Sunday, October 06, 2013
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Shepherd (Psalm 23)
FRANK A VOLLMER
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Studying Religious Texts (Job 29 (Micah 6:8)

STUDYING RELIGIOUS TEXTS
STUDYING THE MINUTE DIFFERENCES
IN RELIGIOUS SECTS
AND WONDER
WHAT DOES IT MATTER
HOW MANY ANGELS
ARE ON THE HEAD OF A PIN
DOES IT MATTER
IF IT’S THE SHARP END
IT SEEMS SO MUCH
LIGHTNING
AND THUNDER
WHEN WE REALLY NEED
LIFE GIVING RAIN
I AM REMINDED
OF WHAT
MICAH SAID
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God.
OR JOB
WHEN HE SAID
I rescued the poor who cried for help
The man who was dying blessed me;
I put on righteousness as my clothing;
I was eyes to the blind
I was a father to the needy;
I broke the fangs of the wicked
I THINK
THAT ALL THE TENETS
OF RELIGION
ARE MEANINGLESS
UNLESS THEY’RE BACKED UP
WITH ACTION
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
MEAN NOTHING
UNLESS I TRY
TO LIVE UP TO THEM
IF I AM REQUIRED
TO HONOR GOD
I DO IT BY HONORING CREATION
FRANK A VOLLMER
Rage

Run like wild horses
Trampling the grass
Whinnying and neighing
A ruckus
Proud to be free
To be free
A better translation perhaps
For psalm two
The root word in Hebrew
For rage
Means
The snorting of horses
But what use is a horse
That runs free
To beat down the vineyard
And wheat field
To answer to no master
To be free
Of what use is the horse
In acts
After the wondrous events
Of the ascension
The election of Matthias
Pentecost
And Peter’s sermon
The church set out
To make society better
The poor were fed
The sick were consoled
The widow was befriended
The work was done with a happy face
No gloomy Christians there
They were useful
They had accepted
The bridle of Christ
They were useful
The nations may rage
As wild horses will
But eventually
They will be broken
God’s will
Will be done
And the horse will come
At its masters call
Frank a Vollmer
Easter in a Warmer Clime

WHERE SNOW
OR THREATS OF SNOW
ARE IMMINENT
WHERE THE LAKE IF NOT FROZEN
IS BROKEN INTO ICY SLUDGE
THAT SOUNDS LIKE BELLS
AS IT BEATS AGAINST THE SHORE
AND GREENERY
IF IT HAS VENTURED FORTH
IS OFTEN BURNED BY FROST
BUT EASTER
HERE IN THE SOUTH
IS VIBRANT AND ALIVE
EVERYTHING IS IN BLOOM
IF WEATHER
SHOULD MIRROR THE MOOD
WOULD NOT GOOD FRIDAY
BE BETTER CELEBRATED
IN WINTER
WHEN THE COLDNESS
OF OUR HEARTS
FORCED HIM TO DIE
WHEN THE BLOOD HE SHED
WAS LIKE ICICLES DRIPPING
BUT WE CELEBRATE EASTER
WITH AN EXUBERANCE
I THINK HE WOULD HAVE FOUND
EMBARRASSING
IN EARLY MORNING
BEFORE THE BIRDS SANG
THE STONE ROLLED AWAY
AND HE WAS GONE
AND LIKE A SEED
THAT HAD LAIN
UNDER THE SNOW
BLOSSOMED
AND THE HARVEST WAS BEGUN
FRANK A VOLLMER
Things

Eating seeds
From my feeder
There are birds
Nesting
IN my trees
The birds are singing
Lauds
Or vespers
And other hours in between
As I sit in my lawn chair
Pleased with myself
And all I see
My piece of ground
My home
Lord of all I own
Or a vassal
Servant really
Given talents to invest
Given things
Not just to have
But to share
To give my song
As freely as the birds
To chant my thanks
For all he has done
For me
And be ready to fly home
When called
Unencumbered by things
Frank a Vollmer

PREPARE TO EVACUATE
THIS FOLLOWED A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
AND A POLICE CAR ON THE STREET
ITS LOUDSPEAKER BELLOWING
PREPARE TO EVACUATE
NEVER OUR BEST
AT FOUR IN THE MORNING
WE HASTILY DRESSED
PACKED A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
CAGED THE CAT
GATHERED WHAT WE THOUGHT
WERE IMPORTANT PAPERS
WE THOUGHT
WE’LL GO OUTSIDE THE FIRE AREA
AND HAVE BREAKFAST
SEE WHAT DEVELOPS
THE WIND CHANGED
THE THREAT WAS LIFTED
WE CAME BACK
WE WERE WARNED TO BE ALERT
THE WIND COULD CHANGE AGAIN
I WONDERED
ABOUT WHAT WE TOOK WITH US
EACH OTHER CERTAINLY
CHANGE OF CLOTHES
PRACTICALITY
THE CAT
EMOTIONALLY
PAPERS
WE THOUGHT
WERE NECESSARY
A COUNT ON ONE HAND
LIST OF THINGS
LIFE REDUCED TO A HANDFUL
A LESSON
WE SHOULD REMEMBER
AFTER THE FIRE HAS COOLED
AND WE START COLLECTING
THINGS AGAIN
FRANK A VOLLMER
The Shepherd (Psalm 23)

THE SHEPHERD LOOKED AT THE STARS
SO CLEAR IN THE AIR
SO BRIGHT IN THE NIGHT
HE LOST HIMSELF
IN THE WONDER OF A GOD
WHO COULD CREATE A UNIVERSE
SO GREAT
I WONDER IF HE TENDS IT
LIKE I DO MY SHEEP
DOES HE FUSS WHEN THEY ARE SICK
CRY WHEN THEY DIE
BE ANGRY WHEN THEY ARE LOST
HAPPY WHEN THEY ARE FOUND
THE SHEPHERD SAT
AND WATCHED THE STARS
CONTENT
KNOWING THAT GOD
WAS SHEPHERDING HIM
FRANK A VOLLMER
The Vine (John 15)
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GOD GAVE MAN DOMINION
THAT IS OWNERSHIP
OVER THE EARTH
WE ALL KNOW THE SAD STORY
OF OUR DOMINION SHIP
OUR OWNERSHIP
THE BAD MANAGEMENT
CAUSED GOD TO LEAP FROM HEAVEN
TO DIE AND REDEEM US
WE WOULD THINK
THAT AFTER THAT
HE WOULD SAY
AFTER PAYING
SUCH A PRICE
I TAKE BACK
MY DOMINION SHIP
I TAKE BACK
MY OWNERSHIP
FROM NOW ON
YOU WILL BE MY SLAVES
IF HE DID THAT
IT WOULD BE UNDERSTANDABLE
IT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO
IF WE WERE GOD
BUT GOD SAYS
I DO NOT CALL YOU SERVANTS
BUT FRIENDS
AND THE ONLY CHAINS
I GIVE YOU
IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
FOR YOU ARE ALL LINKED
ROOTS
STEMS
LEAVES
AND FRUIT
YET ONE VINE
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN DOMINION
OVER THE WORLD
TO MAKE IT BETTER
THAN IT IS
WE ARE CALLED CHRISTIANS
FOLLOWING JESUS' WORDS
AND EXAMPLE
WE WOULD BE BETTER NAMED
LOVERS
MAY IT BE SO
AMEN
FRANK A VOLLMER
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Goats and Lambs
THE GOATS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE BARN
AFTER THEIR DAY IN THE FIELD
THEY COULDN’T STAND THE COLD
BUT THE SHEEP REMAINED OUTSIDE
WARM IN THEIR COAT
MILKING THE GOAT WAS WOMEN’S WORK
A DEBAUCHED WOMEN WAS CALLED A GOAT
THE GOATS WERE BLACK
THE SHEEP WOOL WHITE
THE GOATS WERE PROMISCUOUS
THEY SHARED THEIR MATES
THE SHEEP DID NOT
OUT OF ALL THIS FOLKLORE
JESUS SPUN A TALE
USING IMAGES THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD
HE STARTS BY SAYING
THE KING COMES IN GLORY
SO CRITICAL IN THE EAST
THE DEMAND FOR RESPECT
SO HE COMES IN GLORY
AND SITS ON THE GLORY THRONE
COMMANDING RESPECT
AS BEFITS A KING
AND TELLS A COMMON STORY
OF SEPARATING SHEEP FROM GOATS
SEPARATING THE GOOD
FROM THE INDIFFERENT
THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY BAD
THE GOATS
THEY WERE INDIFFERENT
AND SAID TO THE SHEEP
WHO WERE CARING
AND HUDDLED TOGETHER FOR WARMTH
COME INTO THE KINGDOM
I HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU
AND I’LL SHALL BE YOUR SHEPHERD
FRANK A VOLLMER
Carcer

THE WORD CARCER IN LATIN
MEANS PRISON
TO INCARCERATE
MEANS
TO SEND TO PRISON
THE EARLY CHURCH
KNEW WELL
WHAT CARCER MEANT
EARLY ON THE PRISONS
COULD NOT KEEP THEM
CHAINS FELL OFF
DOORS WERE OPENED
THEY WALKED FREE
BUT LATER
CARCER MEANT
A DOORWAY
TO HEAVEN
IN FACT IT WAS A FATE
THAT MANY SOUGHT
TODAY
WE HAVE MANY
WHO WILL DIE FOR A CAUSE
WE SCOFF
FORGETTING
THAT THE CHURCH
IN ALL ITS FORMS
HAS MANY MARTYRS
SO WHERE
DOES IT END
HOW DO WE JUDGE
WHEN IT’S RIGHT
WHEN IT’S WRONG
TO PARAPHRASE PAUL
IF WHAT YOU DO
HAS NOT LOVE
THEN THE ACT
IS A CLANGING BELL
THAT IS OUT OF TUNE
BELIEFS
WHICH SHOULD
BETTER MAN
BELITTLE HIM
BETTER A WASTELAND
THEY THINK
THAN LET ANOTHER
SURVIVE
THE CHURCH
HAS A POOR TRACK RECORD
OF LETTING THE OTHER SURVIVE
IF WHAT WE DO
HASN’T GOT LOVE
MANY THINK
IT’S NAMBY-PAMBY
BUT TO LOVE ANOTHER
AT COST TO ONESELF
IS LIKE PETER
MEETING CHRIST ON THE ROAD
ASKING
QUO VADIS DOMINE
THE ANSWER
LED PETER
BACK TO ROME
TO DIE
FRANK A VOLLMER
I Have a Daughter

OF WHOM I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
WHEN IT WAS NOT POPULAR
OR FASHIONABLE
SHE SIDED WITH THE POOR
THE DISPOSSESSED
THE UNIMPORTANT
A WAR THAT WAS WRONG
DICTATORS
WHO WERE OUR FRIENDS
BUT NOT TO THEIR PEOPLE
GRAPE PICKERS
LETTUCE HARVESTERS
FARM WORKERS
MIGRANT LABOR
ANYTHING WHICH DEGRADED A MAN
CALLED A SAINT
IF SHE FED THE POOR
A COMMUNIST
IF SHE ASKED
WHY
THROUGH IT ALL SHE SANG
WE SHALL OVERCOME
THOUGH OFTEN IT SOUNDED
LIKE A LONELY VOICE
IN A LONELY PLACE
THOUGH THE BATTLE
IS FAR FROM OVER
WITH A BRIGHT DAWN COMING
WE CAN SAY
WE HAVE OVERCOME
AND WORK TO KEEP IT THAT WAY
FRANK A VOLLMER
The Talents

HIDE OR BURY YOUR TREASURE
THE RABBIS SAID
DON’T LET YOUR MONEY
BE TOO FAR FROM HAND
BUT JESUS COMES SAYING SPEND
AND HE DOESN’T MEAN MONEY
SO OFTEN GOOD PEOPLE
HOARD THEIR GOODNESS
SO THAT THEY’RE NO EARTHLY GOOD
AND CHURCHES HAVE NO PLACE FOR SINNERS
HE PRAISES THOSE
WHO WOULD EXPEND THEMSELVES
AND SCOLDS THE CAUTIOUS
THE TEN VIRGINS
SHOULD SHARE THE OIL
TILL ALL RUNS OUT
AND THE GOOD MAN SHOULD WORK
TILL DARKNESS OVERTAKES HIM
LIBERALLY GIVING HIMSELF AWAY
Plant A Tree

IN THE EARLY CHURCH
THE FEELING WAS
THAT CHRIST WAS COMING SOON
MARK SAYS
THIS GENERATION
WILL NOT PASS AWAY
UNTIL ALL THE THINGS
HAVE TAKEN PLACE
SO EITHER WE HAVE A BAD TRANSLATION
OR A BAD INTERPRETATION
BECAUSE
IT DIDN’T HAPPEN
WE HAVE PEOPLE
SEEING THE END OF THE WORLD
AT EVERY BEND OF THE ROAD
THEY SERVE A GOD WHO IS ANGRY
WHO DELIGHTS IN PUNISHMENT
A BOOGIE MAN FOR THE AGES
SUCH A GOD
I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO LOVE
BUT LET’S READ MARK AGAIN
THE MASTER IS GOING AWAY
HE LEAVES HIS SERVANTS IN CHARGE
HE SAYS IN EFFECT
MAKE ME PROUD
BE WORKING WHEN I COME BACK
THAT’S THE ADMONITION FOR END TIMES
BE WORKING WHEN I COME BACK
IT’S LIKE THE FOLK TALE ABOUT LUTHER
IF I KNEW THAT TOMORROW
WAS THE END OF THE WORLD
I WOULD PLANT AN APPLE TREE TODAY
THE KEY WORD
IS STAY AWAKE
AND WORKING
HE HAS LEFT US
IN CHARGE OF HIS KINGDOM
AND WE HAVE TREES TO PLANT
FRANK A VOLLMER
What Did You Go Out to See?

THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN
BAPTISM WAS RESERVED IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
BUT CONVERTING
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW
THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
SO HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING
BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING
SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE
JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM
UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH
WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT
FRANK A VOLLMER
A Voice

THE DRY SOUNDS OF THE DESERT
THE CEASELESS BLOWING OF SAND
THE VOICE
OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS
MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATH
LEVEL MOUNTAINS
AND FILL UP GAPS
THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN
TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ANEW
HIS WAY WILL BE ROUGH ENOUGH
MAKE LEVEL HIS PATH
HIS WAY IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER
SECURE HIS PATH
HIS ENEMIES MACHINE WILL CRUSH HIM
THROW YOURSELF BENEATH THE WHEELS
DO NOT LET THE APPEARANCE
OF THE MESSENGER
DETER YOU
THIS WILD MAN
WHO EATS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY
WHO WEARS CAMEL HAIR FOR A CLOAK
WHO WON’T LET US BE COMFORTABLE
DO NOT FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER
HIS MESSAGE IS TRUE
TOO OFTEN WE FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER
AND DO NOT FOLLOW
LIKE
KING
BERRIGAN
BONHOEFFER
IT’S TIME TO ADMIT
WE HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE
NOT ROAD BUILDERS
BARRICADE BUILDERS
NOT ROAD BUILDERS
WALL BUILDERS
THAT IMPRISON
THOSE WHO BUILD THEM
AND WHEN THEY FALL
THE JACKAL HOWLS AT THE MOON
AND THERE IS NO ANSWER
FRANK A VOLLMER
Fear Not

IT WAS THE EVENING
A COOL BREEZE WAS BLOWING
WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE SUN
THE BIRDS
HAD SETTLED
FOR THE EVENING
PERCHING ON TREE AND HOUSE
SHE WAS FINISHING HER PRAYERS
WITH
MAY MESSIAH COME
WHEN SHE HEARD A SOUND
AS IF
A LATE ARRIVING BIRD HAD COME
SHE SAW AN ANGEL
SHE HEARD A VOICE
SAYING
GOD’S CONSTANT GREETING
BE NOT AFRAID
THE CHOICE WAS HERS
THE CHOICE IS OURS
TO LET GOD SWELL WITHIN US
WHEN WE SAY SON OF MAN
WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
WHEN WE SAY SON OF GOD
WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER
GOD WAITED
LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR
FOR A YES
GOD WAITS
LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR
FOR US TO SAY YES
AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
FRANK A VOLLMER
Friday, October 31, 2008
Coin

A MAN’S HE ANSWERS
THEY ARE ALL VALUED THE SAME
HOW CAN THAT BE
THEIR MAKER DETERMINES THEIR VALUE
GIVE TO CAESAR HIS DUE
BUT GIVE TO GOD FULL VALUE
ANYTHING WHICH DIMINISHES A MAN
IS WRONG
ANYTHING WHICH DEBASES THE COIN
IS WRONG
THE COIN’S IMAGE
IS AN ECHO OF GOD’S FACE
BUT WE ARE ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE
THE REST OF THEM ARE RABBLE
YOU ARE ALL OF THE SAME VALUE
BUT…BUTBUT..BUTBUTBUT…
IS YOUR EYE JEALOUS
BECAUSE I AM GOOD
HOW DARE YOU CALL INFERIOR
WHAT I HAVE MADE
HOW DARE YOU
TRY TO CHEAPEN
ANOTHER’S COIN
IF YOU TRY
YOU ARE ONLY HOARDING DUST
AND YOUR WEALTH
IS ONLY SAND TRICKLING THROUGH YOUR FINGERS
FRANK A VOLLMER