With their noise

And their toys,

Boys will be boys,

In the woods

Laying claim,

To little girls

They name dames.

Little girls

With their curls,

Their dresses that twirl,

In the grass,

Lingering,

From little boys

They bring kings.

Copyright 2024.    L.L. Shelton.

Not by aught

That I have done,

But by thy blood

My victory won,

Not by aught

Except thy love,

Was mercy ceded

From above;

And wandering we,

True Church of Light,

Brought home to glory,

In thy sight!

Not by aught

But by thy might,

All creation

Is made right.

Copyright 2024.    L. L. Shelton.

How long will I stand

In this world of undreams,

Where only the shadows

Are what they seem?

Left brain overwhelmed,

Right mind seeing ‘round,

Let me write or draw or paint,

I must remember thoughts I think.

Copyright 2023.     L.L. Shelton.

Life is nothing  if not comical,

Most certainly it’s truly tragic.

Our dilemma’s astronomical;

We need a special brand of magic.

Enter Aslan:  ONE TRUE KING,

His mighty roar salvation brings!

Copyright  2023.     L.L. Shelton.

If traveling would make of me

One who’d ever wander,

Harming hearts and failing minds

And tearing things asunder;

Thanks be to God who keeps me home,

Allowing me to wonder,

O’re color in the flower’s frame

And rolling of the thunder.

Copyright  2023.     L.L. Shelton.

For Lemona Elliott & Ladonna Elliott Daniel

In the quiet,

six foot depth,

we gravely laid

your case to rest.

Daughter sighed,

mother  wept,

children round

softly crept.

By grace alone

you stood your ground,

and in Christ

new freedom found.

Away with you,

our faithful plea,

fly to Him

your soul to keep!

Until your case

be once more raised;

The Judge shouts, “You-

come forth be saved;”

Your shell will linger,

decompose,

over it green

grasses grow.

But on That Day,

in That Hour,

be resurrected

by His power;

Then running and leaping

and praising God,

o’re soil our feet

this day hath trod.

Copyright 2023.    L.L. Shelton.

Allow that I know

My safety is in You alone;

That I am safe because

You keep me safe,

That there is no need

For any other but You.

Do fill me up with You,

Wash me daily in Your Word;

Surround my soul

Within Your Essence,

Keep me safe,

Safe and sound.

Amen.

Copyright 2023.    L.L. Shelton.

I wish to see the tulips

In their splendor testify,

Your beauty is reality

Not some shell you hide behind.

Friendship is a solemn gift

Not given by the blind.

Is there something more you seek?

There is no more to find.

All are fools but for His Love,

No other story matters;

I have no greater gift to give,

Though see your heart in tatters.

An idol’s not a thing that lasts,

Broken bent and battered,

It’s buried deep beneath the earth,

With its subjects shattered.

Copyright 2023.    L.L Shelton.

Nothing to see,

Nothing to do,

All the world over

Nothing is new.

Empty faces,

Worn-out places,

Life is lost and

Leaves no traces.

Bitterness breaks

It down to the races,

Rich or poor

Everyman braces,

For final hour;

Where there is

No power

In self.

Copyright 2023.    L.L.  Shelton.