Friday, October 31, 2008

Coin




WHOSE IMAGE IS PRESSED UPON THE COIN

A MAN’S HE ANSWERS

HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH

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

Reformation





I’VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE REFORMATION



THE MORNING STARS THAT PRECEDED IT



LIKE HUS AND WYCLIFFE



ABOUT NOBLES WHO KEPT A HOUSE PRIEST

WHO AFTER DALLYING WITH THEIR MISTRESS

WOULD CONFESS

AND BE RIGHT AGAIN



ABOUT HOW MANY MOVEMENTS

BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CHURCH

CALLED FOR ITS RETURN

TO EARLY POVERTY



SO THAT CHURCH LIFE

MIGHT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLE

PEOPLE’S LIFE



AND BE TAUGHT THEM IN A LANGUAGE

THEY COULD UNDERSTAND



BUT AFTER THE BREAK

ARE WE ANY BETTER



DO WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR

AS OURSELVES

IF HE IS DIFFERENT



IN FAITH

RACE

NATIONALITY



DO WE PREACH LOVE

AND PRACTICE HATRED



IF CHRIST CAME

WOULD WE KILL HIM FOR BEING A JEW



AS WE KILLED SIX MILLION CHRISTS



AND THE CHURCH WAS SILENT



MILLIONS OF AFRICANS

ARE DYING NOW

SO FEW CARE



WE’D RATHER INVADE A COUNTRY FOR OIL



BUT WHEN CHURCH AND STATE ARE JOINED

WE HAVE LUTHER BETRAYING THE PEASANTS



OR COUNSELING THE PRINCE

TO PRACTICE ADULTERY

QUIETLY



AND FINALLY

AGREEING TO DIVORCE



WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BROKEN LANDSCAPE

OF THE CHURCH



EACH ONE LOOKING AT THE SHATTERED SHARD

OF THE MIRROR



SAYING

THEIRS IS THE TRUE REFLECTION



HOW MANY FACES HAS THE TRUTH



BUT ALMOST FROM THE BEGINNING

WE’VE HAD DISSENSION



WE’VE HAD

PAUL VERSUS PETER

JEW VERSUS GENTILE

PURE VERSUS IMPURE FOOD



WOULD NOT A BETTER LITMUS TEST BE

NOT WHAT WE BELIEVE

BUT WHAT WE DO



DOES KNOWING THE HYPOSTATIC UNION

MAKE ONE HOLY

IS IT NOT BETTER

TO LIVE THE WORD





AND WHAT IS THAT WORD

WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS



LOVE GOD

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

THE REST IS COMMENTARY

FRANK A VOLLMER


For more poetry see our blog at http://camploony.blogspot.com/.

All Saints ((1 Corinthians 12) )




WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
THERE WAS A WEEK LONG FESTIVAL IN AUGUST
CALLED OBON

WHICH IS A FESTIVAL FOR THE DEAD

DURING THAT TIME
THE JAPANESE BELIEVED THE DEAD CAME BACK
TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES

THERE WERE PLACES SET AT THE TABLE FOR THEM.

EACH NIGHT THERE WERE BONFIRES LIT

AND EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE VILLAGE
DANCED AROUND THEM
BUT IT WAS A SPECIAL DANCE

BECAUSE THE STEPS RESEMBLED THE MOTIONS
PEOPLE MADE WHILE WORKING

SO THERE WERE MOTIONS FOR FISHING
OR DIGGING OR SEWING OR COOKING

THESE MOTIONS IMITATED THE LIVES OF THE DEAD
WHEN THEY WERE LIVING

I LEARNED THE DANCES.
AND MY JAPANESE FRIENDS AND I
WOULD DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

THEY WERE HAPPY THAT I WAS WITH THEM

BUT MORE ESPECIALLY THEY WERE HAPPY
THAT THEIR BELOVED DEAD WERE VISITING THEM


AT THE END OF OBON
CANDLES WERE PLACED ON TINY RAFTS
AND FLOATED OUT TO SEA

THEY WERE TO SHOW THE DEAD
BACK TO THEIR RESTING PLACE

IT WAS A TENDER BEAUTIFUL MOMENT

TO FEEL THEIR LOVE
FOR THEIR ANCESTORS

AND TO SEE THE THOUSANDS OF CANDLES
MAKING THE RIVER A GOLDEN PATH

ANY READER
OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
KNOWS THAT FESTIVALS OF THE DEAD
ARE COMMON TO ALL CULTURES.

MANY OF THE FESTIVALS ARE KIND AND GENTLE
AS IN JAPAN
THE DEAD ARE NOT FEARED.
IN OTHER CULTURES
THE DEAD ARE THE GHOSTS
THE GOBLINS THE WITCHES
THE THINGS TO BE FEARED IN THE NIGHT

IN EUROPE
AS THE PAGANS THAT LIVED THERE
WERE CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY
THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM
THIS FEAR OF THE DEAD

THE CHURCH TO COUNTERACT THIS FEAR
INITIATED THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
FOR NO ONE WHO HAS DIED IN CHRIST
SHOULD BE FEARED


THERE ALSO EVOLVED
THE CONCEPT
OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
WHICH IS PART OF THE CREED
WE SAY ON SUNDAYS
SIMPLY PUT
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS MEANS
THAT ALL PEOPLE SAVED BY CHRIST'S BLOOD
BELONG TO ONE BODY.



THOSE WHO REST IN HIS BOSOM
AND THOSE OF US
WHO ARE STILL PILGRIMS ON THE WAY

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
ARE ONE BODY
ONE COMMUNION,
ONE COMMUNITY

REMNANTS OF FEAR OF THE DEAD
LINGER IN THE COSTUMES WE WEAR
ON HALLOWEEN
GHOSTS GOBLINS SATAN

HALLOWEEN MEANS ALL HALLOW'S EVE
OR THE NIGHT BEFORE ALL HALLOWS DAY

HALLOWED AS IN THE LORDS PRAYER
MEANS BLESSED
.
SO ANOTHER NAME
FOR THIS FEAST DAY
WOULD BE
ALL THE BLESSED ONE'S DAY

AND WHO ARE THESE BLESSED ONES.
THEY ARE OUR PARENTS
GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES,
SPOUSES,
SOMETIMES SADLY OUR CHILDREN


THEY ARE RULERS OF THE WORLD
THEY ARE THE POOR.
THEY ARE THE BRIGHT
THEY ARE THE ILLITERATE.
THEY ARE THE BOLD
THE BASHFUL
THE SAINT OCCASIONALLY
BUT MOST OFTEN THE SINNER
BUT THEY ARE ALL JOINED NOW
AND HELD SAFELY IN GOD'S HAND

THEY ARE YOU
AND I
WHEN OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS

BUT BEFORE OUR PILGRIMAGE ENDS
WE MUST LIVE OUR LIFE.
WALK THE ROAD BEFORE US
IN SUNNY OR RAINY WEATHER,
ON FLAT GROUND OR UP A MOUNTAIN
OR EVEN DOWN INTO A DEEP VALLEY.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL WALK WITH FRIENDS
OR LOVED ONES

BUT EVEN WHEN WE WALK ALONE
THERE WILL BE TWO SETS OF FOOTPRINTS
BECAUSE JESUS IS WALKING THE ROAD WITH US,

AND JESUS GAVE US A CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR THAT ROAD
THEY ARE CALLED THE BEATITUDES.


AND THEY ARE

HOW HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THOSE WHO DO NOT CRAVE
MONEY
POSSESSIONS
POWER
BUT USE
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM
GENEROUSLY

JESUS SAYS
HAPPY ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT,
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

HAPPY THE GENTLE
THEY SHALL HAVE THE EARTH
FOR THEIR HERITAGE

HAPPY
THOSE WHO MOURN
THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED



HAPPY THOSE WHO HUNGER
AND THIRST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT
THEY SHALL BE SATISFIED

HAPPY THE MERCIFUL
THEY SHALL HAVE MERCY SHOWN THEM

HAPPY THE PURE IN HEART
THEY SHALL SEE GOD

HAPPY THE PEACEMAKERS
THEY SHALL BE CALLED
CHILDREN OF GOD

HAPPY THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED
IN THE CAUSE OF RIGHT
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER
AS THE COLORS OF THE TREES
GO FROM GOLD TO BROWN TO BARE
AND THE WIND HAS A BITE TO IT
THAT GOES THROUGH US,
WE ARE REMINDED
OF THE FINALITY OF OUR LIVES


IN THIS SEASON
THE SEASON OF AUTUMN
WE ARE ALSO ASKED
TO REMEMBER OUR DEAD

IN THE TV. SHOW "ARCHIE BUNKER"
AFTER EDITH HIS WIFE DIED,
AFTER THE FUNERAL
ARCHIE SPIES HER SLIPPER
UNDER THEIR BED AND HE CRIES
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE





.
WE ARE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS DAY
TO DO THAT
TO SAY WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE LOVE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE EXAMPLE THEY GAVE US
FOR THE LAUGHTER AND THE TEARS
THEY GAVE US.

NOT THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR IT.
THERE IS NO PAIN WHERE THEY ARE.
BUT WE
NEED TO SAY IT.

THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEANT TO ME.
THANK YOU
FOR ALL YOU MEAN TO ME.
MAY I BE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE.

AND IF THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE
WITH WHOM
THERE WERE ANGRY WORDS
NEVER CALLED BACK
NOW IS THE TIME
FOR FORGIVENESS
AGAIN NOT THAT THE DEAD NEED IT
BUT WE NEED IT.



WE NEED TO SEND FORGIVENESS
IT WILL GO FROM US
LIKE A CANDLE
ON A RIVER
MAKING THE RIVER GOLD.

FINALLY
THERE IS IN MOST OF OUR LIVES
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
HAVING LIVED A LIFE
THAT WE FEEL
COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
AND THAT THOUGHT
LIES UNEASY
ON OUR HEARTS

LET US REMEMBER
THAT GOD'S LOVE AND MERCY
IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY
TO COMPREHEND IT

ON THIS AUTUMN DAY
CLOSE TO WINTER
MAY GOD'S LOVE
KEEP US WARM.



AMEN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

It Bothers Me




IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN PEOPLE USE THE BIBLE
TO FIND DIRE PREDICTIONS
ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD
WITH AN ANGRY JESUS COMING TO SMITE THE SINNER
AND INNOCENT ALIKE

IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN THEY SAY
THEY ARE USING A SECRET CODE
BASED ON NUMEROLOGY
ASTROLOGY
OR SOME OTHER OLOGY

IT BOTHERS ME
WHEN PEOPLE TALK
ABOUT SECRET KNOWLEDGE
AS IF WE HAD TO PASS A TEST
AND WOE THE FAILURE

IT BOTHERS ME
TO THINK
THAT PEOPLE THINK
THAT GOD IS MEAN
VINDICTIVE
PLAYS WITH THE WORLD
LIKE A LITTLE BOY
PLAYING WITH AN ANT HILL

WE SEARCH THE PROPHECIES
LOOKING FOR DOOM
WHEN MOST OF THEM
ARE LIKE A MOTHER
SCOLDING HER CHILD
PROMISING PUNISHMENT
IF HE DOESN’T BEHAVE

THE CHOICE IS THE CHILD’S
THE CHOICE IS OURS

AND IF AN UNHAPPY PARENT
MUST DISCIPLINE THE CHILD
ARE NOT BOTH
PARENT AND CHILD
UNHAPPY


FRANK A VOLLMER

Meaning What We Say




IF WE VOTE FOR A MAN
BECAUSE HE’S LIBERAL
CONSERVATIVE
THAT’S A MATTER OF CHOICE

IF WE VOTE FOR OR AGAINST A MAN
BECAUSE OF RACE
THAT’S A CONTRADICTION

WE EITHER MEAN THE LORD’S PRAYER
OUR FATHER

OR WE DON’T

WE CANNOT SAY OUR FATHER
AND BE PREJUDICED

IF WE JUDGE SOMEONE TO BE SOMEHOW LOWER
WE DO NOT HEAR CHRIST SAYING
WHAT SO EVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS
THAT YOU DO UNTO ME

CHRISTIANS GIVE RELIGION A BAD NAME
WHEN THEY DON’T PRACTICE THEIR BELIEFS

WHEN THEY JUDGE A NEIGHBOR UNFIT
WHEN THEY SEE A FACE
AND NOT THE PERSON

WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY
NAKED
OR POOR
WHEN DID I DENY YOU HONOR

THAT YOU DID UNTO ME


FRANK A VOLLMER

Amazing Grace




IT WAS AN EARWORM
A MELODY
THAT PLAYED OFTEN IN HIS HEAD
IT WORE AWAY AT HIS HEART
LIKE WATER DRIPPING ON A ROCK
IT WAS A LAMENT

SPEAKING OF SEPARATION
AND LOSS

IT WAS A LAMENT
SUNG BY SLAVES
CHAINED IN THE HOLD
0F THE SHIP

HE KNEW WHAT THE SONG MEANT
THOUGH HE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND THE WORDS
IT WAS A LAMENT
A PENTATONIC LAMENT

IT APPEALED
TO THE CELT IN HIM

IF THEY COULD FEEL SUCH DEEP EMOTION
ARE THEY MUCH DIFFERENT FROM ME
DO THEY NOT BLEED WHEN HURT
AND CRY WHEN SAD
ARE THEY NOT WORTHY OF DIGNITY
RATHER THAN COWERING
FROM WHIPS
AND THE POINT OF A GUN

IS THERE SOME SUPERIORITY
THAT BEING CHRISTIAN
ALLOWS ME TO ENSLAVE PAGANS
DID CHRIST NOT DIE FOR THEM TOO

IT TOOK AWHILE
LIKE WATER DRIPPING ON A ROCK
BUT FINALLY GRACE BROKE THROUGH
AMAZING GRACE

AND SO HE WROTE THE SONG
AND GRAFTED IT
TO THE LAMENT

IT STARTED
BY BEING NICE TO THE SLAVES
IN HIS CARE
BETTER FOOD AND SANITATION
IT ENDED WITH ABOLISHMENT
OF SLAVERY

BUT THE NEED FOR GRACE
AMAZING GRACE
CONTINUES

FRANK A VOLLMER

Peter




THE FIRST WORDS OF JESUS
TO SIMON PETER WERE
COME BE MY DISCIPLE

HIS LAST WORDS TO PETER WERE
COME FOLLOW ME

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
BETWEEN THOSE TWO CHALLENGES
PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW

EVEN THOUGH HE OFTEN STUMBLED

IN MATTHEW
WE SEE PETER
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

BRAVE ENOUGH
TO WIELD A SWORD
AND CUT OFF
THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SERVANT

BUT LATER

PETER
STANDING IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S COURTYARD
WITHERS UNDER THE SCORNING GAZE
OF A SERVANT GIRL

WITHERS TO THE POINT
THAT HE SWEARS
THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW THE MAN

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAITH
WILL NEVER ASK
WHO WILL GO UP TO HEAVEN
TO BRING CHRIST DOWN

NEITHER WILL THEY ASK,
WHO WILL GO DOWN
INTO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD
TO RAISE HIM TO LIFE

ALL WHO ARE ACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH
SIMPLY SAY

THE MESSAGE IS AS NEAR AS YOUR MOUTH
OR YOUR HEART

THE MESSAGE THAT GOD WALKS AMONG US
LAUGHS WITH US
CRIES WITH US
TRIES TO INSPIRE US
SO THAT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
MIGHT BE BETTER


THIS PETER KNEW
SIMPLE IMPULSIVE PETER
WHO AT THE VOICE OF JESUS
LEAPED FROM THE BOAT
TO WALK ON WATER

WHO WALKED ON WATER
UNTIL HE THOUGHT
HE WAS DOING IT HIMSELF

THEN HE SANK
AND CRIED
LORD SAVE ME

BUT JESUS REACHED DOWN
AS HE DID SO MANY TIMES WITH PETER

AS HE DOES SO MANY TIMES WITH US
AND SAVES US

AND WE ARE ASKED
TO BE WILLING
TO LEAP FROM THE BOAT IN FAITH
KNOWING GOD WILL SUSTAIN US

AND BRING US SAFELY HOME


FRANK A VOLLMER

A Discrepancy



BILLIONS FOR BANKS
PITTANCE FOR THE POOR
INFIRM
OR ELDERLY

BUT BILLIONS FOR BANKS

THIS IN A NATION
THAT VAUNTS ITSELF
AS FOLLOWING
A JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION

A TRADITION
WHERE GOD SAYS

I AM FATHER OF THE POOR
THE HOMELESS
THE STRANGER IN YOUR MIDST

I AM WITH THE HUNGRY CHILD
THOSE CHEATED OUT OF GOD’S PROMISE

I DO NOT SEE EQUALITY IN MY PEOPLE
BUT PRIMACY OF PLACE

I SEE RICHES AT THE TABLE
AND LEAVINGS FOR LAZARUS


FRANK A VOLLMER

Equal Wages, Unequal Work




BECAUSE NO ONE HAS HIRED US

IT COULD BE IMMIGRANT LABOR
OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
OR UNTRAINED LABOR
BUT THE LANDOWNER
AT THE LAST HOUR
SAID
COME WORK FOR ME

AND EVERYMAN
AT PAY TIME
RECEIVED THE SAME
WAGES

NOW THE STORY WAS NOT TOLD
AS AN EXAMPLE OF LABOR MANAGEMENT
OR HOW TO FAIL IN BUSINESS

BUT ALL ARE INVITED
TO COME INTO THE VINEYARD

SOME
WILL BE IN THE VINEYARD
UNDER THE SUN
ALL DAY

SOME
PART OF THE DAY

SOME WILL COME
WHEN EVENING CHILL
IS IN THE AIR

AND THE MASTER SAYS
IS YOUR EYE EVIL
BECAUSE I AM GOOD

IT DOESN’T SOUND FAIR
AND IT ISN’T
IN HUMAN TERMS

BUT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND
THAT HE WILL LEAVE
THE NINETY NINE SAFE SHEEP
AND SEEK THE LOST ONE
SO GREAT IS HIS DESIRE
THAT ALL BE SAFE

IT WOULD BE WELL FOR US TO REMEMBER
THAT WE LABOR NOT FOR WAGES
OR GOD’S APPROVAL

THE REWARD IS A GIFT FROM GOD
AND THE REWARD IS THE SAME FOR ALL

WE SHOULD REJOICE WITH THE SHEPHERD
AT THE FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP


FRANK A VOLLMER

Lilies of the Field




THE STORY GOES
THERE WAS A DONKEY
TETHERED BETWEEN
TWO PILES OF HAY

HE STARTED FOR ONE
THEN CHANGED HIS MIND
THE OTHER LOOKED BETTER

THE CHANGED HIS MIND AGAIN
AND AGAIN
AGAIN
AND AGAIN

HE WORE A DITCH
BETWEEN THE PILES
AND DIED IN IT
HUNGRY

POOR DUMB DONKEY
TO LET DESIRE
RULE HIS LIFE
TILL DEATH

POOR DUMB US
WHEN WE DO THE SAME

OH I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE NORMAL DESIRES
FOR LOVE
FOOD
SHELTER
MEANINGFUL WORK
AND REWARD

WHAT I MEAN IS DESIRE THAT WARPS
THAT TWIST A PERSON’S VALUE
THAT
I WANT
SUPERSEDES
THAT BLINDS HIM
TO THE NEED OF OTHERS

LIKE A GENERAL
SURVEYING A BATTLE FIELD
WITH ALL THE DEAD
AND DESTRUCTION
WITH A VICTORIOUS SMILE
SAYS
LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE

I’M TEMPTED TO QUOTE
THE LILIES OF THE FIELD
IF WE THINK
GOD WILL PROVIDE
HE’S DONE A BAD JOB

BUT IS NOT GOD’S POWER THWARTED
BY MAN’S DESIRE
FOR POWER
THE NEED TO HAVE IT AT ALL COSTS

WE SUPPLANT GOD BY THINKING
I
AM THE GREAT
I AM

I THINK GOD WILL PROVIDE
IF WE LET HIM
IF WE DO NOT BLOCK THE SUN
SO THAT LILIES FADE
AND BLOW AWAY


FRANK A VOLLMER