Blessed Are . . .

THE OLD MAN PUT THE BIBLE DOWN
AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

AND STRAIGHTENED THE BED AND DRESSER TOP
THOUGH NOTHING WAS AWRY

HE PACED THE FLOOR AND COUNTED THE STEPS
AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

GREW TIRED OF SILENCE AND TURNED THE RADIO ON
GREW TIRED OF NOISE
AND TURNED IT OFF

AND COUNTED THE MINUTES
AND PICTURES ON THE WALL

HE PICKED UP THE BIBLE AND CHECKED AGAIN
A BEATITUDE FOR THE POOR OR SAD OR LOWLY
BUT NONE FOR THE LONELY
NONE FOR THE LONELY

THE OLD MAN PUT THE BIBLE DOWN
AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

STRAIGHTENED THE BED AND DRESSER TOP

TURNED ON THE RADIO TURNED IT OFF

AND COUNTED THE PICTURES ON THE WALL

The Great Wave

THEY AROSE IN DARKNESS
TO SAVE THE LIGHT

HOW MANY THINGS BEGIN IN THE DARK

SOME FOUND BREAKFAST WARM ON THE TABLE
SOME FOUND BREAKFAST COLD

SOME LEFT A HOME WARMED BY LOVE
SOME LEFT A HOME…

THEY'D FISH ALL DAY AND IF THEY WERE LUCKY
THEY'D CLEAN THE FISH BY TWILIGHT

THEY'D ROWED OUT SINGING SONGS
BAWDY SONGS
ROWING SONGS
NONSENSE SONGS
SONGS TO KEEP THE OARS GLISTENING
IN TIME TO THE BEAT

THE SEA WAS FLAT

THE CATCH WAS GOOD

THEY WERE STARTING HOME

WHEN THE SEA ROSE TOWERING ABOVE THEM
IN FEAR THEY WONDERED
WHAT GOD THEY HAD OFFENDED

FOR PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO KNOW THE TRUTH
WE HAVEN'T WANDERED FAR FROM THAT THOUGHT
WHAT GOD HAVE WE OFFENDED

WHEN THEY SAW THE WAVE
DID THEY RUE THE LOST CARGO
OR MOMENTS OF LOVE
PASSED BY AND IGNORED

IT ROSE OVER THEM
PASSED OVER THEM
LEAVING DEBRIS AND BROKEN BODIES

BODIES FALLING THROUGH THE SEA
ARMS OVER THEIR HEAD

THEIR HANDS FLUTTERING
AS IF THEY WERE TRYING TO SAY
GOODBYE


FRANK A VOLLMER

Tibet

THE FLAGS WERE SNAPPING A PEPPY RHYTHM
STACCATO LIKE GUNFIRE
IN MOMENTS OF LULL
LIKE A DIRGE

A DIRGE
FOR ANOTHER INNOCENT

THE COMPANIES
SPONSORING THE OLYMPICS
ARE WALKING A TIGHTROPE
BETWEEN CUSTOMERS
AND CHINA
COMPANIES WHO MAKE COKE
MACDONALD’S
BEER
CANDY BARS
LIGHT BULBS

SO SAYS A LEARNED COMMENTATOR
ON THE POLITICAL SCENE

THEY DON’T WANT TO ANTAGONIZE CHINA

BUT CHRIST SAYS

SIMPLY LET YOUR YES
BE YES,
AND YOU NO
BE NO
ANYTHING BEYOND THIS
COMES FROM THE EVIL ONE

AND AGAIN HE SAYS

SPEAK AND ACT
AS THOSE
WHO ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED
BY THE LAW
THAT GIVES FREEDOM

WE VAUNT
OUR CHRISTIANITY

IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK
THAT WE LIVE BY ITS RULES

OR DO PRAYER FLAGS
TO A DIFFERENT GOD
NOT COUNT


FRANK A VOLLMER

Hagar

I DO NOT KNOW IF HAGAR
WAS SINNER
OR SAINT
CERTAINLY
ABRAM
AND SARAI
WEREN’T

MOST LIKELY
LIKE MOST OF US
THEY WERE
BOTH

I DO KNOW SHE WAS AN ABUSED WOMAN

WITHOUT HER CONSENT
SHE WAS A WOMB FOR ABRAM’S SEED

SHE WAS A SLAVE
A WALKING TOOL
HER OPINION DIDN’T COUNT

LIFTED OUT OF ANONYMITY
SHE STRUTTED
IN HER NEW IMPORTANCE
AND DISPLEASED HER MISTRESS

SARAI TREATED HER SO HARSHLY
SHE RAN AWAY

THE LORD FOUND HER NEAR WATER
THE LORD ALWAYS FINDS US IN WATER

I HAVE HEARD YOUR CRY
AND THE CHILD’S

YOU WILL NAME HIM ISHMAEL
MEANING
THE LORD WILL HEAR





HAGAR SAID
I WILL CALL YOU
EL-ROI

FOR I HAVE SEEN GOD
AND YET I LIVE

AT GOD’S REQUEST
SHE RETURNED TO SERVITUDE
TO RAISE HER SON

FOURTEEN YEARS LATER
SARAH’S ISAAC WAS BORN
HER JOY
HER LAUGHTER

BUT TROUBLE STARTED AGAIN

THERE WAS JEALOUSY
BETWEEN THE TWO WOMEN

SO HAGAR GIVEN
BREAD AND WATER
WAS EXILED

WHEN THE WATER WAS GONE
SHE PLACED THE CHILD UNDER A BUSH
SO SHE WOULD NOT HEAR ITS DEATH CRIES

BUT GOD HEARD
THE CRIES OF THE CHILD

THE SOBS OF THE MOTHER

AND BROUGHT WATER

HAGAR THOUGHT
NO MATTER
IF THE WORLD BRINGS ME LOW
OR MY OWN BEHAVIOR DOES

GOD DOES HEAR MY CRIES

AND SHE PRAYED

I LOVE THE LORD
FOR HE HEARD
MY VOICE

HE HEARD
MY CRY FOR MERCY

JUST AS I AM

HE BROUGHT ME WATER


FRANK A VOLLMER

Philip and Thomas

THERE IS A CHILDHOOD POEM ABOUT CHRISTMAS
THAT SAYS


THERE WAS A KNIGHT OF BETHLEHEM
WHOSE WEALTH WAS TEARS AND SORROWS
HIS MEN AT ARMS WERE LITTLE LAMBS,
HIS TRUMPETERS WERE SPARROWS

JESUS HAS SUMMONED HIS DISCIPLES
TO GATHER WITH HIM
FOR THE PASSOVER

FOR A MEAL

A MEAL
THAT WE HAVE COME TO CALL
THE LAST SUPPER

JESUS HAS WASHED THEIR FEET

JUDAS HAS LEFT TO BETRAY HIM

PETER
HAS DECLARED HIS LOYALTY
EVEN ONTO DEATH

AND JESUS HAS TOLD HIM
THAT BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS
TO BEGIN THE DAY
HE WILL HAVE DENIED HIM THREE TIMES

THERE WAS A KNIGHT OF BETHLEHEM
WHOSE WEALTH WAS TEARS AND SORROWS
HIS MEN AT ARMS WERE LITTLE LAMBS,
HIS TRUMPETERS WERE SPARROWS


NOW BEGINS THE LAST DISCOURSE
THE LAST SERMON
THE LAST CHANCE
BEFORE HIS DEATH
FOR JESUS
TO CONVINCE HIS FOLLOWERS
WHO HE WAS
AND WHAT HIS MESSAGE WAS

LOOKING BACK THROUGH HISTORY
WE MARVEL
HOW DUMB THEY WERE
HOW DENSE THEY WERE

LOOKING FORWARD TO NOW
WE WONDER
HOW DUMB WE ARE
HOW DENSE WE ARE

ENTER NOW IN OUR PLAY
ABOUT THE LAST SUPPER

ENTER NOW
THOMAS AND PHILIP
THE QUESTIONERS

THE DIALOGUE GOES LIKE THIS

THOMAS SAID TO HIM
LORD,
WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE YOU ARE GOING,
SO HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?"
JESUS ANSWERED
I AM THE WAY
THE TRUTH
AND THE LIFE

NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER
EXCEPT THROUGH ME
IF YOU REALLY KNEW ME,
YOU WOULD KNOW MY FATHER AS WELL.



FROM NOW ON,
YOU DO KNOW HIM
AND HAVE SEEN HIM."




PHILIP SAID
LORD
SHOW US THE FATHER
AND THAT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US
JESUS ANSWERED:
PHILIP
DON'T YOU KNOW ME

EVEN AFTER
I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU
SUCH A LONG TIME

PHILIP
ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME
HAS SEEN THE FATHER

NOW JOHN
USES THOMAS AND PHILIP
TO BE A VOICE
TO SHOW
WHAT THE THOUGHTS OF THE PEOPLE WERE
WHEN JESUS WAS TEACHING

TO BE A VOICE FOR ALL THOSE
WHO FOUND HIS TEACHING HARD
THEN


TO BE A VOICE FOR ALL THOSE
WHO FIND HIS TEACHING HARD
NOW


THERE WAS A KNIGHT OF BETHLEHEM
WHOSE WEALTH WAS TEARS AND SORROWS
HIS MEN AT ARMS WERE LITTLE LAMBS,
HIS TRUMPETERS WERE SPARROWS

WHAT WAS THAT HARD MESSAGE

IT WAS
THAT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT JESUS
YOU WERE LOOKING AT GOD

IN THE TIME OF JESUS
TO LOOK AT GOD
WAS INVITING DESTRUCTION

REMEMBER WHAT GOD
TOLD MOSES ON THE MOUNTAIN
YOU SHALL SEE MY BACK
BUT MY FACE YOU SHALL NOT SEE

WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING
WAS THAT GOD
WAS NOT TO BE FOUND
ON SOME MYSTIC MOUNTAIN
OR TRAPPED IN A TEMPLE
TO BE APPEASED BY SACRIFICE

WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING
WAS THAT GOD
HAD BECOME DOMESTICATED
HE WAS LIVING AN ORDINARY LIFE
AMONG MEN

IT IS JESUS WORKING
WHO GIVES WORK DIGNITY

IT IS JESUS WEEPING
OVER LAZARUS
THAT GIVES GRIEF
JOY
FRIENDS
AND FAMILY MEANING

IT IS JESUS DIPPING BREAD IN OIL
AND FEEDING JUDAS
THAT SHOWS A GOD
THAT KNOWS PAIN AND SORROW
AND WHAT BETRAYAL FEELS LIKE

IT IS JESUS
LABORING TIME AND AGAIN
TO EDUCATE HIS FOLLOWERS
WITH LITTLE SUCCESS
THAT GIVES MOTHERS OF FAMILIES MEANING

IT MEANS TAKING CARE OF THE WORLD
BECAUSE GOD LIVES HERE




IT MEANS TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER
BECAUSE WE ARE IMPORTANT
BECAUSE GOD MADE US IMPORTANT
WHEN HE BECAME
ONE OF US

THERE WAS A KNIGHT OF BETHLEHEM
WHOSE WEALTH WAS TEARS AND SORROWS
HIS MEN AT ARMS WERE LITTLE LAMBS,
HIS TRUMPETERS WERE SPARROWS


AND HE COMES WITH A MESSAGE
HE GIVES TO EACH OF US TO TEACH

THE MESSAGE
THAT GOD IS
HE LOVES
HE CARES
HE WALKS AMONG US

THERE ARE NO CASTAWAY PEOPLE

THIS IS WHAT PETER MEANS
WHEN HE WRITES

BUT YOU ARE A CHOSEN PEOPLE,
A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD,
A HOLY NATION,
A PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD
,
THAT YOU MAY DECLARE
THE PRAISES OF HIM
WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO HIS WONDERFUL LIGHT

ONCE
YOU WERE NOT A PEOPLE,
BUT NOW
YOU ARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD;

ONCE
YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED MERCY,
BUT NOW YOU HAVE RECEIVED MERCY.



AND THAT MERCY
THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED
WE ARE ASKED TO PASS ON.

WE ARE ASKED
TO DO THIS BECAUSE
JESUS
LOVED THIS WORLD
SO MUCH HE CAME TO LIVE HERE
AND TO DIE FOR IT

SO JESUS IS ASKING US
AND IS ALWAYS ASKING US

LITTLE LAMBS
WILL YOU HELP ME

LITTLE SPARROWS
WILL YOU HELP ME

WILL YOU HELP ME
BUILD A BETTER WORLD

AND I SHALL BE THE CORNER STONE
THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED

AMEN

Thomas

MY HEART SAYS
I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS WITHOUT QUESTION

WHO RAN FROM THE TOMB
WITH SUCH EXCITEMENT
THE APOSTLES THOUGHT HER HYSTERICAL

I WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY

BUT MY ENGINEERS HEAD
SAYS I WOULD HAVE BEEN
LIKE THOMAS

MY HEAD SAYS
IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THE LAB
IN THE WIND TUNNEL
BY TEST FLYING THE AIRPLANE

IT IS THE WAY OF MEN TO MEASURE

THE BOOKKEEPER ADDS HIS NUMBERS
THE SHOPPER FIGURES COST

THE STOREKEEPER ADDS PROFIT
THE LAWYER ASSESSES LOSS

THE MOTHER COUNTS THE MEALS
THE TRAVELER WONDERS HOW FAR

WE MEASURE THINGS AS MEN

EVEN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL POEMS
IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SPEAKS OF LOVE THIS WAY



HOW DO I LOVE THEE?
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

I LOVE THEE TO THE DEPTH
AND BREADTH
AND HEIGHT
MY SOUL CAN REACH
WHEN FEELING OUT OF SIGHT
FOR THE ENDS OF BEING
AND IDEAL GRACE

MEN MEASURE
PERHAPS
IT'S BECAUSE
BY SIN
DEATH
CAME INTO THE WORLD
AND THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE
ARE LIMITED

SO WE MEASURE
EVERYTHING
AGAINST THE FINAL
NIGHTFALL

I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS

AND JESUS SAYS
THAT'S ALL RIGHT
I LIKE YOU
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

I WOULD HAVE YOU BETTER
BUT I LOVE YOU
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE


I WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THOMAS







I WOULD HAVE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN
LIKE MARY MAGDALENE
WHO LOVED JESUS PASSIONATELY
WITHOUT QUESTIONS

BUT LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS TO HER
IN HIS HASTE TO BE WITH US
HE SAYS TO HER
DO NOT CLING TO ME
BUT GO TELL MY DISCIPLES
I AM COMING"

HE WAS EAGER
TO BE WITH THE ONES
WHO NEEDED HIS LOVE
THE EMPTY
BROKEN
HURTING PEOPLE

MARY KNEW SHE WAS LOVED
THE OTHERS STILL WERE IN DARKNESS
HE HAD TO BE WITH THEM

WITH PETER WHO BETRAYED HIM
WITH THOMAS WHO DOUBTED HIM
WITH ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUN AWAY

GOD ALWAYS SEEMS TO PICK
BROKEN PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK

HE PICKED MOSES WHO STUTTERED
DAVID AN ADULTERER AND MURDERER
JACOB WHO STOLE AND CHEATED
NOAH WHO DRANK AND GOT DRUNK

GOD'S ALMOST PEOPLE

HE SAYS
WITH YOU I WANT TO BE
MY ALMOST PEOPLE




WHY GOD
WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US

WE ARE BETRAYERS
DOUBTERS
IMPERFECT
ALMOST PEOPLE
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE WITH US

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU HE SAYS

IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN WE SAY
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE US GOD
SHOW US HOW MUCH YOU LOVE US

IN THE LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN
HE REPLIES
THIS MUCH (EXTEND ARMS)


FRANK A VOLLMER

Emmaus

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES
LIKE A SOLDIER OFF TO WAR
SAYING GOODBYE TO LOVED ONES
OR A SAILOR OFF FOR A LONG LONG TRIP

WE'D WALKED THAT ROAD MANY TIMES
MY FRIEND AND I
IT HAD BECOME A BIT OF A TASK
WITH NOTHING NEW
TO BE DONE WITH SWIFTLY
AND DONE WITH
WITH PLEASURE AT EITHER END
BUT NOTHING IN THE JOURNEY

UNTIL THE STRANGER CAME TO WALK WITH US
THIS STRANGER
WITH RELUCTANT EYES
HE'D SIGHT A TREE AND CALL IT OUT BY NAME
A FLOWER
BIRD
OR SOME CREEPING THING
THE WAY THE SUN TOOK A CLOUD
AND LIT IT UP WITHIN
OR CAST LONG SHADOWS
LIKE THE SHADOWS
THAT SAT UPON OUR HEARTS
THAT DAY

WHY ARE YOU SO SAD
HE ASKED
AFTER A WHILE

WE'D LET HIM TALK FIRST
OUT OF COURTESY
HE SEEMED TO NEED TO TALK
WHY ARE YOU SO SAD









AND SO TO THIS MAN
WHO SEEMED SO EAGER FOR LIVING THINGS
WE TOLD HIM OF A DEATH
OF OUR FRIEND JESUS
WHO HAD DIED
AND TO USE HIS IMAGERY
PLUCKED LIKE A FLOWER
THAT WAS THROWN AWAY
PICKED WITHOUT PURPOSE

OF A MAN
WHO WHEN HE SPOKE
BOTH TESTED US AND JOYED US

OF THIS JOURNEY
THAT WE TOOK
WHICH WAS DOUBLY LONG
FOR WE CARRIED SADNESS TO EMMAUS
THERE WOULD BE NO PLEASURE THERE

THE BODY WAS GONE
OH THE WOMEN HYSTERICAL
HAD SAID HE WAS RISEN
BUT THE BODY WAS GONE

WHY SHOULD HE DIE
WE BELIEVED HIM CHOSEN OF GOD
WHY SHOULD HE DIE

PERHAPS BECAUSE WE WERE TOO NUMB TO SPEAK
HE TOOK OVER THE CONVERSATION
WHEN DID YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOUR FATHER HE SAID

WHEN I BECAME THE AGE HE WAS
WHEN I DISLIKED HIM
IT SOMEHOW MADE HIM DIFFERENT THEN
AND UNDERSTANDABLE

SO JESUS CAME HE SAID
TO BE THAT PARENT
TO BE THE ONE WHO WENT BEFORE
TO BE THE ONE WHO LIVED AND DIED
AND TO BE TRULY RISEN
AS THE WOMEN SAID
TO BE THE PARENT
WHO HAD GONE BEFORE
TO BE THE FIRST BORN OF THE DEAD

SO YOU COULD LEARN
TO LOVE HIM
AND THROUGH HIM
THE FATHER TOO

PERHAPS IT WAS THE CADENCE OF HIS VOICE
OR THE WORDS OR THE MAN HIMSELF
BUT WE FELT CALM

WE INVITED HIM TO SUP WITH US
IN OUR GARDEN IN THE EVENING COOL
FOR THE DAY HAD RUN AWAY

AND WE KNEW HIM IN THE BREAKING BREAD
AND THE WINE
THAT TOOK THE JOURNEY'S DUST AWAY



FRANK A VOLLMER

Unicorns' Turned Down Day

SOMETIMES UNICORNS
LIKE TO LIE IN THE GRASS
AND BE LAZY

FLICKING THEIR TAILS IDLY
RUBBING THEIR BACKS ON THE GROUND
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO

OR CHASE BUTTERFLIES

OR ENTERTAIN ROBINS ON THEIR HORNS

SNIFF FLOWERS AND SNORT

JUST BE QUIET WITH THEMSELVES

LIE TOGETHER WITH THE ONE THEY LOVE
A QUIET, TURNED DOWN DAY

TURN OFF THE MOTOR
TURN OFF THE MIND

BE CONTENT

THE GARDEN WILL HEAL THE BLISTERS
OF THE JOURNEY THEIR WORLD HAS SHRUNK
TO ONE'S HEAD RESTING ON THE OTHER'S NECK

IT IS ENOUGH
IT SAYS IT ALL

AND THE SOUND OF THE BEES FILL THE AFTERNOON


FRANK A VOLLMER

Birthday

ON THE DAY THE CHURCH BEGAN
THE APOSTLES WERE GATHERED IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF SHABUOTH

IT WAS A HARVEST FESTIVAL
IT WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF OUR THANKSGIVING DAY

THEY FELT THEY HAD LITTLE TO CELEBRATE

JESUS HAD GONE HOME
LEAVING THEM FEELING LIKE ORPHANS

BUT THEY WERE LOYAL JEWS
THEY OBSERVED THE LAW

THE LAW SAID
THANK GOD GOOD TIMES AND BAD
ESPECIALLY ON THIS DAY
FIFTY DAYS AFTER PASSOVER
FOR IT COMMEMORATED THE FIRST HARVEST
THEY HAD AS FREE MEN

BUT PETER WAS PUZZLED
AS HE OFTEN WAS

AS THE OTHERS OFTEN WERE

FOR JESUS HAD SAID TO THEM BEFORE HE LEFT
JESUS HAD SAID
WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM

I GIVE YOU THIS COMMAND
THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM

BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED
WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT

JOHN BAPTIZED YOU WITH WATER
BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

AND PETER THOUGHT
I AM WELL NAMED ROCK

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT

AFTER THREE YEARS AND HIS LEAVING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE MEANT

AND SO THOUGHT ALL THE OTHER APOSTLES

GATHERED TOGETHER
IN THE UPPER ROOM
TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE HARVEST
WHICH WAS
YET TO COME

Noah's Butterflies

A RAVEN AND A DOVE
SENT BY NOAH OUT
TO CHECK THE WATER'S EBBING

ONE STAYED
THE OTHER RETURNED
OLIVE BRANCHES BEARING

SO NOAH SENT THE ANIMALS OUT

TWO BY TWO HE SENT THEM
THE LAST RELEASED
WAS FROM A BOX
WHERE TWO CATERPILLARS HAD LAIN
SLEEPING

OUT FLEW TWO BUTTERFLIES
RAINBOW COLORED DAINTY

THEIR FLIGHT LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN HOPPING
THEY FLEW TO WHERE NOAH STOOD
HIS ARM AROUND HIS LOVED ONE
AND PERCHED UPON EXTENDED FINGERS

NOAH WAS MOVED TO SAY
ALL, ALL IS NEW
THE RAINBOW THAT ARCS
THE STILL WET EARTH
IS GOD'S SIGN OF PEACE
AFTER STORM

BUT THE BUTTERFLY SAYS
THAT LIFE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL
THAT LOVE TRANSFORMS

WITH THAT THE BUTTERFLIES FLEW
HIS TO HER SHOULDER
HERS TO HIS

AND SO BEJEWELED
THEY DESCENDED TO A NEW LAND
A LAND WHERE HISTORY HELD NO SWAY
A LAND FULL OF PROMISE

WHERE LIONS AND TIGERS SLEPT AT PEACE
AND THE DRAGONS' ROAR
WAS MUSIC TO THE EARS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Farewell (Acts 1:11)

HE ENJOYED WATCHING THEM WORK
GATHERING THEIR NETS
OR DRYING THEM
SORTING THE FISH
NO WASTED MOTION
WORKMEN DOING THEIR WORK
WELL
TEAM WORK

IT REMINDED HIM OF JOSEPH
HOW THEY COULD WORK IN THE SHOP
LAUGHING OR QUIET
AS THE MOOD CAME ON
WORKMEN DOING THEIR JOB
PROUD AND WELL

I GIVE YOU THE KEYS
TO WORK WORN HANDS
I GIVE THE KEYS
I SHALL MISS YOU ALL

THEN HE WAS GONE

AND THEY STOOD THERE
SEARCHING THE SKY
AS FISHERMEN WILL
CHECKING THE WEATHER

MEN OF GALILEE
THE ANGEL SAID
WHY SEARCH YOU THE HEAVENS
YOUR WORK IS HERE

BUT WE ARE AFRAID
SAID THE FISHERMEN

AS WELL YOU MIGHT BE
SAID THE ANGEL

IF YOU WERE LEFT ALONE

BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE

NOT ALONE

FOR AS SURE
AS THE RUNNING OF THE SEA
OR EBBING TIDE
IS HIS FAITHFULNESS AND LOVE

AND HE HAS NOT LEFT YOU LONELY
HE HAS NOT LEFT YOU LONELY
HE HAS NOT LEFT YOU LONELY

F. A. VOLLMER

A Possibility

A POSSIBILITY

THE SOLDIERS
WOULD JUST AS SOON
HAD LET HIM ROT
SWINGING FROM THE TREE

BUT THE STRANGER CAME
AND IN A VOICE BROKEN WITH SORROW
HAD BEGGED

BURY HIM WELL
PLEASE
BURY HIM WELL
FOR JUDAS WAS MY FRIEND

Frank Vollmer

The Rock

WHEN I WAS A LAD
TRAVELING STEERAGE
ON A TRAMP STEAMER
THE BEST WE COULD AFFORD

WE WERE WAY BELOW THE SALT

MY SISTERS AND I
TRAVELING
TO MY MOTHER’S LAND OF BIRTH

HER MARRIAGE GOING SOUR

TRAVELING TO HER PARENT’S HOME

NO HAPPINESS IN OUR DEPARTURE
NO JOY IN OUR DESTINATION
ONLY DUTY I THOUGHT
AND FIVE MOUTHS TO FEED

WE WERE ALLOWED
ONLY ON THE LOWER DECKS

I WAS BUNDLED UP
AND PLAYING THERE

ALONE IN THE MIDST OF WINTER
SEASICKNESS CLAIMING THE OTHERS

WE PASSED A JUT OF ROCK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

A LONELY ROCK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

THE WAVES BEAT ON IT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA


NO ONE TO PUT IT TO BED
SMELLING OF CIGAR SMOKE
AND COLOGNE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

BUT THE I BECAME AWARE
OF GREENERY
AND SEABIRDS FLYING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

NO ONE IS TRULY ALONE
I THOUGHT

AS WE SAILED ON
TO GRANDPARENTS
WHO LOVED THEIR DAUGHTER
AND HER CHILDREN

WE SAILED ON
LEAVING THE ROCK
WHERE LIFE FOUND LIFE
ALONE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA

FRANK A VOLLMER

Grandfather's Tales

MY GRANDFATHER USED TO FILL MY HEAD
WITH TALES OF MONSTERS OF THE SEA
OF STORMS

OF THE WEE PEOPLE
THAT WOULD GET ME
IF I WAS NOT HOME FOR TEA

NOW I AM GROWN
AND KNOW THE TALES TO BE
GRANDPOP'S FAIRY TALES FOR ME

BUT STILL
WHENEVER I AM ON DEEP WATER
I WAIT FOR THE DRAGON HEAD TO EMERGE

MY HANDS ACHE
WHERE HE WOULD SQUEEZE THEM
AND I HAVE THIS DESIRE
FOR TEA


FRANK A VOLLMER

Watching the News

I WATCH THE EVENING NEWS
AND SEE THEM REDUCING THE COUNTRY
TO RUBBLE

REGION BY REGION
CITY BY CITY
BLOCK BY BLOCK

AND REMEMBER
A SAYING
BY TACITUS

THEY HAVE MADE A WILDERNESS
AND CALL IT PEACE

I THINK IF WE SURVEYED
THE DEAD
ON BOTH SIDES
MOST WOULD SAY
AS ACHILLES SAID TO ODYSSEUS
WHEN ODYSSEUS
PRAISED HIS DEATH

NEVER TRY TO RECONCILE ME TO DEATH,
GLORIOUS ODYSSEUS.
I SHOULD CHOOSE, SO I MIGHT LIVE ON EARTH,
TO SERVE AS THE HIRELING OF ANOTHER,
SOME LANDLESS MAN WITH HARDLY ENOUGH TO LIVE ON,
RATHER THAN TO BE LORD
OVER ALL THE DEAD THAT HAVE PERISHED.

I KNOW NO PROBLEM
SOLVED BY MORE HATE
NO PHYSICAL GAIN
JUSTIFYING
ONE DEATH

THERE MUST BE NO MORE KILLING
ON GOD’S HOLY MOUNTAIN
NOR GLOATING
OVER PYRRHIC VICTORIES
NOR TRAMPLING
BY THE VICTORS
ON THE MASSES
WHO HAVE NO VOICE


FRANK A VOLLMER

Now

JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE
AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THE WEALTHY
THE IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE

AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE

AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE

THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.

HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY
.
THEY SAID

BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE

BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN

BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE

THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST

THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK,

THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,

THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.



BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY
.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED

THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM
.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE
THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE

TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME
.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS
TODAY
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING

MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
.

BUT THE RICH MEN
AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS
OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT

WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE
WHO ARE WITHOUT
ABOUT THOSE
WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING

THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.

IT TOOK PAUL
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,

MANY PARTS
ONE BODY

AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

AS PAUL WRITES

FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED

INTO ONE BODY
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,

SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY

AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS
IF ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.

THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.

THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY

SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED


TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW

FOR THE RIGHT TIME IS NOW
THE DAY OF SALVATION IS NOW


FRANK A VOLLMER