Category Archives: Poetry

New Year’s Day

January 23, 2014PoetryL.L. Shelton

Bible Belt Idiocracy
Lost in our mediocrity
Destroyed in our complacency
Relaxed in our ignorance,

Preachers raping their own kin
Missing fathers-never been
Lonely mothers-craving sin,
Astute: Ignorance is bliss!

Children hoping for tomorrow
Choking suddenly on sorrow
Little lungs fill with the water
Mother’s chosen for the alter,
Of their demise, ignorant

Tiny humans-cozy beds
Fairies dancing in their heads
Quickly jerked limb from limb
End of story, God! Amen!
Now: Yanked out of ignorance!

Yard Sale Treasure

January 23, 2014Education, PoetryL.L. Shelton

The book was just a dollar
And the packing tape was free,
Yet between its tattered covers
An encoded homily,

A message to transfigure
Souls longing for the key,
Releasing tortured spirits
Hoping to believe.

I read it to the children.
We discussed its terms in depth.
Thank you, Miss O’Conner
I intend not to forget.

I feel somehow I know you
And I wish that it were true.
I feel from having read you
Our hearts beat the same tune.

Love Like Light

January 22, 2014PoetryL.L. Shelton

Warming
Swelling
Alarming
Compelling
Defining
Revealing
Clarifying
Concealing
Agitating
Saturating
Satisfying
Maturating
Dappling
Resistant
Present
Consistent
Baffling
Fleeting
Leading
Meeting
Instructing
Illuminating
Marinating
Consummating
Fascinating
Persistent
Elaborating
Infinite

A Pretty Paradox

January 21, 2014PoetryL.L. Shelton

In the garden
On the wall
Christ, The Ruler
Overall

In the meadow
By the sea
By His Name
He strengthens me.

Over field
In forest, vale
He loves me
Keeping me from Hell.

Through city streets
On country lane
He visits me
And bears my pain.

He seeks me
Where my feet do stand
He plants me upright
In the land.

He grows me
By his precious Truth
Sets me free
Observes the proof:

A soul in chains
By choice enslaved
To rule with Him
Beyond the grave.

Wide Awake

December 26, 2013Living the Word, PoetryL.L. Shelton

Awake, I see.

You’ve captivated me.

Awake, I’m free.

You have imprisoned me.

Awake, I’ll be.

You have envisioned me.

Awake, as yours,

Throughout eternity.

A Neighborly Visit

March 14, 2013PoetryL.L. Shelton

Liquid pools of chocolate

Beckon me inside

Describing the infirmary

Wherein her soul resides.

She tells me of the shadows,

How she knows she’s one of them.

No one sees her fully

Though in brightest light be rimmed.

Then she speaks of trivialities

Common to the mortal set:

The door that won’t close properly

The dog that won’t forget

The birthday tea she hopes will be

A thrill to all attending

The door, again, she hopes to know

Her father will be mending…

I hugged her to my breast

Before I turned to go,

I felt a catch within my heart

That she spoke of shadows so…

Earthly circumstances bind her

To a chair and to a stage

Others passed through long ago,

With little effort turned the page.

Later as I walked toward home

Under darkening skies,

I glimpsed the Revelation

And it took me by surprise!

Amongst the heavenly choir

Was Julia and beside her

Were the lunatics and liars

And no hand had need to guide her.

Thought of The Unborn

September 25, 2011Poetryabortion, murder, pro-life, sanctity of lifeL.L. Shelton

Slender ivory limbs glisten

Amid the warm velvet softness that

Once surrounded the instrument of my father’s passion.

Glints of light are reflecting from

Cold, stiff, stainless steel surgical tools,

Once held in the firm grip of he who meanly wrought my death.

My blood has mingled here with hers,

Staining the harsh hands of the executioner,

As this unrelenting memory now stains my mother’s mind.

No comfort to one another,

No solace to be found within the other’s arms;

A lonely wail is all that is left to she I might have loved.

I wonder, have I been relieved

Of the imposition of an existential dilemma,

Or have I been most expertly robbed of uniquely earth-bound joy?

Note to Little One:

Never, did I mean to witness your murder, Little One. I only desired to support your cause. And so I clicked. And there you were. At least, there were the parts of you that were left behind to eventually become dust. I admit to being stunned in your presence. I could not decide which would be the more insulting to you; for me to quickly turn from the horrific scene of your death, curtly dismissing it from my mind, or for me to remain and to stare, wide-eyed and appalled at our lack of love… and then I knew, I would give you a voice.

David, My Brother

September 4, 2011PoetryPsalm 61, Spirit-filled Life, The Holy SpiritL.L. Shelton

Today, our pastor, Cole Huffman, spoke to us utilizing Psalm 61 as his text.

A response:

Hear me. Amidst the cacophony within and without, I cannot always hear myself. Sometimes, I simply do not know what to say. My thoughts are jumbled, my mind distracted. My heart is aching. My body is wracked with pain. I am undone. But I believe that you will hear me.

Lead me. Apart from Your Power, I cannot lead myself. Though I am a peaceful shepherd, I am made to continually engage in Holy War, and I am called to lead others to Holy War in Your Name; yet I find it is not always easy to discern where it is that you wish for me to go, and worse, especially when I am fatigued, I am tempted to step where you have expressly forbidden me to place my foot. Yet I believe that you will lead me.

Let me. Allow me to be bathed in Your Presence. Permit me to be overwhelmed by Your Spirit. Grant that I be overcome by The Reality that is You. Allow me to believe that you will let me. And I believe that you will let me.

Increase Yourself. By the power of Your Spirit, Increase in me Your Self as you decrease my self in me. Through this chosen and surrendered vessel, remind others of the rich heritage we have in The Son. Yes! I believe you will increase Your Self in me.

I will. Then, I will tell others of the wondrous things that you have done. Then, I will share The Blessing that is You. Then, I will sing praises to you, and will continue in faithfulness. I believe that I will.

I believe that you will.

Oh Lament, Bring Life!

March 13, 2011PoetryL.L. Shelton

Earth, water, wind, and fire,

Lift us from the muck, the mire!

Our hearts make quake, our spirits tire,

Arresting by your mighty power!

From GOD alone do you descend,

Wrestle with our hearts to mend,

Our souls to Him to whom you bend,

Attesting as He speaks the hour.

Twice From Wonderland, And There To Stay

January 29, 2011Poetrypoetry, WonderlandL.L. Shelton

Into the rabbit hole she fell
Searching for heaven- reaching hell;
Entangled then in his embrace,
Destined to die there in that place.

“Save me,” He heard her strangled plea,
“Where is The One to rescue me?”
Into her soul He poured just then,
Himself to triumph over sin.

He marked her with His Holy Seal.
He loved her with unending zeal.
No longer did she lie confused,
But rather stood; with Him bemused.

Said He, “Your cause has been my own,
And now I’ve come to take you home.”
In garment bright and clean arrayed,
She by His side forever stayed.

Scripturally Speaking

Thoughts Of A Wondering Christian