peace for me.
He called me “The light of the world”
and tossed my sins into the deep of the sea.

There is no peace,
no peace for the wicked,
but it rains on me in abundant showers.
It paints me tried and true in Him,
clothed like one of Solomon’s flowers.

There is such peace,
such peace for the righteous
who walk in the light of Jehovah God’s plan.
But no peace for the wicked ones
who do not fear the strength in His great hand.

There is no peace,
no peace for the wicked!
I thank you, Jesus, that there is peace for me,
peace that comes through Your blood-stained Love,
set up for those who are in love with Thee.
© Joyce Pool

The Lion of Judah's Claims

I am but a vessel.
Broken and Honor are my names.
Yet, I have heard from on high,
the Master's still, small cry,
the Lion of Judah's claims:

As the dew falls at night
and blankets the ground come morning,
so shall My anointing fall
upon those I have called
to give the world My warning:

Into the kingdom, come
in righteousness, mercy and truth.
I left you with one command,
a law for every man;
This one thing I've asked of you --

that you love each other.
But, instead, you curse your neighbor,
rather than leading him home
so I can call him My own.
And you ask for My favor?

Who do you think I am?
A man among men on the earth?
I am, the I Am, Most High.
My own sheep can hear My cry;
I have called you out from birth

to love one another,
just as My mercy, on you, fell.
Give of My love to all men,
reminding them all of when
My love tore open the veil.
© Joyce Pool

Mountaintop Prayer

If this is Your will, Lord,
if this is Your plan,
shine Your Light down on me
so I'll know where I stand.

The mountaintop is cold,
and the climb is steep.
Comfort and revive me
while I am fast asleep,

to carry on, oh God,
'til I see Your face,
finding crowns of glory
for those hid in Your grace.

Hold up the mantle, Lord,
as Your burden's light,
by the power of Your Word
to fight a faithful fight.

So glad I don't carry
this mantle alone;
You gave me swiftness of feet
for the journey back home;

Back down the mountain
with a Word from You,
I run faster than horses
with this one thing to do --

I leave yesterday's
troubles dead and gone;
For the mark of high calling,
I'm just traveling on,

leaving this journey
in the Shepherd's hands,
imparting His instruction
to the Spirit-called lands.
© Joyce Pool

After the Storm

Sunshine
peeks out from behind
silver-lined clouds,
splashing vibrant colors
on my heart.
Surely,
the rainbow
about to burst its way through
can feel the same excitement
that tempts me to smile
as though the storm
never happened.

Hiding behind a pillar
of dreams
was the only way I knew
to protect myself
from lightening
that bolted toward me
from utter blackness.
I waited
until the torrents slowed
to a gentle mist
before I found enough courage
to walk through the puddles --
aftermath.

Now,
I warm myself
under a downy blanket,
watching
from my picture window
while the clouds dissipate.
One day,
if my pillar of dreams
holds up long enough,
I’ll share my blanket
and my rainbow of smiles
with someone who appreciates
a woman
beautified by storms.

Until then,
I lean upon my pillar
of dreams --
that great Rock
that loves me
beyond measure.
Storm or no storm,
a rainbow of smiles,
unspeakable joy
is my umbrella,
my downy blanket
warming me
from the chill of storms.
© Joyce Pool

The Reverend

The following poem was written for the “Green Eyes” romance poetry contest.

My friend took me
to see the reverend
and I was leery.
You can never be
too careful about these things.

He greeted me at the door
with a feeble handshake,
“Hello, Minister.”
Who? Me?
“Good evening, Reverend.”

The jolly old man
looked me in the eye and asked,
"What is it you see in me?"
"Joy." I said, "Simply joy,"
and he did a little jig.

"You see through people
with those emerald eyes.
Tell me I am wrong."
I couldn't lie
so I swallowed hard, nodding.

"He's afraid of you.
You should wear dark shades
until he gets to know you."
I didn't have a clue
who he was talking about.

"You'll know who he is
by his hands;
they hang at his sides
like a gunslinger's."
A little laughter.

"Could be he carries them
the way he does
because of his work.
They just hang that way,”
he said with a faraway stare.

Could be that was a little
too vague for me.
Or maybe
the old reverend is senile.
At least he's joyful.

Maybe I'm not supposed to know
the things lined up for me
until they fall into my lap,
casual, but ready ...
like your hands falling at your sides.

Or, it could be,
the reverend saw an image of you
when he delved into
my soul searching mirrors
with his own.
© Joyce Pool

Jason

You say you don’t believe MY God
can pick up tiny fragments
and make you whole again.
Maybe you just don’t believe
He’d ever want to touch
pieces of someone like you.

I really wasn’t mad
when you knocked that loose tooth
out of my mouth with a baseball.
It stayed in there far too long,
just hanging there,
much like you just hang there
unloved,
sending out "unlovable"
and "untouchable" messages.

I’m not going to knock your teeth out
with truths about yourself.
You do a fine job of that
every time you look
in the cracked mirror
of your soul.

I hope
when we spend time together
you’ll use some of it
to look at me with wide-open eyes,

and see the changes in me,
from MTV,
the white lady,
and screaming
for our mother to save me
from the pieces I'd become

to standing upright,
by grace,
stronger than ever.
© Joyce Pool

Adored

You knew the words "I love you"
would blow away with the wind.
Those words spoken
to a heart that's broken
hold no value in the end.

I'd seen many promises
blown away within the dust.
It's hard to tell
a heart that's witnessed hell
that she has to learn to trust.

In one ear, out the other --
You know how the stories go.
But right on time,
like the words in a rhyme,
You graciously let me know ...

... You adore me.
... You adore me.
You're in love with me
and waited eagerly
to give me my place
in the midst of Your grace
for You adored me.

With arms opened wide,
stretched as far as the sky,
You laid my head on Your chest,
letting me enter Your rest.
You adored me.

Oh, Dear God, You adored me.
How could I not know,
that You adored me so?
Oh, Father God,
You adore me.
© Joyce Pool

What a Smile!

After I dreamed,
Joyful tears streamed
Down my face; I was in awe
Of His adoration
And cried out in elation,
"Oh, Jesus, Lord of us all!"

Master, My King,
My reason to sing,
You're smile so gentle and kind
Is directed at me.
Now, I finally see,
There's no other love divine.

No words describe
How I feel inside,
Having been so near You, Master.
It means more than I knew,
Getting so close to You.
Now, I'll forever be chasing after

Your smile.
Oh, what a smile!
So much love in the Master's smile!
© Joyce Pool

Calling Them Home

The biggest change since I met You
Is that I am no longer my own.
Your loving hand pushes me onward,
To call Your loved ones home.

And in the quiet, You speak:

"Tell them I love them.
Tell them I’m here.
Tell them you’ve all sinned
and they have nothing to fear.

Tell them I am calling them home."

What are people supposed to do
When the Master shows them of His plan?
Can’t stay in my quiet comfort zone;
I’ve felt the Most High’s hand.

And in the quiet, He spoke:

"Tell them I love them.
Tell them I’m here.
Tell them you’ve all sinned
and they have nothing to fear.

Tell them I am calling them home."

What that hand can do to a man;
From glory to glory, I transform.
O, the holiness of His presence
Changes a man reborn.

And in the quiet, I know:

He loves all of us.
He’s always here.
We’ve all fallen short,
but we have nothing to fear.

Our Father is calling us home.

You have nothing to fear.
Our Father is calling you home.

Be changed by His hand.
Our Father is calling you home.

Almighty, Most High,
Omnipotent Father of mine,
I know You are calling us home.
© Joyce Pool

In My Reflection

As no man is perfect and, for the most part, we know not what we do, I have found that those I love most are also the ones whose betrayal is most painful. My parents, my ex-spouse, my best friends, and even my children, have all let me down in some way. But none could betray me as much as I’ve betrayed my own self. I always heard and never fully comprehended the saying, “To thine own self, be true." That is, at least, not until I looked at the reflection in my mirror and saw the IMAGE of one betrayed with a kiss.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own IMAGE, in the IMAGE OF GOD he created him; male and female he created them.
Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth thee unto me for
ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in
righteousness, and in judgment, and in
lovingkindness, and in mercies.
Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.

He is my parent, my husband, my best friend,
And my brother; He is the great I Am.
Like the Christ, there is no other
Who can take me by the hand,

And lead me gently beside still waters --
That I can trust to never let me down;
Who will give me, despite the roads I’ve traveled,
My own jeweled and golden crown.

He’ll never leave me, nor forsake me;
He’s there every time I call.
He picks me up when even I betray me;
Yes, even every time I fall.
© Joyce Pool

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