To the world
He was a whipping boy,
To His Father
He was everything,
And on One Holy Day
Every knee will bow,
Every tongue confess
He is The King of Kings!
Copyright 2014. L.L. Shelton
Category Archives: Poetry
Child’s Play
God is great.
God is good.
Let us thank Him
For all that be,
In doing so,
Remembering,
In His wonderment
We see.
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton.
Inside Ethan Frome
Please, I beg you,
Do not speak kindly to me.
Will you not employ those gentle words;
Words that imply a tenderness toward me,
Words indicating something beyond
A superficial concern,
Words proposing that you have cared for me,
Words to suggest that you have truly seen me?
Again, I implore you,
Do not ply me with such talk.
Will you not deploy that lasting language;
Language indicating that I am not alone,
Language that wraps round my mind
As a downy shawl,
Language filling a moment with sweet assurance,
Language laced through with prohibited promise;
Offering to hide me from the ever present cold,
From frigid winter being most of all I’ve known,
Offering to shield me from the bitter wind of envy,
From the bruising hail of callous rage,
Offering to shelter me from the flood of frustrated hopes,
From the reckless malice of the unsettled,
Offering to protect me from the rising tide of hatred,
From the penetrating gaze of the anguished?
Be still, I beseech you.
Your discourse quickens the imagination,
Pledging to spill over the edges of dreams;
To pour into consciousness,
To course down the breast,
To fill the hungry heart
With precious reminiscences
Of the one who uttered it.
Therefore then
Wield cautiously that fertile expression
Pulsing so near the wasted barren land,
Giving birth to thought disallowed
T’would rush flaming toward
The dry parched field,
Gently whispering round the ear,
Easily caressing the nape,
Thought delicately
Meandering round the bare shoulders,
Pressing toward the ever willing flesh,
Thought of being lifted, invited in,
Comforted and made warm,
Threatening to send one
Storming brazenly forth
To capture a place
One is forbidden even to visit.
L.L. Shelton, Copyright 2014
The Cost of The Composition
It appears your world was too harsh,
To survive you were compelled to make a new one.
Being not God, there was no magic clay at your disposal,
No divine air to push into that dirt.
You did the only thing you knew;
You told yourself a new story,
One that made sense.
I watched as you constructed that fence,
To survive I was compelled to try to bring it down.
Being not God, I am astounded to have seen your careful path,
To a place where only you could go,
A place where only you would be.
I assumed you would be lonely.
I miss you so!
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton.
In David’s House She Cried
Can’t pretend I don’t remind you
Of the past that you regret,
Can’t fail to see me clearly
Though I want you to forget,
Forget you ever looked at me
With hatred in your heart,
I didn’t ask you to despise me;
Please what was my part?
I want to understand
To help us heal or say goodbye,
I’m tired from trying so hard
To shield you from your eyes.
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton
Still
Still my darling
Upon my breast,
Sleep near to me,
Forever rest.
I am longing
To protect you,
Keep you ever
Safe and blessed.
Still, you will grow
Wander further,
Dearest from
My loving arm,
Learn of things
This world does offer,
May beset you,
Bring you harm.
Still, a lamp burns
In my window,
Calling you
To turn from fear,
Come my darling
Claim the peace,
That is your own,
To me draw near.
Still within me
No more to roam,
Full of faith now,
Coming home.
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton
Patriot On A Wire
In The Land of Him and Me
I swing through the green
I glide by the trees
I travel on the breeze
I soar with ease
I swim through the blue
I flow with the hue
I journey buoyantly
I own the open sea
In my imagination
In the land of Him and Me
Where I am wild
Where I live free
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton.
Being Mortal
Faint grows the glass
And fainter still
This glass will come to see,
Until that day
He only knows
When I will cease to be.
Thought of that day
Serves to inspire
I tremble at the moment,
In gentleness
My Only Hope
Learned upon His summit.
I’d not suppose
Absent regret
My eyes to close in slumber,
Yet know as sure
On His return
I’ll open them in wonder.
Copyright 2016. L.L. Shelton.
A Furtherance of The Feminine Mystyque
(A clumsy attempt at gratitude)
Forged by Mattie Louise:
To squarely accept a challenge.
Forged by Beatrice:
To kneel before serving.
Forged by Lolita:
To celebrate,
To appreciate beauty,
To enjoy the exquisite.
By Henrilu:
To teach,
To be grateful for the good,
To appreciate both the banality and the significance of life.
By Mother:
To share,
To persevere,
To come to terms with being here.
By Ouida:
To be modest,
To maintain dignity,
To attend to personal growth.
By Betty:
To be quiet,
To be tolerant,
To be forgiving.
By Claire:
To be myself,
To accept myself,
To exist honestly, and without apology.
By Rita:
To be charitable,
To be cooperative,
To be observant, without obvious opinion.
By Turner:
To make note of useful information,
To keep the intimation in a safe place.
By Mrs. David:
To enjoy one-on-one conversation.
By Mrs. Auderson:
To love story.
By Mrs. Meyers:
To be thankful for governance.
By Mrs. Nuckols:
To find pleasure in reading to others.
By Mrs. Donovan:
To appreciate myth and metaphor,
To enjoy performing the written word.
By Miss Gregory (a.k.a. Mrs. Housholder):
To know The Bible as a real book of true things,
To hide those true things in my heart.
By Patty Mikkelsen:
To keep a sense of humor,
To commemorate the moment.
By Holly Elliff:
To be conscious of my position,
To be aware of my influence,
To be careful with my power.
By Marilyn Simmons:
To actively love,
To celebrate fellowship in Christ,
To celebrate marriage and family as an extension.
By Mary Maude Shafer
To be lovely,
To be gracious,
To be prayerful.
By Caffy Whitney:
To embrace the God ordained propensity to be creative.
By Pam Elliff:
To be the beautiful strength in the shadows.
By His Grace, I am forged for freedom.
Copyright 2016, L.L. Shelton