WILL I REMEMBER

 

I stand in the shadows as it rains,

   And the dark clouds pass on by –

December is going with a smile,

   Now I wait for winter to cry!

 

The cornfields have turned brown,

   And all the ponds are frozen –

Again sweet December smiles,

   A month that winter has chosen!

 

In time the skies will surely clear,

   Soon January will sneak in –

Time has raced on by . . .  

   As a new year comes once again!

 

It’s the last day of December . . .

But yester – year will I remember?

 

Epaphroditus© December 31, 2023

     

 

EMANCIPATED FROM CLAY

 

We were molded

Into a world of madness,

But who dictates our beliefs?

Is it acceptance we need?

Knowledge will set us free.

Wisdom has been penned,

But the world deceives us.

We know in our hearts the truth,

Yet we give in to others.

God is love…

His grace is sufficient

His hand is given with kindness

So take the path less traveled

Let your spirit be free

In time we all shall return

To the potters hands.

 

Epaphroditus© October 26, 2002

IN THIS SADNESS

 

why me –

love   what did I do to you –

I thought I was patience

I was waiting in line

 

troubles    heartaches   hurts

 

and you didn’t care

you saw my tears and

you kept on going

laughing

 

when this heart laid in sadness

 

the pain

that love has caused me

sadness   troubles   heartaches

and all the hurts I can’t explain

 

giving you all that I have and

 

it’s

love

and

          the

                    thought of it

 

in this sadness      I suffer   with

troubles

heartaches

hurts

 

epaphroditus© December 30, 2023

 

 

KISSES OF WINTER

I know that life is but a test,

   It can boggle one’s mind!

That’s why we all need to rest,

   So try to be in bed by nine.

Look at nature – look at a flower,

Never awake at the midnight hour,

Then close your eyes at night,

And let tomorrow be out of sight.

 

Winter comes to kiss the ground,

   Because everything needs to rest!

Look at the cornfields all brown

   Birds have abandoned the nest –

The time has come to be still,

As shadows cast upon the hill,

Now winter has been set in place:

“A reality that we must embrace.”

 

Epaphroditus© December 22, 2023

 

 

GUIDANCE

 

Sounds of silence

Now it’s quiet –

Walking in defiance

Deep into the night –

An inner voice:

“Times are okay,”

There was no choice

You lost our way –

Follow my lead

Look up above

I know all you need

You see it’s love:

Sounds of silence

God is my guidance!

 

Epaphroditus© December 29, 2023

FRIENDS

 

Friends, soon the cold will pass

The storms of life was only a test

Soon April will replenish to earth –

The flower will once again bloom,

And we will marvel at the moon –

Then the birds will sing with joy!

Friends, the earth needed to rest,

And so it is with our minds –

“They that hope in the Lord will

renew their strength, they will

soar on eagles’ wings; they will

run and not grow weary, walk

and not grow faint.”

Friends, soon the cold will pass!

 

Epaphroditus© December 29, 2023

 

LOVE IS NOT CHEAP

 

I will write you poems for your delight,

And I will hold you close at night –

Words I say are for you and not for me,

   A passion that is set in stone,

   And I will never leave you alone,

   In time I’m sure you will see!

Tomorrow only speaks of an unknown,

But like the sun my love has shown –

And for you I will always fight!

   I know at times you feel defeated,

   And I don’t mean to sound conceited,

   But look at how you are treated!

At night (I’m awake) watching you sleep,

This you need to know, love is not cheap!

 

Epaphroditus© December 28, 2023

 

  

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Passion! You are a true piece of art!

The inviting looks hidden behind your eyes.

You temp the emotions of the strongest heart,

And yet, you have a way to stop an infant’s cries,

How does a mortal man know one that’s so wise?

Who but you would leave such words to only cling?

Like a rainbow that fades in the ominous skies,

As darkness falls like a feather from a broken wing;

Who has not seen the shadows that linger from afar?

As if to take the last tree and chop it into firewood.

The night was filled with such glory then not a star

Would you not take ones love if you only could?

Passion! You are not a true piece of art!

For it’s my soul you’ve taken and broke my heart!

 

Epaphroditus© May 2, 2004

 

THIS I CAN SAY

 

Who has seen a broken heart?

   Neither I nor you:

But who was it that torn it apart,

   So now, what will you do?

 

Who has seen into your soul?

   Neither you nor I:

But in truth you already know,

   It was him that made you cry!

 

Who has seen your brokenness?

   And loves you more than me?

But only love fills your emptiness,

    In this you will have to see!

 

Who has wiped your tears away?

Yes it was me – this I can say!

 

Epaphroditus© December 26, 2023

 

 

 

TWO AND TWO ARE ONE

 

   I wish it were snowing,

   But not a flake is showing –

   I was just on Twitter

   So many people are bitter!

It won’t take long – it’s so dumb –

   Life is filled with uncertainty,

   But this world will not control me!

   I find it quite amazing,

   A generation that we are raising –

Some think two and two are one!

 

   So I guess we all feel defeated

   No answers, yes God is needed!

   You see it takes more than will,

   But most just sit back and chill!

Believe me folks you are not alone –

   Just look around at our society

   We’re filled with too much anxiety!

   I wish there was clear sailing,

   But the truth is quite prevailing –

A world gone crazy – am I wrong?

 

Epaphroditus© December 25, 2023

LET’S TALK

 

If we meet and I say, hello,

That’s a greeting.

If I ask you out for dinner,

That is a meeting.

If I play around on you,

That is cheating.

If I run from you,

That is retreating.

If I tell you the truth,

That is gratifying.

If I disagree with you,

That is not fighting.

If I pay you a compliment,

That is rewarding.

If I say I’m sorry,

That is humbling.

If my lips lock on yours, 

That is kissing.

If you see passion in my eyes,

That is caring.

(And if I say I don’t love you,

That is lying!)

 

Epaphroditus© August 16, 2015

 

 

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW

 

As a child – wisdom I didn’t know

Looking out a window watching it snow –

 

Dreams of a child – I wanted it all –

Watching shadows dancing on the wall,

 

Seeing the snow hanging on every tree,

Snowing so hard the old barn I can’t see!

 

As a child – I had no one to blame,

Every day they all seemed the same –

 

The best part – off to school we didn’t go

I remember praying that it would snow –

 

Dried corn stalks standing in the field

Knowing their fruit they’ll no longer yield –

 

When winter comes – the rabbits know

Just look at their footprints in the snow!

 

Epaphroditus© December 25, 2023

 

 

THE KILLING FIELDS

 

   In fields of rice,

   Life was not nice,

Snakes amongst the lotus pods,  

   All day I cry for you,

   If you only knew,

Always fighting against the odds!

 

   Afraid to shut my eyes,

   Always hearing death cries

The hell of Napalm Bombs –

   Exploding all around

   Peace is never found

Always repeating the 23^rd psalms!

 

   I lie awake at night

   I pray to see the light

Bound by an oath I took to serve!

   O the hell of war

   The burdens I have to bore

The taking of a life I didn’t deserve!

 

Epaphroditus© December 24, 2023

 

    

    

TRANSFORMING

 

Good morning! Good morning!

Troubles come without warning –

But today is still young

Sweet words fall from my tongue

As the world is transforming,

Good morning! Good morning!

 

Epaphroditus© December 23, 2023

CHILDLIKE

 

Sometimes we overthink a problem

   We just think too long –

Most of the time there are no answers,

   And when we guess we guess wrong!

 

You see, not one person knows it all

   So just sit back and smile –

We need to let most problems go . . .

   Reflect back to when we were a child!

 

Take the time to watch a honey bee . . .

   Their legs all powered with gold –

And their days are not filled with worry

   If we knew the knowledge they hold!

 

So let our days be filled with joy . . .

Think, a problem for a child is a toy!

 

Epaphroditus© December 21, 2023

  

I SIT AND PONDER

 

Sometimes I have thoughts in my head,

But it’s living I’ll never dread!

And I enjoy life I’ll have to say –

Nothing better than waking – up today!

 

Sometimes I sit and ponder for hours,

And I think of those in ivory towers –

Then I ask, “Do they care about me?”

I bet it’s reality that they seldom see!

 

Sometimes I just let the world pass on by

Because all I can do is sigh . . .

It’s hard to figure what’s it’s all about,

Then I end up filled with endless doubt!

 

But all in all my glass is still half full –

And over my eyes the wool you may pull,

But in life we have to deal with the pain,

Just remember we’re not all the same!

 

Epaphroditus© December 20, 2023

 

 

A BITTER TASTE

 

I know that yesterday is gone,

   But I remember your touch,

It’s what love was all about,

   And I miss that so much!

Love is about the little things,

Not about all the games,

Or pulling on heartstrings,

   And to your memory I clutch!

 

Feelings that come out at night

   And in love I didn’t invest,

The world I guess took my time

   Always being so stressed,

And it’s reality I have to face,

And the fact that I lost my place,

And losing you has a bitter taste,

   But through it all I’m blessed!

 

Your memory still sustains me,

   But life can still get in the way!

If I could only call back the years

   I would not let you slip away –

Love would have more meaning

I would do more dreaming,

And I’d not be so demeaning

   And I’d love you every day!

 

Epaphroditus© December 19, 2023