There is a mighty warrior;
Dark and fearsome is that one.
There is another Soldier;
Bright and shining as the sun.
One is just beginning-
The other all but done.
You must take heart Christian!
The battle has been won!
You have found forgiveness-
Go forward with The Son.

Copyright 1993. L.L. Shelton.

I prefer the sound of children laughing to unsoiled and shiny floor.

I prefer an open entry to an ever sealed-tight door.

I prefer those open hearts who share their thoughts with me to sitting down with silence- listening to empty.

I prefer to be alone but only moments at a time, then I converse with God- still not alone I find.

Often it seems hectic but in time I realize
there is an order to my life- people first and things behind.

Copyright  1993.  L.L. Shelton.

I would give my last wish
To see into your eyes
I would give this heart beat
To know what’s on your mind
I would give my best dream
To wake as your surprise
I would give up summer
To be wrapped in your sunrise
I would give all I’ve brought
To the table watch it lie
I would hear you say to me
To burn it we’ll get by
I would sing my last song
To sleep safely at your feet
I would give all I’ve fought
To recall that it is sweet
And I would give my last kiss
To remember it has value
And I know I would be grateful
To have you cultivate the fallow
And I know I’d be grateful
I’d be grateful.

Copyright  2017.  L.L. Shelton.

I will saturate myself with The Word of God.  I will present myself as a sponge surrendered to the pouring rain.  I will become drenched in The River of Life.  I will be fat upon it- though it is water.  It will ooze forth from my pores and all who come into contact with me will be aware of my strange condition. There will be some who are appalled, among them may be many of my own tribe.  They will encourage me to stay away from the water.  They will long for me to dry out. They will say leave it.  Let it be.  But I will not.  I will bathe in it.  I will long for it to be all I am.  It will flood me at my invitation.  And when I am alone- I will sing.  Because it is only an earthly illusion.  I am never alone.  I dwell with The King.

Copyright 2015.  L.L. Shelton.

If I ever leave you
And I am leaving still
It’ll only be because
You pushed me so
Hard down that hill
Couldn’t gather strength
To crawl up again

Couldn’t even speak
You couldn’t take my hand
I was so far from you
Where you threw me
Watched me land
Couldn’t help me up
Gather me to stand

And though you’ve
Done all that dying
Couldn’t find me in the dirt
I should thank you for trying
But I’m too busy being hurt
All those miles of lying
Left me far too alert.

Copyright 2016.   L.L. Shelton.

Water Of Life
Will you plan to save me,
From water of death
Now here to remind me,
Of my mortality?
You knew I had not forgotten,
Was it really necessary?

Hard’s been here.
Precarious and perilous
I sit in each new day,
Hoping you will find me,
Renewing my safe place.
You knew that I felt hollow,
Yet this must be your grace.

Copyright 2017. L.L. Shelton

I’ve seen who you are
When you feel fully free,
When you’ve been permitted
And truth’s made plain to me.

Your lies they are confounding
And everywhere compounding,
Into mountains of pure rubbish
Yours to never publish.

Scavengers will discover
They’ll eat their fill and leave
Over you and me no cover
While our naked bodies bleed.

Copyright 2015.  L.L. Shelton.

I never dreamed it
My heart could close so tightly
Ward off your embrace…

I never imagined
This place where I’d be startled
To see you in my space…

Trembling blind and scared
Wondering what you want of me
When you’re too near my face…

It’s post-traumatic stress, Dear.

Copyright 2016.  L.L. Shelton.

You push the pills
Into her hand,
Desperate to make
Her understand.

As she is slowly
Drifting away,
Tell her how it is…
Tell her what to say.

She’ll wake up
To a brand new day,
Even less sure
Than she was yesterday.

Copyright 2014.   L.L. Shelton.