Vision blinding
Vision bright
Vision darker
Than the night

Vision seeing
Vision glowing
Vision feeling
Vision sowing

Now the reaping
Cold winds blowing
Turns away
From awful knowing

Vision clearing
Vision bright
Vision plowing
Through the night

Vision seeing
Vision growing
Vision feeling
Vision knowing

Now the reaping
Brings the morning
Turning toward
The Artful Knowing

L.L. Shelton, Copyright 2014

You are Life
And into It you breathed
Your Spirit,
Into created form- Your body,
Into created formless- Your soul,
I am enamored of You.
I love The Zoo.

You are Life
And into me you breathed
Your Spirit,
Into my body- Your creation,
Into my soul- Your salvation,
I am enamored of You.
I love The Zoo.

I will follow Life
Anywhere or everywhere
Spirit lead,
Into created form- Your worlds,
Into created formless- Your worlds,
Anywhere and everywhere
I am enamored of You.
I love The Zoo.

I will nurture Life
Anywhere or everywhere
Spirit fed,
Into my body- Your health
Into my spirit- Your strength
Anywhere and everywhere
I am enamored of You.
I love The Zoo.

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

Drones flying,
Children are crying,
They’re alone in the dark,
And it’s breaking the heart.
But they’ll be good- never tell,
Cause this must be love.
This must be love.
Is it from Heaven
Or is it from Hell?

Neighbors spying,
While not even trying,
From his poor perspective-
See! It’ll never be his objective,
To lighten his brothers large load,
Cause this must be love.
This must be love.
Is it from Heaven
Or is it from Hell?

She sits by the phone,
Wonders when he’ll be home,
These days his boss is on his back.
Key in the door and he braces himself,
Knows he’s in for yet another attack,
Cause this must be love.
This must be love.
Is it from Heaven
Or is it from Hell?

Staring at pictures.
Girls wearing no clothes,
My wife must do, I suppose.
He closes his eyes remembering.
He doesn’t respond to her trembling,
Cause this must be love.
This must be love.
Is it from Heaven
Or is it from Hell?

We know the Truth!
We have the Proof!
We have to tell-
Tell it so well.
This isn’t Love!
This can’t be Love!
Love is from Heaven,
Love’s Grand, and it’s real.

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

All the pretties that you dangle,
The glitter and the gold,
Will not entice me from my Maker’s hand
For in it I’ve grown bold.

I am nurtured by His goodness.
I am nourished by His grace.
I am wrapped up in His Presence,
Most Glorious Hiding Place!

Though in my frailty I would flee,
His faithfulness has rescued me.
I am tethered by His Love,
Unfailing Master of Eternity!

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

You plan no future.
You claim no past.
Winter lurks behind the mask.

Spring is feigned.
Summer is an illusion.
Fall seems eternal inside your delusion.

Finally, sweet winter roars,
Comes forth to settle every score,
Takes your life by its own hand;
No wonder that there was no plan.

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

Infinite, lovely, awesome shape
Leads some of us to contemplate
And therein lies a great debate
Did we ourselves alone create
Stunning, powerful, graceful eight?

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

Child of mine, you are to me
As the wave is to the sea.
Child of mine, you are to me
As is bark upon the tree.
Child of mine, you are to me
As the mind to memory.
Child of mine, you surely see,
For terms of endearment
There is no need.

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton

When I was young and knew no better,
I planted seeds in springtime weather.
I watched and waited to be impressed,
By the earth most lovely dressed.

In summer, I learned acute distress.
Each dawn demanded that I invest
Prayer, hard work, tears, and sweat,
Should I expect to be so blessed.

Fall came sporting fantastic promise,
Colorful parade in nature’s best bonnet!
Then, revealed at close inspection
Were many lost to plague, infection.

As winter loomed dark and dreary,
I often felt myself grow weary.
I wondered at the loss in sight,
At all my labor, day and night.

Then, You brought to memory
An impression of Your Sovereignty.
Peace descended once again,
To calm my soul and still my hand.

Copyright 2014, L.L. Shelton