Category Archives: Poetry

World Of Undreams

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.

Armchair Traveler

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.

We Rest Our Case

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.

My Soul To Keep

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.

Folly’s Field

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.

Rodeo Drive

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.

Birds of Prey

At the hands of the law

Men choose to crawl,

To live work and play.

 

As night follows day,

As saints kneel to pray,

The mighty will tumble.

 

By Grace they fly free,

See from the trees,

Live His bidding to do.

 

Their shadows will fall

Ore the rotting cabal’s

Strange odorous flesh,

 

Adorned by Glory

To fulfill the story,

On His signal alight.

 

Tongues are not pleading;

Chords do the screaming.

Fierce claws rip the eyes out.

 

For evil so flagrant,

Justice is fragrant.

The unrighteous must pay.

Copyright 2023.    L.L. Shelton.

Truth of Christmas Is Not Lost

(For My Lovely Daughter, Emily)

Adam’s choice would be our own;

Dishonor God upon His throne,

Seek our way, our will, our pleasure,

Forfeiting our only treasure,

Exiled now from paradise,

There would be One Sacrifice.


God’s agony upon the cross

Made sure our hope is not the cost;

Beneath the global winter frost,

Truth of Christmas is not lost!

 

Now each new and hopeful breath

Overcoming vicious death,

Gather we to sing God’s praise,

Our voices raised to heaven blaze

Against our sin; but for our brother,

Love for Christ and one another!

 

God’s agony upon the cross

Made sure our hope is not the cost.

Beneath the global winter frost,

Truth of Christmas is not lost!

 

The horrors of this world can’t sway

Our joy ensured on Christmas Day!

Christmas will not die in man,

God willed it not to die; His plan,

To rescue all who hear Him say,

Peace on Earth this Christmas Day!

Copyright 2022.    L.L. Shelton.

They With Longing Looked

Angels stared in wide-eyed wonder

While our God, His voice the thunder,

Touched the earth as tiny babe,

Travailed with us within our plague;

 

Watched God feel and heal in power,

Teach with care until that hour

Love compelled Him toward the cost,

Where for our sins He’d bear the cross;

 

Saw Christ weeping in the garden,

Begging would there be a pardon,

Blood and tears mixed with the ground,

No person faithful there was found.

 

Angels looked as God ordained;

Let souls in glory ease Christ’s pain,

None to match His disparate sorrow,

Climbed the hill upon the morrow,

 

Raised His head in triumph claimed,

It is finished [in my name]!

Still they marvel, it is said;

The boy God sent us in our stead,

 

Grew in love so bold and pure,

The wrath of God for us endured!

Still they sing, The Great Love Story,

Christ in man, the hope of glory!

 

Copyright 2022.     L.L. Shelton.