The Camp Loony Muse

The Shepherd (Psalm 23)

2010-07-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

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

Papa Loon Has Moved

2009-11-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

and is still publishing his wonderful poems. You can catch up with him here.

Studying Religious Texts (Job 29 (Micah 6:8)

2009-05-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

I GROW WEARY
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 fatherless who had none to assist him.
The man who was dying blessed me;

I made the widow's heart sing.
I put on righteousness as my clothing;

Justice was my robe and my turban.
I was eyes to the blind

And feet to the lame.
I was a father to the needy;

I took up the case of the stranger.
I broke the fangs of the wicked

And snatched the victims from their teeth.

SOMEHOW
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

2009-05-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

Why do the nations
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

2009-05-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

I’M USED TO EASTER IN A COLD CLIMATE
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

2009-05-07T12:15:00.000-07:00

There are birds
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

2009-05-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

PREPARE TO EVACUATE
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)

2009-05-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-05-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

IN GENESIS
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

Goats and Lambs

2008-12-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-02T11:38:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

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

FRANK A VOLLMER

Plant A Tree

2008-12-02T11:29:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-12-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

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

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

2008-12-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

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

Coin

2008-10-31T05:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-31T05:02:00.000-07:00

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) )

2008-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

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

It Bothers Me

2008-10-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

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

Blessed Are . . .

2008-06-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-06-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:23:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

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

Born Again

2008-03-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

THERE WAS A WAR TORN VILLAGE IN GERMANY
IN WHOSE VILLAGE SQUARE
WAS A CAROUSEL
DAMAGED
THOUGH THE LION
STILL CHASED THE TIGER
WHO CHASED THE HORSE
BUT THE MUSIC WAS STILLED

IT NEEDS REBIRTH I THOUGHT
TO RESTORE LAUGHTER TO THE CHASE
IT NEEDS REBIRTH

ODD PHRASE I THOUGHT
WHEN USED BY CHRISTIANS
AS IF BY MERELY THINKING IT
THE CAROUSEL WAS FIXED

NO MENTION OF THE MECHANIC
AND THE CARPENTER'S SKILL

AND WHEN FIXED
NO MENTION OF THE MAINTENANCE

WHEN ONE IS REBORN BY WATER
AND THE SPIRIT
IS THAT THE END OF IT

WILL THE HORSE NEVER LOSE AN EAR
WILL THE STRAP ON THE GIRAFFE
NEVER BREAK
OR THE CALLIOPE
NEVER NEED TUNING

WILL THE PERSON
THE DAY AFTER BEING SAVED
STILL NEED TO SHAVE

WILL SHOELACES NEVER BREAK
OR TOAST BE BURNED
WILL HE NEVER WAKE UP GRUMPY

WILL HE NEVER
CRAVE A WOMAN NOR WEALTH
WILL HE NEVER BE TESTED BY HEALTH

MERRY GO ROUNDS NEED FIXING
AND SO DO WE
BEFORE THE LION
WILL CHASE THE TIGER
WHO CHASES THE HORSE

AND THE CALLIOPE FILLS THE AIR

FRANK A VOLLMER

2008-03-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

IN CREATION MYTHS
A COMMON THEME
HAS GODS
INVOLVED IN SIBLING SEX
RAPE
MURDER
TURF WARS
BUTCHERY
STRUGGLES FOR POWER

THE WORLD MADE
BY THEIR CHILDREN'S BODIES
OR PARTS THEREOF

A CREATION STORY
AS CONCEIVED BY MEN

BUT WHEN THE JEWISH SCRIBES
SURROUNDED
BY BABYLONIAN IDOLATRY
DROWNED IN FOREIGN GODS
TO WHICH THE JEWS
WERE SUSCEPTIBLE

REWROTE AND EDITED
THE GENESIS STORY
TO GIVE THEIR DISPLACED COUNTRYMEN
HOPE
AND VISION

THEY INCORPORATED OF COURSE
SOME OF THE OLD BABYLONIAN TALES
SUCH AS THE FLOOD
AND THE TOWER OF BABEL

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO CREATION
THEY DID A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY

NO STRUGGLE
NO CONSTANT SEX
AS THE EGYPTIANS
DID WITH THE BROTHER AND SISTER
EARTH AND SKY

GOD SIMPLY SAID
BEGIN
AND IT WAS SO
GOD SAID
IT'S GOOD

NOW WHETHER IT TOOK
AN INSTANT
OR MILLENNIUMS
FOR FRUITION

IT DOESN'T MATTER
GOD SAID BEGIN
AND IT WAS

OUT OF NOTHING
IT WAS

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO MAN

THE SPIRIT THAT BROODED OVER THE ABYSS
BREATHED INTO HIM A SOUL
AND MADE HIM THE CAPSTONE OF HIS CREATION

AND GOD SAID
THAT'S GOOD

AND THE JEWS KNEW THAT MAN WAS SPECIAL
MADE
NOT FROM THE SWEAT OF BATTLE
THE BLOOD DROPS OF WAR
THE SEMEN OF SEX

GOD SAID BEGIN
AND IT WAS

GOD SAID
LET US MAKE MAN
AND IT WAS SO

AND IT WAS GOOD

NO STRUGGLE

OH GOD TOLD A FISHERMAN'S JOKE
WHEN HE ASKED JOB
IF HE COULD CATCH A WHALE ON A HOOK

BUT THE JEWS KNEW
EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE FOREIGNERS
IN A FOREIGN LAND

THAT THEY
AND EVERY MAN WAS SPECIAL
NOT MADE BY ACCIDENT
BUT A DELIBERATE CREATION

THAT GOD
THEN
NOW
AND ALWAYS
WOULD HOLD THEM IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

FRANK A VOLLMER

Six Word Poems

2008-03-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

MY POETRY
MY LIFE
DON'T RHYME

CANCER CAME
CANCER STAYED
STILL HOPING

TOENAILS CUT
BADLY NEEDED
SHREDDED SHEETS

WALKER SOUNDS
COMING NEAR
SLOW SHUFFLING

CHILD'S LAUGHTER
SILLY JOKE
LOVE EXCHANGING

VIRGIN'S DEATH
TOMBSTONE READS
RETURNED UNOPENED

SLIPPERS WAIT
UNDER BED
OWNER GONE

HOME FROM FUNERAL
DOG WAITS
WONDERING

FRANK A VOLLMER

Winter Tree

2008-03-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

A WINTER TREE
SHOWS ALL THE AGONY OF GROWTH
HIDDEN IN SPRING
IN SUMMER
BY LEAF FINERY
IN FALL
BY DEATH'S DISPLAY
BUT WINTER SHOWS THE PAIN OF GROWTH
AS WRINKLES
ON THE FACE
OF AN OLD WOMEN
SHOW THE BEAUTY
OF SURVIVING

FRANK A VOLLMER

An Old Veteran's Tale

2008-03-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

BY THE WATERS THAT BABBLED ON
WE CROUCHED IN SHELL HOLES
ERIE SHADOWS MADE BY STAR SHELLS
RUMBLING AND FLASHES OF CANNON
STACCATO SOUND OF RIFLE FIRE

WE WERE IN RETREAT
WE WERE HURRYING
TO MAKE A NEW DEFENSE LINE

OUR SQUAD'S JOB
WAS TO BLOW THE BRIDGE
AND PROTECT OUR WOUNDED

WE WERE SHORT OF TRUCKS
WE WERE SHORT OF EVERYTHING

I REMEMBER
ANOTHER TIME
ANOTHER PLACE
ANOTHER BRIDGE

A PICNIC BASKET
WAS ON THE BLANKET
WHERE WE SAT
TROUBLE FREE
AND HAPPY
WELL FED

FROM THE BRIDGE
THEY WERE SHOOTING FIREWORKS
FIREFLIES IN THE SKY
WHILE THE RIVER BABBLED ON

OUR MISSION WAS TO BLOW THE BRIDGE
AND PROTECT THE WOUNDED
THE ENEMY HAD A HABIT OF BAYONETING

BLOW THE BRIDGE
BEFORE THE REFUGEES CROSS
THE ENEMY WOULD MIX WITH THEM
AND INFILTRATE OUR LINES

ON THE BLANKET
OUR ONLY DECISION
WAS
SHOULD WE PUT MUSTARD ON THE HAM

I AM AN OLD MAN NOW
I’VE GROWN TIRED
OF OTHER OLD MEN
SENDING YOUNG MEN
TO SUFFER AND DIE
THERE SHOULD
THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY

ON THE BRIDGE CAME A MOTHER AND CHILD
I THOUGHT IT WAS A MOTHER AND CHILD
I WASN’T SURE
I HAD WOUNDED TO PROTECT
I BLEW THE BRIDGE

THE WIND BLEW THROUGH
MY TRUE LOVE’S HAIR
QUICKLY WE RAN TO THE GAZEBO
TO ESCAPE THE RAIN

WE WON THE BATTLE
THE WOUNDED WERE SAFE
THE BRIDGE WAS BLOWN

BUT WHEN I SEE MY WIFE
HOLDING HER GRANDCHILD
I DO NOT SLEEP EASY
WITH MY MEMORY

FRANK A VOLLMER

Crucifixion

2008-03-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE
THE TRUTH BE TOLD
HE DIDN'T WANT TO DIE

BUT THERE HE HUNG
NAKED HUNG
AGAINST THE NOON DAY SKY

LIKE CARRION THEY CAME
TO SIT UPON THE LAWN AND WATCH
HOW SUCH A MAN WOULD DIE

NO MAN WHO HAS EVER CALLED ANOTHER…FRIEND
OR HELD A LOVER'S HAND
OR FELT THE PULL OF FALLING STAR
OR HEARD A ROBIN SING
NO MAN WHO HAS EVER BEEN IN LOVE
OR BOUNCED A BABY ON HIS KNEE
REALLY WANTS TO DIE

BUT THERE HE HUNG
NAKED HUNG
AGAINST A DARKENING SKY

HIS NEED FOR LOVE SO GREAT HE CRIED
I THIRST
THEY WONDERED WHY

AS HE HUNG
NAKED HUNG
AGAINST A NIGHT BLACK SKY

THE CARRION JUST STOOD AROUND
WAITING FOR HIM TO DIE
HE FELT THE COLDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS
AND CRIED TO HIS FATHER … WHY
ALL HIS PENT UP PASSION SURGING
HE CRIED TO HIS FATHER …WHY

AS HE HUNG
NAKED HUNG
FOR LOVE OF YOU AND I

Frank Vollmer

Were There Not Ten Healed

2008-03-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

FORGIVE ME LORD
I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF POOR THINKING
WHEN I RECOVERED
AT LEAST TO EXTENT
I CAN RECOVER
DID I SAY THANK YOU
I WISH I COULD SAY YES
BUT LIKE A MAN
WHOSE VACATION
IS MARRED BY RAIN
AND FEELS HIS VACATION RUINED
FORGETS THE BEAUTIFUL DAYS HE DID HAVE
MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE EXISTED

SO I THANK YOU LORD
FOR LIMITED RECOVERY
AND NO MIRACLES
EXCEPT THE DAILY BEAUTY OF EACH DAY

FORGIVE ME LORD
I HAVE NOT BEEN A GOOD SERVANT
OR GRATEFUL
AND MAY BE AGAIN
BUT FOR NOW
THANK YOU LORD

WERE THERE NOT TEN HEALED…

My Buddy Has a Code

2008-03-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

MY BUDDY HAS A CODE IN THE NODE
HER NODE LOOKS LIKE A NIGHT OF DRINKING
SHE’S THE EAST COAST DISTRIBUTOR
OF MALAISE AND MAL AL LA TETE

SHE’S ON DRUGS THAT WOULD KILL A HORSE
THAT’S BECAUSE SHE’S GOT A COLT
THAT’S THE MANE REASON SHE GOT SICK

THIS FILLY IS ILLY
THAT’S KIND OF SILLY
HER NOSE IS WINNING THE RACE
IT’S RUNNING AT WHIM
OVER HER CHIN
IT’S PUDDLING ALL OVER THE FLOOR

SHE’D REALLY BE THANKY
FOR THE LOAN OF A HANKY
HERS ARE ALL USED UP
WOULD YOU BELIEVE
SHE’S USING HER SLEEVE
BUT SHE’S WEARING A SLEEVELESS BLOUSE

NOW LET ME PRATTLE
ABOUT HER CHEST RATTLE
THE COUGHING THE COUGHING THE COUGH
SHE SOUNDS JUST THE SAME
AS AN OLD FASHIONED TRAIN
CHUGGING CHUGGING AND CHUG

LET’S ALL LIGHT A CANDLE
DO THE CHICKEN BONE DANCE
ANYTHING TO MAKE HER WELL

I WISH HER WELL
IN HER MOMENT OF STRESS
SHE’S GOT A CODE IN THE NODE
MY PAL

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Boy is Back

2008-03-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

HEAR YE HEAR YE HEAR YE
ALL COMELY MAIDENS ON THE EAST COAST
YOUR STUD MUFFIN HAS COME BACK
FROM A BRIEF HEGIRA TO THE WEST COAST
YOUR PRINCE CHARMING
YOUR DREAM BOAT
YOUR NIGHT MARE
WHO SAID THAT
YOUR TRUE SELF
I THOUGHT I'd THROTTLED YOU
NO SUCH LUCK
WELL BE SILENT AND LET ME TELL MY STORY

TELL YOUR STORY
You've GOT SO MANY
YOU COULD BUILD THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

NEVERTHELESS
I HAD A GREAT TIME IN CALIFORNIA
BUT I HAD TO TEACH MY CHILDREN A NEW LEXICON

THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT PUSHING MY WHEELCHAIR
SO MUCH DEAD WEIGHT
TO WHICH I TOOK UMBRAGE
TASTES GREAT WITH MUSTARD

WE AGREED IT SHOULD BE SO MUCH LIVE WEIGHT
AND NOT FROM A DEAD BUT A LIVE START
SUCH DIGNITY WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE
FOR MY POMPOSITY AND WEIGHT
I'm A BIG MAN OUT THERE
I'm A BIG MAN ANYWHERE

ONE CHILD ABANDONED ME IN A PARKING LOT
ONE CALLED ME A GREAT WHITE GORILLA
A GRANDCHILD CALLED ME GOOFY
I HAD A GREAT TIME

THE KING OF FRIVOLITY IS BACK
AND READY TO ROAR
TREMBLE WORLD TREMBLE

I THOUGHT ADVENT FOR A WHILE
WAS FOR ME
HOW HUMILIATING
TO FIND IT WAS NOT
AH WELL HUMILITY doesn't BECOME ME

Palm Sunday

2008-03-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Isn't it sad, that in a time when we face so many devastating problems – poverty, HIV/AIDS, war and conflict – that in our Communion we should be investing so much time and energy on disagreement about sexual orientation?" --Archbishop Tutu

I don't preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say, "Now is that political or social?" He said, "I feed you." Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.

--Archbishop Tutu

PALM SUNDAY

WHEN JESUS RODE INTO JERUSALEM
ON A DONKEY HE’D BORROWED FOR THE OCCASION

HEARING HOSANNAS
AND SEEING THE PALM BRANCHES STREWN IN HIS WAY

HE HEARD UNDERNEATH
THE SNICKERING OF SOME
TEACHER GET YOUR DISCIPLES UNDER CONTROL

IT’S UNLAWFUL TO BE JOYFUL

IF I SHOULD QUIET THEM
THE VERY STONES WOULD SING

BUT THE HOLY PEOPLE
THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
THE GOOD PEOPLE
CALLED OUT
SEEING THE JOY OF THE CROWD
CRIED
IT’S OUT OF CONTROL
IT’S A STAMPEDE

WE WANT THEM WORRIED
ABOUT RELIGIOUS MINUTIAE
NOT THE FREEDOM HE TALKS ABOUT

HE MUST BE STOPPED
BEFORE ALL WE STAND FOR DIES

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY
THAT THE PROPHECY IS TRUE
THAT THE PHARISEES ARE DEAD
BUT THEY ARE STILL WITH US
WORRYING ABOUT MINUTIAE

WHILE CHILDREN STARVE
WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF VALUES

WHILE JESUS RIDES TO HIS DEATH
AND THE MOOD OF THE CROWD WILL CHANGE
YET HE RIDES TO BRING ABOUT OUR SALVATION
AND ASKS US TO MAKE HIS SACRIFICE WORTHWHILE

FRANK A VOLLMER

I Don't Believe in God

2008-03-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

I DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD

I AGREE WITH THE ATHEISTS

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE GOD

THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN EITHER

THE WHITE

BEARDED

MONARCH

WHO WILLY NILLY

INFLICTS PAIN

WHO IS DISINTERESTED

IN THE WORLD HE CREATED

I DON'T BELIEVE

IN THIS GOD

I BELIEVE IN A GOD

OF HOPE AND PROMISE

A GOD WHO SAYS

I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy,

create my people as pure delight.

I'll take joy in Jerusalem,

take delight in my people:

No more sounds of weeping in the city,

no cries of anguish;

No more babies dying in the cradle,

or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime;

One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal—

anything less will seem like a cheat.

They'll build houses

and move in.

They'll plant fields

and eat what they grow.

No more building a house

that some outsider takes over,

No more planting fields

that some enemy confiscates,

For my people will be as long-lived as trees,

my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.

They won't work and have nothing come of it,

they won't have children snatched out from under them.

GOD HAS PROMISED

I BELIEVE IT

IT WILL BE SO

I BELIEVE

THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATUS QUO

IS AN IRRELIGIOUS ACT

A BETRAYAL

OF HIM

WHO GAVE US THE WORLD

TO CARE FOR

IS THE WORLD BETTER

FOR DIFFERENT CREEDS

WHERE IS THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING

SAVE ME FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

WHO SING

PRAISE GOD

ALL THE DAY

AND DO NOTHING

IT'S A WONDER

THE ATHEIST'S FIRE

DOESN'T FLARE HIGHER

WE FEED IT SO MUCH FUEL

Before they call out, I'll answer.

Before they've finished speaking,

I'll have heard.

Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow,

lion and ox eat straw from the same trough,

but snakes—they'll get a diet of dirt!

Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill

anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God.

IN THIS ADVENT SEASON

COME AGAIN

LORD JESUS

COME AGAIN

LET THE MIRACLE

OF YOUR INCARNATION

INFUSE SOCIETY

AND LET THEIR BE

NO MORE KILLING

ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Shiva

2008-01-29T04:50:00.000-08:00

WHY RABBI WHY

A DAMAGED
UNUSABLE TORAH
IS BURIED IN THE EARTH
REVERENTLY
BEFITTING THE HOLY PURPOSE
IT ONCE SERVED

A DEAD BODY DESERVES THE SAME RESPECT
IT HOUSED THE SOUL
IT SHOULD BE GIVEN A RITUAL BATH
BECAUSE
CLEAN AND PURE
IT CAME INTO THIS WORLD
SO CLEAN AND PURE IT SHOULD LEAVE

WE SIT SHIVA
FOR SEVEN DAYS
BECAUSE JOSEPH
MOURNED HIS FATHER
SEVEN DAYS

AND JOB’S FRIENDS
IN THE FACE OF HIS GRIEF
WERE SILENT
FOR SEVEN DAYS

UNTIL HE SPOKE
OH THAT I MIGHT NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN
THAN TO SUFFER SUCH PAIN

WE SIT LOW
BECAUSE WE BEEN BROUGHT LOW BY DEATH
AND TO BE NEAR THE BODY
WHICH IS IN THE EARTH

WE ARE AN ANCIENT PEOPLE
MANY OF OUR FOLKWAYS
ARE BURIED IN HISTORY
MYSTERY
OR MYTH

WE BRING STONES
TO THE GRAVE SITE
BECAUSE THE TIME WAS
WHEN THE DEAD WERE COVERED WITH ROCK
TO PREVENT DESECRATION

OR MAYBE
JUST TO SHOW WE WERE THERE

MANY OF LIFE’S EVENTS
ARE COVERED WITH PRAYER
FROM OUR GOING OUT
AND COMING BACK
AND IN BETWEEN

LIFE IS SACRED
AND DEATH
IS THE SOLVER OF RIDDLES

FRANK A VOLLMER

Nicodemus

2008-01-29T04:48:00.000-08:00

LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES

THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
SO A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE
THAT HELPS PEOPLE
FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

THE WORD CALENDS
ALSO MEANS
THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER
WHO WOULD COME BY
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
WITH HIS PURSE OPEN
TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM

OFTEN WE FEAR THAT GOD WILL COME
UNANNOUNCED
TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM

THAT HE WOULD COME WITH AN OPEN PURSE
LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT

AND BECAUSE WE ARE IMPOVERISHED
AND CANNOT PAY
WE WOULD BE PUNISHED

NOT A NEW IDEA
OUR FOUNDER
MARTIN LUTHER
LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
UNDER THE IDEA
THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT
HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD

AND AS A RESULT
AN ANGRY
MEAN SPIRITED GOD
WOULD PUNISH HIM

NICODEMUS
COMES AT NIGHT
TO MEET WITH JESUS

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN
A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY
HE CAME AT NIGHT
HIS COMING AT NIGHT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN
WITH JESUS

A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES
SAID
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY
COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN
WERE ASLEEP

SO NICODEMUS
CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT

WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS

A PHARISEE
A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS
THAT MUST BE OBEYED
TO PLEASE GOD

JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED
INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS
CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL

WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW
TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS

AND THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY
WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

SOME EXAMPLES
YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH

SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN
AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK

IF YOU WERE HURT
YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND
BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND
BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK

ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY
YOU COULDN'T HELP HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN

THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW
ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS
TO DAILY LIVING

OR FORBIDDING
SOME ACTIONS
IN DAILY LIVING

YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED
OF BAD CONDUCT
WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY
BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK
AND SUCH WORK ON SABBATH WAS FORBIDDEN
BY THE LEADERS
A DISTORTION OF THE LAW

THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH
WITH THESE LAWS
THAT JESUS CRIED OUT
YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS
FOR MEN TO CARRY
BUT DO NOTHING
TO HELP THEM CARRY
THEIR BURDENS

OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT
THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE
NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW

SO NICODEMUS
A GOOD MAN
BURDENED DOWN BY LAWS
HE COULD NOT KEEP

OR FOUND DIFFICULT
COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO FIND THE LIGHT

WHO COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED

AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM
JESUS SAYS TO HIM
BE BORN AGAIN

HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE WE SAID
IN OUR OWN LIFE

I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE
I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE
I WILL BE REBORN

BUT HOW WE SAY
WITH NICODEMUS
HOW CAN WE BE REBORN

AND JESUS SAYS
BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT
OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM
BY THAT BAPTISM
YOU HAVE RECEIVED
REBIRTH

YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN

BUT
HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT
WE FEEL UNWORTHY

WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK
WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S
PURSE

UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH
WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED
BY ITS WEIGHT
BY ITS OBLIGATIONS

BUT JESUS SAYS
MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT ME
HE SENT ME
TO SAVE IT
AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME
BELIEVES IN THE FATHER
AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT
TOO GREAT FOR US
WHO ARE TOO SMALL
HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU

BELIEVE IN ME
IS ALL I ASK

BELIEVE

AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW
FROM THAT BELIEF

BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE
BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE WEAK
BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY
BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE ARE SINNERS
I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES
AS COME HE WILL
TO MAKE YOU DOUBT
YOUR BELIEFS

TO MAKE YOU FEEL
UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD

TELL THE TEMPTER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
TELL THE TEMPTER
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID

MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS

WHO DID NOT PAY
THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID
SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME
AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME

TELL THE TEMPTER
WHEN HE COMES
TELL THAT MONEY LENDER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL BY JESUS

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Baptism of Jesus

2008-01-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US

LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL

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
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
THEREFORE 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

THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER
A CLEANSING ACT

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

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH

THE LORD'S SERVANT

THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.
I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.

HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."

AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATION.
YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS

THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE

NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."

THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TOOK ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS

THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING

KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE

KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM

BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION

LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE

LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL

HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM

WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN ENTERING THE WATER

SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY

BUT JESUS SAID

LET IT BE DONE

SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM

FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE

THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

THE VOICE SAYS

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

AND JESUS LOOKING AT ALL GATHERED AT THE RIVER
AND LOOKING DOWN THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
AND SAYS
TO ALL OF US

YOU

YOU

YOU ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED

FRANK A VOLLMER

Bah Humbug

2007-12-27T06:55:00.000-08:00

BAH HUMBUG

I MUST BE HAVING AN OLD TESTAMENT MOMENT
I WAS GOING TO SAY
I DON’T WANT YOUR FESTIVE CHOIRS
OR TRIUMPHANT BRASS
OR ANY OTHER SIGNS OF CELEBRATION

I CAME TO BRING PEACE
THERE IS NO PEACE
TO BRING LOVE
IT’S IN SHORT SUPPLY
TO BRING JUSTICE
IT’S FOR SALE
TO REMOVE POVERTY
WE CAN’T AFFORD IT

EVEN MY CRIB
IN A MANGER
IS BETTER THAN MANY

MY MOTHER’S BREAST FLOWS
OTHER MOTHER’S BREAST ARE DRY

HEROD’S MEN ARE BUSY SLAYING BABIES

WOULD THAT THE WORLD
WOULD THROW UP
IN AN ACT OF REVULSION
ALL THE EVIL AND BILE
ALL THE DEEP ENTRENCHED HATRED
ALL THE ME FIRST ATTITUDE
ALL THAT CHAINS THEM
TO OLD HABITS

DO THEY NEED A SILENT NIGHT
OR ACTIVITY
TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE WORKING

THAT THEY REMAIN CONSCIOUS
OF THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE
THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE

MOST OLD TESTAMENT HARANGUES
END HAPPILY
WITH A PROMISE OF A NEW JERUSALEM

SO I’M ENOUGH OF A BIRTHDAY BOY
TO HOPE THAT THE CHOIR
AND THE BRASS
SOUND WELL

FRANK A VOLLMER

Not a Stump

2007-12-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

A BRANCH SHALL COME
FROM THE TRUNK OF JESSE’S FAMILY TREE

IT WILL BE CALLED
WISE
UNDERSTANDING
CONSOLING
MIGHTY
PRINCE OF PEACE

A BETTER IMAGE THAN STUMP
OF FORESTS DENUDED
AS THE ASSYRIANS DID
TO THE LAND AROUND JERUSALEM

BUT THE PROMISES OF GOD
WEREN’T IN THE FORESTS OR THE CITY

THE SON OF DAVID WOULD COME

THE LINEAGE OF DAVID
WOULD PROGRESS
FATHER TO SON
UNTIL FULFILLED IN CHRIST

NOT A STUMP
BUT A TREE WOULD SURVIVE

NOT A WASTELAND
BUT A LAND RESEEDED
BY THE MOTHER TREE

NOT A WASTELAND
BUT A TREE
WHERE THOSE WHO WERE SCATTERED
LIKE FRIGHTENED BIRDS
COULD COME BACK
AND FIND REFUGE

THE PROMISE
THE LINEAGE
WOULD COME TRUE

THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL
ONCE MORE BEARS FRUIT

AND WE ARE ASKED TO PARTAKE

THIS IS MY BODY
MY BLOOD

COME AND BE PART OF ME

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Widow

2007-12-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

YOU SON OF A BITCH
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME
YOU SON OF A BITCH

SHE THOUGHT THE WORDS
SHE didn't SAY THEM

IT STARTLED HER
SHE KNEW THE WORDS
BUT DIDN’T USE THEM

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM
WHAT WELL OF LONELINESS
WHERE GHOSTS DWELL
AND UNICORNS RUN FREE

WHAT BROUGHT IT ON
DID SHE ROLL OVER
FIND THE BED EMPTY

DID SHE SOMEHOW MISS
THE TOILET SEAT UP
OR UNDERWEAR ON THE FLOOR

DID SHE MISS HIS TALKING TO THE TV
WHEN THE NEWS WAS ON
OR THE QUARTERBACK
THREW AN INTERCEPTION

WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME
WHY
SHE CRIES INTO A SOGGY PILLOW

THE SHADOWS SURROUND HER

THEY SAY NOTHING IN REPLY

BUT SOME OF YOU IS MISSING

YOU’RE ALLOWED TO CRY

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Widow Speaks

2007-12-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

THE WORD WIDOW IN HEBREW MEANS SILENT ONE
SHE HAD NO VOICE IN A MALE DOMINATED SOCIETY
WITHOUT A SON HER PLIGHT WAS MISERABLE
SHE HAD NO DIGNITY
OR WORTH
SHE WAS NOTHING

SO WHEN SHE HAD A CASE BEFORE THE COURT
THE JUDGE
ADMITTEDLY CORRUPT
BY HIS OWN ADMISSION
WOULD NOT HEAR HER

SHE HAD NO MONEY FOR A BRIBE
NO PRESTIGE TO APPLY PRESSURE
THE JUDGE IGNORED HER
BUT SHE WOULD NOT BE A VICTIM
SHE THREATENED HIM WITH BODILY HARM
WITH A BLACK EYE REALLY

BECAUSE SHE WAS NOISY
AND WOULD NOT BE SILENT
THE THREAT OF HARM
HE JUDGED THE CASE IN HER FAVOR

JESUS SAID WHEN YOU PRAY
BE LIKE THE WIDOW
BE PERSISTENT

I'VE ALWAYS HAD TWO MINDS ABOUT PRAYER
.
ON ONE HAND
WHEN I SAY
YOUR WILL BE DONE
TO MEAN IT

ON THE OTHER
WHEN I SEE A VICTIM
LIKE THE WIDOW
TO RESIST IT

I DON'T FEEL AS CHRISTIANS
WE SHOULD BE MILQUETOAST
IN FRONT OF EVIL

THE WIDOW WAS NOT SILENT
SHE SPOKE UP
SO SHOULD WE
WHEN THE WIDOW HAS NO VOICE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Bring Out Your Dead

2007-12-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD THE WATCHMAN CRIED
IN THE CITY WHERE HE WAS RIDING
ON A CART PILED HIGH WITH LAST YEARS DREAMS
AND LONG REMEMBERED ANGERS

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THIS CITY THAT WAS ONCE SO FAIR
WHOSE WALLS WERE WHITE AND RIVERS CLEAR

WHERE MEN WALKED OUT ALONE AND UNAFRAID

HAS BECOME A STINK HOUSE OF REMEMBERED PAIN
AND PENT UP SORROW

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

LET WINDOWS ONCE MORE OPEN TO THE BREEZE
AND PIPERS PLAY NO MORE THE FUNERAL MARCH BUT GAY

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

THAT MEN MAY SAY ON PASSING BY
A FAIR CITY THERE PLEASING TO THE EYE
AND HEAR
THE LAUGHTER RINGING IN THE AIR

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Nuda Genu

2007-12-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

WHEN I WAS A YOUNG SCHOLAR
STRUGGLING WITH AENEID
THERE CAME A PHRASE
NUDA GENU
BARE OF KNEE
WHAT RHAPSODIES TO A YOUNG MIND
A BARE KNEE ON SOME COMELY MAIDEN

NOW THE KNEE THAT I ADMIRE
IS OLD AND BROKEN
IT NEEDS REPAIR

TWO KNEES
A LIFE APART
ONE
THE FANTASY OF YOUTH
ROOTLESS
THE OTHER
THE DREAM OF AGE
ROOTED IN LOVE
AND STRUGGLE

TWO KNEES
TO ONLY ONE I GENUFLECT
I SEE ONLY
COMELY MAIDEN
NO MATTER
HOW OLD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Snapshot #1

2007-12-19T10:07:00.000-08:00

BLACK WATER SWIRLS AROUND THE PIER

THE SUN HAS GONE FOR THE DAY

GULLS FLY SEEKING REFUGE

BUSY LIGHTS DOT THE HARBOR

A TIRED FISHING BOAT

COMES CHUGGING IN

BLACK WATER SWIRLS AROUND THE PIER

FRANK A VOLLMER

I Don't Believe In God

2007-12-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD
I AGREE WITH THE ATHEISTS

I DON’T BELIEVE IN THE GOD
THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN
EITHER

THE WHITE
BEARDED
MONARCH
WHO WILLY NILLY
INFLICTS PAIN

WHO IS DISINTERESTED
IN THE WORLD HE CREATED
I DON’T BELIEVE
IN THIS GOD

I BELIEVE IN A GOD
OF HOPE AND PROMISE

A GOD WHO SAYS

I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, Create my people as pure delight.I'll take joy in Jerusalem, Take delight in my people:
No more sounds of weeping in the city, No cries of anguish;No more babies dying in the cradle, Or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime;

One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal— Anything less will seem like a cheat.

They'll build houses And move in.
They'll plant fields And eat what they grow.
No more building a house That some outsider takes over,
No more planting fields That some enemy confiscates,
For my people will be as long-lived as trees, My chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.
They won't work and have nothing come of it, They won't have children snatched out from under them.

GOD HAS PROMISED
I BELIEVE IT
IT WILL BE SO

I BELIEVE
THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATUS QUO
IS AN IRRELIGIOUS ACT

A BETRAYAL
OF HIM
WHO GAVE US THE WORLD
TO CARE FOR

IS THE WORLD BETTER
FOR DIFFERENT CREEDS
WHERE IS THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING

SAVE ME FROM RELIGIOUS PEOPLE
WHO SING
PRAISE GOD
ALL THE DAY
AND DO NOTHING

IT’S A WONDER
THE ATHEIST’S FIRE
DOESN’T FLARE HIGHER
WE FEED IT SO MUCH FUEL

Before they call out, I'll answer. Before they've finished speaking, I'll have heard.
Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow, Lion and ox eat straw from the same trough, But snakes—they'll get a diet of dirt!
Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill Anywhere on my Holy Mountain," says God.

IN THIS ADVENT SEASON
COME AGAIN
LORD JESUS
COME AGAIN

LET THE MIRACLE
OF YOUR INCARNATION
INFUSE SOCIETY
AND LET THEIR BE
NO MORE KILLING
ON YOUR HOLY MOUNTAIN

FRANK A VOLLMER

I'm Learning Humility From My Cat

2007-12-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

I’M LEARNING HUMILITY FROM MY CAT
I’M NOT AN APT STUDENT
I STILL THINK
THE SUN RISES AND SETS FOR ME
AND THAT GOD IS A MEMBER OF MY STAFF

BUT I’M LEARNING HUMILITY FROM MY CAT
I SHOULD SAY OUR CAT
BETTER YET
HER CAT

I’M INVISIBLE
SOMETHING TO WALK AROUND
UNLESS HE WANTS TO BE BRUSHED
THEN HE MOUNTS THE OTTOMAN
IMPERIOUSLY STARES AT ME
UNTIL I GIVE IN
WHEN HE’S HAD ENOUGH
HE JUST WALKS AWAY
NOT EVEN A LICK
I FEEL SO CHEAP AND USED
HE NEVER SENDS ME FLOWERS
IF HE DID
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE POISON IVY

I’D NEVER SAY
IT’S THE CAT OR ME
MY BAGS WOULD BE PACKED
AND AT THE DOOR

IN THE PECKING ORDER
IN OUR HOUSE
I’M ON THE NEXT PAGE

AH WELL
ALAS ALAS AND LACKADAY
I’M LEARNING HUMILITY
FROM MY CAT

Where is Messiah?

2007-10-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

IN POLAND
IN WARSAW
IN THE JEWISH CEMETERY
IN ONE OF THE TOMBS
A WOMAN GAVE BIRTH

HER ONLY ATTENDANT
THE CARETAKER
WHO WAS HIDING TOO

HE SAID

PERHAPS THIS ONE IS THE MESSIAH
BORN SO LOWLY
DESPISED
AND SPIT UPON

PERHAPS HE IS THE MESSIAH

THE CHRISTIAN MESSIAH
HAS BROUGHT US NO PEACE

BUT HE WATCHED HIS DREAM FADE
AS THE CHILD
SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS

HER BREASTS WERE DRY

THE CHILD
SUCKED ON HIS MOTHER’S TEARS
AND DIED

EVENTUALLY
THEY WERE FOUND
AND WENT UP IN SMOKE

THE NEARBY VILLAGERS
SMELLED THE SMOKE
AND KNEW WHAT IT WAS

THEIR HOMES STANK OF IT

THEY CALLED IT
JEWISH PERFUME

IN A WORLD
STILL PLAGUED
BY WAR
HUNGER
AND HATRED

CAN WE NOT SAY

WHERE IS MESSIAH

FRANK A VOLLMER

Apocalypse

2007-09-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

JOHN’S APOCALYPSE
IS NOT SOME FUTURE THING
HOOF BEATS IN THE DISTANCE

HE WROTE IT FOR NOW
HIS NOW
AND ALL THE NOWS
TILL NOW

WHEN IF EVER
HAVE THE FOUR HORSEMEN
BEEN CORRALLED

HAVE WE ANY LACK OF LEADERS
MARCHING TO VICTORY
ON THE BROKEN BODIES
OF THE DIFFERENT SIDES
ON A SPIRITED WHITE HORSE

SAYING TO THE WOUNDED
AND THOSE LEFT ORPHAN
AND WIDOWED
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SACRIFICE

AND THEN HIDING THEM
AS SOMETHING EMBARRASSING

HE DID NOT MIND THE CARNAGE
OR DESTRUCTION

HE LEFT THAT
FOR THE RED HORSE
AND ITS RIDER

WHO RODE THROUGH A FOREST
OF BROKEN TREES
DECORATED WITH ENTRAILS

ON LAWN
COLORED RED WITH BLOOD

PAST PILES OF BONES

PAST BLIND PEOPLE
VICTIMS OF AN EYE FOR AN EYE

MOTHERS KILLED SON
AND FATHERS DAUGHTERS
THE OLD NEGLECTED
AND THE INFIRM LEFT

NO ONE WAILED
BECAUSE NO ONE CARED

THOSE WHO WERE LEFT
THE HAVES
AND THE HAVE-NOTS

WHERE SOON BESIEGED
BY THE WHITE HORSE
AND ITS RIDER

AND A VOICE CRYING

A QUART OF WHEAT
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND THREE QUARTS OF BARLEY
FOR A DAY'S WAGES
AND DO NOT DAMAGE
THE OIL AND THE WINE

THOSE WHO EAT WELL
WILL STILL
EAT WELL

THOSE WHO DO NOT
WILL BARELY SURVIVE

DIVES WILL DINE IN STYLE
BUT LAZARUS
WILL DINE WITH THE DOGS

THEN COMES PESTILENCE
ON A PALE GREEN HORSE

CRYING BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

WELL IN THE MORNING
STIFF AT NIGHT

ANIMALS RAID GRAVEYARDS
FOR THE MEAT

VULTURES CANNOT FLY
BECAUSE OF GLUTTONY

GOD WEEPS IN HEAVEN
FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIS CREATION

THIS IS NOT MY WILL

HOBBLE THE HORSES

THE POETIC VISION OF JOHN
IS IF MEN DO NOT CHANGE

I WILL IT SO
MY WILL BE DONE

DO WE SAY IT MECHANICALLY
OR DO WE MEAN IT

WE ARGUE ABOUT ANGELS ON A PIN
AND DO NOT HEAR THE CRY FOR CHANGE

ARE WE HYPOCRITE IN OUR PRAYERS

THE THUNDER OF HORSES
IS ALL AROUND US
IT IS OUR TASK
TO CORRAL THEM

FRANK A VOLLMER

Late Autumn

2007-09-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

THE MOON WAS PAINTING SILVER CLOUDS

WHICH DANCED ALONG ON SILVER AIR

A MEADOW LARK FLEW THROUGH THE SKY

CHANTING A MELODY SWEET AND FAIR

THE WIND BLEW FITFULLY THROUGH THE TREES

AND LITTLE LEAVES WERE PUT TO SLEEP

THE ROSE IN FINAL SIGHS

GAVE TO MY HEART ITS SOUL TO KEEP

FRANK A VOLLMER

Corners of the Earth

2007-09-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

IN BIBLICAL TIMES
THE EARTH WAS VIEWED
AS SQUARE
AND FLAT

THE WINDS THAT BLEW
FROM THE FLAT SIDES
WERE GOOD
THOSE FROM THE CORNERS
LIKE NORTHEASTERS
WERE BAD

SO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD
WERE AS FAR AS A MAN COULD RUN
AVOIDING GOD
LIKE JONAH

THE PSALMIST SINGS

IS THERE ANYPLACE I CAN GO
TO AVOID YOUR SPIRIT? TO BE OUT OF YOUR SIGHT

JOHN WOULD HAVE FOUR ANGELS
AT THE CORNERS OF THE EARTH

HOLDING BACK
THE WINDS OF DESTRUCTION
TILL ALL WHO WOULD BE SAVED
WERE SAVED

AND I THOUGHT
THIS GOD WHO HOVERS OVER ME
LIKE A CLOUD

WHO CARES FOR ME
LIKE A MOTHER

IS THERE ANY LIMIT
TO HIS LOVE FOR ME

THAT GOES TO THE CORNERS
OF THE EARTH
AND BEYOND

WHO DID NOT MAKE ME
TO ABANDON ME

BUT RATHER HOLDS ME
IN THE PALM
OF HIS HAND

Wild Geese Flying

2007-09-16T18:25:00.000-07:00

HE HEARD THEM FIRST

BARKING IN THE NIGHT

LIKE WILD DOGS

UNTIL CURIOSITY DROVE AWAY THE SLEEP

PUT ONE FOOT FORTH TO TEST THE AIR

WRAPPED HIS BLANKETS

AND PUSHED HIM FROM THE TENT

TO STAND AND WATCH THE CALLING GEESE

FLY ACROSS THE MOON

PERHAPS IT WAS THE WAY HE STOOD

BLANKET ROBED

ARMS ENTWINED AGAINST THE COLD

THAT MADE HIM THINK

BRAVE INDIAN CHIEF AM I
CHIEF HAPPY LAUGHTER
OR RAIN COME SINGING DOWN
THAT MADE HIM WISH
FOR TIMES LESS TROUBLED
THAN HIS OWN
AND KNEW THE WISH WAS FOOLISH
EVEN CHIEF RUNNING WATER
KNEW TIMES OF DROUGHT
HOW FOOLISH TO KEEP WASTING LIFE IN WISHES
TO WISH FOR PEACEFUL TIMES THAT NEVER WERE
FOR EACH MAN'S LIFE IS TO THE BRIM WITH SORROW

EACH AGE HAS ITS OWN PECULIAR TALE OF WOE

FAR BETTER TO ACCEPT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN

TO RECOGNIZE ITS ILLS,

TO SEEK IT’S CURE
THAN TO SPEND THE TIME BEWAILING SUMMER DREAMS
GOOD GOD HE THOUGHT

DO WE THINK THAT CHRIST HUNG OUT IN RAIN

AND THUNDER

FOR EVERY AGE BUT OURS

HE FELT THE COLD

COME CREEPING UP HIS STOCKING

BUT HE KNEW

AS LONG AS GEESE CAME BARKING BY

HE WOULD STAY

EVEN UNTIL THE DAWN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Barnyard Cat

2007-09-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

THE LEGEND GOES
THAT ON CHRISTMAS DAY
THE BABY LAY SHIVERING
AND FUSSING

THE STABLE WAS COLD
IT HAD NO HEAT

THE PARENTS HAD DONE WHAT THEY COULD

YOU CAN ONLY CARRY SO MUCH
ON FOOT
FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM

WHEN AN ALLEY CAT
AN ORDINARY TABBY
A MOUSER
A STABLE DWELLER

JUMPED IN THE FEED BOX

STARTLED THE PARENTS
MADE TO SHOO IT
BUT STOPPED
THE BABY WAS SLEEPING
THE CAT WAS PURRING
AND LENDING BODY WARMTH

IT STAYED WITH THE BABY
AS LONG AS THEY STAYED IN THE STABLE

WHEN THEY WERE READY TO LEAVE
MARY PETTED THE CAT

THANKED IT FOR ITS SERVICE
AND LEFT THE LETTER M
ON ITS FACE

TWO VERTICAL LINES
UNDER ITS EYES
AND A V
OVER ITS NOSE

MANY CATS TODAY
CARRY THE MARK

A REMINDER
THOSE CHILDREN
ARE STILL COLD

THAT IF AN ANIMAL COULD HELP
AN ORDINARY BARNYARD TABBY
WHY NOT HUMANS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Support Groups

2007-09-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE DAMIAN
WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS SICKNESS
BY SAYING
WE LEPERS

THERE IS A BOND THAT GOES OUT
TO ALL ASSEMBLED

THAT SAYS
THIS IS SOMEONE FAMILIAR
WITH WHISTLING
PAST GRAVEYARDS

WE ARE MANY
YOUNG
OLD
MARRIED
SINGLE
CHRISTIAN
JEW
WHATEVER
WE ARE DIFFERENT
WE HAVE FACED THE BEAST

BUT WE ARE ONE

AND IN THIS ONENESS
I OFTEN HEAR
OR FEEL
THOUGH MANY
DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME
THE PRESENCE OF HIM WHO SAYS
WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED

HE IGNORES THE NAME RECOGNITION
AND STAND SILENT
READY TO HELP

BY NOT MAKING THE LAME MAN WALK
BUT TO FIND INNER PEACE
IN HIS LAMENESS

EXPRESSED
IN THIS HERD INSTINCT
TO HEAR ANOTHER’S PAIN
AND SHARE YOUR OWN

AND THE SPIRIT
BROODS OVER THE CHAOS
OF OUR LIVES
AND MAKES A NEW CREATION

THE TALK GOES ON
OF TREATMENTS
AND PAIN
LIFE CHANGES
CHEMO BRAIN
PHYSICAL CHANGES

BUT ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE
I HEAR
THE SIBILANT
SOUND OF WINGS

FRANK A VOLLMER

St. Andrew

2007-09-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

THEY SAY ST ANDREW WAS CRUCIFIED
ON A CROSS SHAPED LIKE AN X
LIKE A TIMES SYMBOL
LIKE AN X

HE WAS GIVEN A GREEK NAME
NOT A JEWISH ONE
A SIGN HIS PARENTS WERE OPEN MINDED
NOT BOUND BY RULES
WHICH HAD NO MEANING

HIS WAS A QUESTING MIND
FIRST TO JOIN JOHN THE BAPTIST
THEN ON TO JESUS

FROM TEACHER
TO HIGHER TEACHER

AND THEN CAME THE ACT
FOR WHICH HE WILL ALWAYS BE KNOWN
HE BROUGHT PETER TO JESUS
HE WAS THE FIRST APOSTLE
HE BROUGHT PETER TO JESUS

LATER
HE WOULD BRING THE LITTLE BOY
WHO HAD LOAVES AND FISHES TO JESUS

LATER STILL
HE WOULD BRING MEN TO JESUS

LATER STILL
HE WOULD DIE FOR JESUS

A TRUE WITNESS
TO THE MEANING OF HIS NAME
MANHOOD
VALOR

ANDREW
WHO LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS
TO BECOME A FISHER OF MEN
MAY WE USE YOU AS A GUIDE
TO BRING OTHERS TO JESUS

COME AND SEE
I HAVE FOUND THE LORD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Old Woman

2007-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

In the Eastern Church, the death of Mary, Jesus' mothers is traditionally celebrated on august 15. The feast is called the dormition or falling asleep of Mary.

OLD WOMAN

HOW WARM THE SUN SHE THOUGHT
NODDING NAPPING IN HER CHAIR
KNITTING UNATTENDED IN HER LAP
HOW WARM THE SUN

THE CHILDREN ALL HAD GONE
LAUGHING AND LEAPING
THE COOKIES ALL EATEN

BYE BYE AUNTIE
THEY ALL CALLED HER AUNTIE
AWAY THEY WENT LEAPING

EXCEPT ONE LITTLE URCHIN
WITH KNEE OUT IN TROUSER
AND NOSE ON SLEEVE WIPING
HAD LINGERED BEHIND
SHYLY
FOOT DRAGGING
HEAD DOWN
FACE BLUSHING
HE SLOWLY APPROACHED HER
AWKWARDLY KISSED HER
BELLOWED I LOVE YOU
SCURRIED AWAY

HEART ACHING SHE REACHED OUT
HER ARMS GRASPING NOTHING
SO QUICKLY HE RAN

OH JOSEPH OH JESUS HOW MUCH DO I MISS YOU
HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN GONE

THE OLD WOMAN SAT NODDING
HER HEART WOUNDS REOPENED
SAT NODDING
AND NAPPING
AND YEARNING FOR HOME
SAT NODDING THEN SLEEPING
THEN GOD CALLED HER HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER

On Closing a Ghetto Church

2007-08-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR
FOR BEING GHETTO TRAPPED
BY BIRTH OR RACE OR AGE
OR FEAR OF COMPETITION
FOR WHICH WE ARE ILL PREPARED

FORGIVE US FOR OUR ANGER
FOR LASHING OUT
AT INNUMERABLE GNATS OF IRRITATION
THE ACID OF OUR DAILY LIVES

FORGIVE US FOR BELIEVING YOUR WORDS
THAT THE POOR
WOULD HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM

FORGIVE US FOR NOT MAKING MONEY
LIKE OTHER MISSIONS IN AFRICA
INDIA LATIN AMERICA
DO

FOR PENANCE
TAKE OUR CHURCH
AND WITH THE GAIN
ERECT A MONUMENT TO PRIDE
IN A MORE PROFITABLE PLACE

FATHER FORGIVE US FOR BEING POOR

Frank a. Vollmer

A Story

2007-08-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY
LET ME SPIN A RHAPSODY
OF DISPARATE ELEMENTS
SOME TRUE
SOME FABLE
A STORY

TO ONE MAN
WHO WANTED TO FOLLOW HIM
HE SAID
I HAVE NO WHERE TO EVEN LAY MY HEAD

TO ANOTHER
WHO WANTED TO BURY HIS FATHER
HE SAID
LET THE DEAD
BURY THE DEAD

TO ANOTHER
WHO WANTED TO SAY GOODBYE TO HIS FATHER
HE SAID
ONE WHO FOLLOWS ME
NEVER LOOKS BACK

HARSH WORDS
I WONDER WHY

LET ME NOW SPIN A TALE

WHEN JOSEPH DIED
JESUS COULD NOT COME TO THE FUNERAL
BECAUSE HE WAS JUDGED
BY HIS FAMILY
TO BE A MEMZER
A BASTARD
AND BASTARDS
WERE NOT ALLOWED
TO ATTEND
FUNERALS

HE WAS CALLED MARY’S SON
NOT JOSEPH’S

IN HIS SACRIFICE FOR US
HE STRIPED HIMSELF POOR
LOWLY BIRTH
QUESTIONABLE PARENTAGE
SHUNNED BY HIS LARGER FAMILY
TOLERATED
BECAUSE
MARY WAS HIS MOTHER

HE COULDN'T IDENTIFY
WITH PEOPLE
AND FAMILY TIES
HE'D GIVEN UP HIS OWN

HE’D EVEN TRIED TO PUT DISTANCE
BETWEEN HIM AND HIS MOTHER
AND BROTHERS
SAYING
WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME IS MOTHER
AND BROTHER

BUT HIS MOTHER WOULDN'T GO AWAY
AND WAS FAITHFUL
TO THE END
WHEN HE TRIED ONCE AGAIN
UNSUCCESSFULLY
TO GIVE HER AWAY

MOTHER BEHOLD YOUR SON
SON BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER

HANGING ON THE CROSS
BEREFT OF ALL HE HELD DEAR
CRYING TO THE FATHER
OUT OF LONELINESS
WHY HAVE YOU LEFT ME

IN LIGHT OF ALL HE HAD GIVEN AWAY
HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND
HOLDING BACK

FRANK A VOLLMER

Brooding

2007-08-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

BROODING

AND THE SPIRIT BROODED OVER THE WATERS
LIKE A MOTHER HEN GIVING BIRTH TO A CHICK
SHE WOULD NOT LEAVE TILL IT WAS DONE
A SENTINEL
ALWAYS STANDING GUARD
THOSE WHO FEAR THE LAST COMING
WHO ANTICIPATE IT EVERY DAY
WHO QUAKE AT EVERY FALSE BUGLE CALL
DO LITTLE HONOR TO GOD
WHY WOULD ANYONE
LOVE A GOD
WHO HATES US
WHO DOES NOT REMEMBER
THE BROODING GOD
WHO WOULD SHELTER US
UNDER HIS WINGS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Ezekiel

2007-08-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

EZEKIEL

Ezekiel 20:25-26

I GAVE THEM OVER TO WORTHLESS DECREES AND REGULATIONS THAT WOULD NOT LEAD TO LIFE. I LET THEM POLLUTE THEMSELVES WITH THE VERY GIFTS I HAD GIVEN THEM, AND I ALLOWED THEM TO GIVE THEIR FIRSTBORN CHILDREN AS OFFERINGS TO THEIR GODS—SO I MIGHT DEVASTATE THEM AND REMIND THEM THAT I ALONE AM THE LORD.

IF I READ EZEKIEL RIGHT
GOD GAVE MAN BAD LAWS
WHICH LED MEN TO SACRIFICE
THEIR FIRST CHILD

WHO SPOKE FOR THE CHILD

1 SAMUEL 15:3
NOW GO, ATTACK THE AMALEKITES AND TOTALLY DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS TO THEM. DO NOT SPARE THEM; PUT TO DEATH MEN AND WOMEN, CHILDREN AND INFANTS, CATTLE AND SHEEP, CAMELS AND DONKEYS.

IF IT IS WRONG FOR NAZIS TO ERADICATE A RACE
WHY IS IT RIGHT FOR THE ISRAELITES

WHO SPOKE FOR THE AMALEKITES

GENESIS 22:2

THEN GOD SAID, "TAKE YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, ISAAC,
WHOM YOU LOVE, AND GO TO THE REGION OF MORIAH.
SACRIFICE HIM THERE AS A BURNT OFFERING
ON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT."

SHOULD A FATHER EVER KILL HIS SON
WHEN THE SON IS JUSTIFIED

WHO SPOKE FOR ISAAC

GENESIS 4:5
BUT ON CAIN AND HIS OFFERING
HE DID NOT LOOK WITH FAVOR.
SO CAIN WAS VERY ANGRY,
AND HIS FACE WAS DOWNCAST

I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE CAIN
BUT HE GAVE OF SOME OF THE FRUITS OF THE FIELD
WHILE ABEL GAVE THE BEST OF THE FLOCK

I CHOOSE THREE
THERE MAY BE MORE

PERHAPS THESE WORDS WERE MEANT TO BE RESISTED
PERHAPS THEY WERE A TEST
NOT OF OBEDIENCE
BUT LIVING THE LAW

SHOULD ABRAHAM HAVE SAID
KILLING IS WRONG
SHOULD THE SOLDIERS HAVE SAID
KILLING IS WRONG
SHOULD THE FATHERS HAVE SAID
KILLING IS WRONG

ARE WE CALLED TO BE GOD’S CONSCIENCE

HOW ABOUT JOB’S CHILDREN
NOW I HAVE FOUR

WHO SPOKE FOR THEM

HEAVY THOUGHTS
FOR SOMEONE NEAR HEAVEN’S GATE

I DON'T THINK GOD WILL MIND
MY ASKING
WHY

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Devil Made Me Do It

2007-08-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

CLEAVAGE

MY DOCTOR HAS CLEAVAGE
IT’S HARD NOT TO NOTICE
AS SHE CHECKS ME
FOR ERRANT LYMPH NODES
IN MY HEAD
NECK
AND ARMPITS

THE GOOD HOLY NUNS SAID
AVOID BAD THOUGHTS
I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD MYSELF

I THINK SHE’S GETTING EVEN
I CHALLENGED HER
AT MARDI GRAS
THAT I WOULD FLASH
IF SHE WOULD
I HAD TO SETTLE FOR A STRING OF BEADS

SHE’S HIGHLY IRREVERENT
ESPECIALLY WITH ME
SHE DEMANDS A JOKE EVERY TIME I VISIT
OFTEN WE CLOSE THE DOOR

I DON’T THINK IT WAS AN APPLE IN THE GARDEN
BUT A BEAUTIFUL PEAR

FRANK A VOLLMER

Proverbs

2007-08-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

I HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH PROVERBS
THEIR DESCRIPTION OF A GOOD WIFE
I LOOKS LIKE A LIST FOR HIRING HELP
I THINK IT SMACKS OF WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS
MY WIFE LOVES ME
AND I LOVE HER
AND FROM THAT FLOWS GOOD
LIKE GRACE FREELY GIVEN
LIKE DEEDS FREELY DONE
THROUGH GOOD TIMES AND BAD
AS AGE WITHERS AND BEAUTY FADES
THERE STILL IS HEARD
THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE
AND I AM A BLESSED MAN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Jericho Traveler

2007-08-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

WHEN HE STARTED OUT HE WASN'T POOR
OR HURT
OR MAIMED
OR SULLEN FACED
WITH A LAUGH AND A WHISTLE HE'D STARTED OUT
WITH A LAUGH AND A WHISTLE AND A HAPPY AIR
THEN WHAT HAPPENED ON THE JOURNEY
WHAT BROUGHT HIM TO THIS PLACE
WHAT BLEW THE CANDLE OUT
SO THAT HIS EYE REFLECTS THE SUN
BUT LETS NONE COME IN
WHO TOOK THE AIR HE BREATHED AND MADE IT FOUL
WHO MUFFLED SONG BIRDS EARLY SONG
WHO CRIED OUT "NIGGER" IN THE NIGHT
WHO CUT HIS BRAIN WITH MANY SCARS
WHO THEN COMPLAINED WHEN ANGER CAME
WHO LISTENED WHEN HIS CHILDREN CRIED
RAT BITTEN IN A COCKROACH BED
WHO CARED WHEN THOSE SAME CHILDREN DIED
LAID TO REST IN SEGREGATED BED
WHO TOOK THE BRIGHT PROMISE OF HIS FACE
AND CHISELED OF HIS SMILE
WHO TOOK THE LAUGHTER FROM HIS LIPS
AND CANDLE FROM HIS EYE
WHO PRAYED FOR HIM WHEN HE BEGGED FOR BREAD
WHO GAVE HIM BREAD WHEN HE WANTED LOVE
WHO STOPPED LOVING HIM WHEN HE MISBEHAVED
WHO TAUGHT HIM VIOLENCE AND WAR
WHO CRIED WITH HIM WHEN LONELINESS
CAME CREEPING IN LIKE EVENING FOG
WHO DUG THOSE FURROWS IN HIS BROW
WHO CARVED THOSE LINES OF LONELINESS
WHO TAUGHT HIM BITTERNESS AND HATE
AND THAT BROTHERHOOD'S A LIE

WHO.. WHO...
OH HELL... WHO GIVES A DAMN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Night Scene

2007-08-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

IN COME THE WAVES
SPILLING AND FURLING
LIKE YOUNG GIRLS KNEELING
THROWING THEIR HAIR
SEA FROTH MOVING
TO WHIMS OF THE WIND
LITTLE BIRDS
HOVERING
NEAR THE EDGE
OF THE SEA
IN A RAUCOUS VOICE
THE SEAGULL
SERENADES THE MOON
AND DARK THINGS
ROAM IN THE NIGHT

FRANK A VOLLMER

Sad Song

2007-08-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG
PERHAPS A WHISTLE BY THE GRAVEYARD SONG
A DEFIANT IN YOUR FACE SONG
A FRIGHTENED SONG
I HOPE NOT A DUMB SONG
CLOUDED BY PAIN
MEDICINE
OR MIND
BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

I’VE BEEN SICK AGAIN
LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
IT CAUGHT ME UNAWARES

BUT I WILL NOT SING A SAD SONG

MY LITTLE MALADY
COMPARED TO THE WORLD’S PAIN

I DO NOT FIND THAT SUFFERING IS ENNOBLING

SO MUCH OF IT IS UNDESERVED

I DO NOT THINK THAT GOD SENDS PAIN
SO MUCH IS HUMAN CAUSED

GOD ASKS US TO BRING HIS KINGDOM HERE
A POETIC GESTURE
OR DID HE MEAN IT

AND IF HE MEANT IT
ARE WE NOT TASKED TO ELIMINATE PAIN

AT TREBLINKA
THEY USED GEESE
TO MASK THE SOUND OF SUFFERING

HAVE WE GONE MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT

FRANK A VOLLMER

Pie Jesu

2007-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

PIE JESU
PIE JESU
GRANT THEM REST LORD
GENTLE JESUS
GRANT THEM REST LORD
UNDISTURBED
PIE JESU
GENTLE JESUS

GRANT REST TO CHILDREN
DEAD BEFORE THEY WERE BORN
TO VICTIMS OF WAR
TO VICTIMS OF HATE
TO VICTIMS OF PROFIT
AT ANY COST
GRANT THEM REST
GENTLE JESUS
GRANT THEM REST

GRANT THEM REST
AND PROMINENCE
WHO OFTEN WERE IGNORED IN LIFE
OR WORSE INVISIBLE

OH SWEET JESUS
WHO TAKES AWAY
THE SINS OF THE WORLD
TAKE AWAY THE EFFECTS OF SIN
AS IT AFFECTS THEM

GRANT THEM REST
LORD JESUS
WHOSE LIFE
WAS A DISCORDANT SONG
GRANT THEM REST
GRANT THEM PEACE
FOREVERMORE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Infinity

2007-08-17T09:04:00.000-07:00

THE SYMBOL FOR INFINITY
IS A FIGURE EIGHT
LAID ON IT SIDE
IT’S CALLED
A LEMNISCATE
A RIBBON

ANOTHER SYMBOL IS A SNAKE
SWALLOWING ITS TAIL
IT’S CALLED
AN UROBORUS
A CIRCLE

THEN GOD SAID BEGIN

WHERE ON THE CIRCLE
THE RIBBON
CAN YOU SAY THE SPOT

MAYBE GOD DIDN'T SPEAK IT
PERHAPS HE THOUGHT IT
Or BLINKED
OR SCRATCHED HIS HEAD
I WASN'T THERE

BUT I WAS AT MY OWN CONCEPTION
WHEN HE SAID BEGIN
AND MY UNIVERSE EXPLODED

WHEN I CONSIDER THE HEAVENS, THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS
THE MOON AND THE STARS, WHICH YOU HAVE SET IN PLACE

WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU CARE FOR HIM

THE UNIVERSE IS STILL EXPANDING

SOMEDAY GRAVITY WILL TAKE OVER
IT WILL ALL COLLAPSE
AND BE DONE

TIME WILL HAVE ENDED

A MERE BLIP ON THE RIBBON

AND ALL OF US
WILL HAVE BEEN GATHERED
INTO GOD’S BOSOM

AND INFINITI
WILL ROLL ON
FOREVER

FRANK A VOLLMER

Vinny

2007-06-22T03:48:00.001-07:00

I'VE TAKEN MY CAT TO THE VET
IT WAS QUITE AN ADVENTURE
HE WOULDN'T GO INTO HIS CARRIER
NEITHER BACKWARDS
OR FORWARD
UP OR DOWN
HE PREFERRED OUT TO IN
I LET HIM WIN

BUT THEN
ARMED
WITH LONG CUFFED FIREPLACE GLOVES
I WON I WON I WON
I GOT HIM IN
HE DIDN'T WIN
I GOT HIM IN

I HAVEN'T HAD LUCK WITH VETS
EVER SINCE
I TOOK MY PET ANTNY
IN TO BE NEUTERED
AND CAME HOME WITH A SPAYED
ANTOINETTE
I'D NEVER CHECKED

THIS AFTER TELLING THE VET STAFF
RIBALD JOKES
HOW I HAD THROWN ANTNY
A BACHELOR PARTY
AND GIVEN HIM
A CATNIP HIGH
WITH ASSORTED MALE JOCK HUMOR

I LEFT TO THE SOUND OF LAUGHTER
WITH MY DELICATE
ANTOINETTE

WHEN I FINALLY GOT VINNY TO THE VET
I EXPECTED ANOTHER FIGHT
NONE
HE CAME OUT OF HIS CAGE
A PERFECT GENTLEMAN

BUT AFTER THE VET EXAMINED HIM
HE GAVE HIM SHOTS
WHEN HE RELEASED VINNY
HE RAN AND HID IN HIS CAGE

HOW LIKE
I THOUGHT
OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD

WE FIGHT HIM
UNTIL WE GET HURT
THEN RUN TO HIM

VINNY’S WELL
AND THE DOCTOR SAID
THE DOCTOR SAID
THE SCRATCHES WILL HEAL

AND ANTOINETTE
IS
QUEEN OF MY HEART

FRANK A VOLLMER

Syro-Phoenician

2007-06-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

WHEN THE WOMAN APPROACHED JESUS
HER FACE SET LIKE FLINT
EXPECTING SCORN
SHE WAS SYRO-PHOENICIAN
AND FEMALE

ONE WAS LOW
THE OTHER LOWER
BUT NEED FORCED HER TO SAY
HEAL MY DAUGHTER

HE ANSWERED
AS SHE EXPECTED
IT IS NOT RIGHT
TO TAKE THE BREAD OF ANGELS
AND FEED IT TO DOGS

UNDETERRED
SHE SPARRED WITH HIM
EVEN DOGS ARE FED FROM THE TABLE

HIS EYES SOFTENED
HIS WHOLE MANNER CHANGED
HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT

GO
YOUR DAUGHTER IS HEALED

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Potter

2007-06-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

THE POTTER LOOKED AT THE WORK OF HIS HANDS
AND LOVED HIS CREATION
I SHALL CALL YOU
BELOVED OF MY HEART
SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND
YOU SHALL HOLD ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS TO ME
AND WHEN AS TIME WILL
THE VESSEL BREAKS
I SHALL CLAIM THE CONTENTS
AS MY OWN
EVEN THAT
WHICH YOU GAVE AWAY
AS SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND
INVESTING THE TALENTS I FILLED YOU WITH
AND YOU USED
HONORING MY NAME

FRANK A VOLLMER

VT

2007-06-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

KYRIE ELEISON
CHRISTE ELEISON
KYRIE ELEISON
LORD HAVE MERCY

WHY
SAYS THE YOUNGER CHILD
ARE THESE DEATHS
DIFFERENT
FROM ANY OTHER DEATHS

WHY DO THESE DEATHS
HAVE MONUMENTS
WHEN SO MANY
HAVE NO MONUMENT
AT ALL

IF WE MOURN ONE
SHOULD WE NOT MOURN ALL
SHOULD NOT EVERYMAN’S DEATH
BE UNIQUE

WHAT MADNESS
TAKES AWAY
THE LIFE OF ONE
WHAT MADNESS
TAKES AWAY
THE LIFE OF MANY
ARE MADNESS
AND EVIL
THE SAME THING

WHERE ARE TEARS
WHEN THOUSAND DIE

ARE CHILDREN BORN
TO BE LED TO SLAUGHTER
BECAUSE OF MEN’S FOLLY

IT IS NEVER EASY
WHEN PARENTS
BURY CHILDREN
ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY ASK
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
WAS MY DEATH

AND THE ANSWER
IS LIKE DRY LEAVES
GATHERING
AND STILL

FRANK A VOLLMER

Trees of Promise

2007-06-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

WE ARE LIKE TREES IN GOD’S EYES

WITH ONE EYE HE SEES US
IN SPRINGTIME FINERY

FLOWERED
AND LEAFED

AND MOVING
TO THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT

WITH THE OTHER EYE
HE SEES US AS WINTER TREES

LIMBS BROKEN
BATTERED BARK
ROOTS EXPOSED

MAYBE SOME TRUNK ROT
SETTING IN

AND HE LOVES US
NOT FOR WHAT WE ARE
BUT WHAT WE CAN BECOME

AND IF AT THE END
OR ANYTIME

WE ARE LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
WHO CRIES
BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER

I HAVE NOT BOURNE FRUIT
NOR PROVIDED SHADE
NOR GIVEN SHELTER TO BIRDS

HE
SEEING OUR SUMMER TREE
OF PROMISE
SAYS

WELCOME HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER

Labyrinth

2007-06-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

IT’S LIKE FOLLOWING GOD’S WILL
ONE COULD GET TO THE GOAL FASTER
BY STEPPING OVER THE LINES
BUT THEN
THE JOURNEY
WOULD HAVE NO MEANING
THE JOURNEY IS PART OF THE QUEST
THE JOURNEY
IS FOLLOWING
THE WILL OF THE CREATOR
THERE’S LETTING GO
AND LETTING GOD
REACHING THE CENTER
AND KNOWING YOU ARE HOME

FRANK A VOLLMER

Sarah

2007-06-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

WHEN ABRAHAM BURIED SARAH
HE TOLD HIS SERVANTS
CLOSE THE TOMB GENTLY
FOR WITH IT
YOU CUT OFF
PART OF MY HEART

I REMEMBER MOST OF ALL
HER LAUGH
IT CHEERED ME
WHEN THE PROMISES OF GOD SEEMED HOPELESS

HER LAUGH
WAS A YOUNG GIRL’S LAUGH
NO MATTER HOW OLD SHE BECAME
LIKE LAUGHING AT ANGELS
WHOSE NEWS WERE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

GOD CALLED HER PRINCESS
AND SHE WAS
OF MY HEART
AND HER FAMILY

ROLL THE STONE GENTLY ON HER TOMB
AND LET ME ALONE
TO MOURN HER
AS NIGHT FALLS

FRANK A VOLLMER

Limbo Isn't Limbo Anymore

2007-05-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

FOR SALE A PROPERTY
DREAMED BY MEN
IN LOVE WITH GOD’S JUSTICE
IMITATING HIM WITH OLD TESTAMENT VIGOR

LIMBO MEANS EDGE OR BORDER
NEITHER HEAVEN NOR HELL
A PLACE WHERE ONE MIGHT FEEL EMPTY
AND NOT KNOW WHY

BUT GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND
AND THE FENCE THAT DIVIDES
HEAVEN AND HELL
HAS BEEN MOVED

AND CHILDREN
WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE
ARE RUNNING
WHERE THEY HAVE ALWAYS RUN
ON GOD’S GOLDEN STREETS

Nursing Home Visit

2007-05-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT TENDS MY HANDS
AND ASKS ME QUESTIONS
ABOUT HOMES I SHOULD REMEMBER

SOMETIMES THE SNOW WHIRLS
AND BLOTS THE LANDSCAPE OF MY HORIZON

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
THAT PRATTLES ON

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

THE SNOW TWIRLS
THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE LANDSCAPE IS CHANGED
IN ITS PASSING

WHO IS THIS WOMAN
DOING MY HAIR

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD
AND A MESSAGE THAT MUST BE TOLD

BUT THE SNOW WHIRLS
THE SNOW TWIRLS

I HAVE A DAUGHTER
OF WHOM
I AM EXTREMELY PROUD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Requiescat Mum

2007-05-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

IN NEWFOUNDLAND
WHERE MOM WAS BORN
THE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY
ARE SURROUNDED BY FENCES

THE ANIMALS EAT THE GRASS
FLAT
AROUND THE FENCE

BUT THE CEMETERY ITSELF
IS ALLOWED TO GROW WILD

I THINK IT'S A NEWFIE WAY
OF TELLING US

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

WE BURIED THE BODY OF MIRIAM
BUT WE DID NOT BURY MIRIAM

SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN WHEN SHE DWELT IN HER BODY

WE HONOR THAT BODY
WHICH GAVE US BIRTH
NURSED AND CARED FOR US
TAUGHT AND ADMONISHED US
HUGGED US
SCOLDED US
LIFTED US UP
AND SET US FREE

WE HONOR THAT BODY

SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN SHE EVER WAS
ALL THE QUESTIONS OF HER QUESTING MIND
ARE ANSWERED

AND WE WOULD DISHONOR HER MEMORY
AND HER TEACHING
IF WE ALLOWED SORROW
TO OVERWHELM US COMPLETELY

MOM WOULD RATHER WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING

AS HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR US NOW
MOM WOULD RATHER
WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING

SO WE SEND MOM'S BODY TO THE ELEMENTS
TO BECOME
EARTH
AIR
FIRE AND WATER

AND WE SHALL LEAVE
SADDENED BY HER PASSING

BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY
BE AWARE
OF A CURTAIN
MOVING IN THE WIND
OR THE SUN
SHINING ON A CLOUDY DAY
AND HEAR A VOICE IN YOUR HEAD
SAYING

I AM AT PEACE
ALL IS WELL
TELL THE WORD

Naming the Hours

2007-05-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

MATINS

TODAY WE HAVE THE NAMING OF HOURS
AS OUR DAY BEGINS
WITH THE NURSE WAKING US
TO TAKE OUR TEMPERATURE
AND OUR PULSE
WE HAVE GREETED THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
ALL AROUND I HEAR
SORRY TO WAKE YOU
A LITTLE HIGH THIS MORNING
A LITTLE LOW
TAKE THIS MAGIC PILL
TO MAKE IT RIGHT
AND WE BEGIN THE DAY
BY TRYING TO GO BACK TO SLEEP
BUT NOT BEFORE I THINK OR SAY

LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN
TO THE PLACE WHERE IT SETS, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED.

LAUDS

NOW IT BEGINS
THE WAKE UP CALL WITH BREAKFAST
AND THE MAGIC PILLS AGAIN
AND TEMPERATURE
AND PULSE
BRIGHT WITH PROMISE
WE BEGIN OUR DAY

O LORD, OPEN MY LIPS, AND MY MOUTH WILL DECLARE YOUR PRAISE

IN THE MORNING, O LORD, YOU HEAR MY VOICE; IN THE MORNING I LAY MY REQUESTS BEFORE YOU AND WAIT IN EXPECTATION

SATISFY US IN THE MORNING
WITH YOUR UNFAILING LOVE,
THAT WE MAY SING FOR JOY
AND BE GLAD
ALL OUR DAYS

THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH
AND MY SHIELD;
MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM,
AND I AM HELPED.
MY HEART LEAPS FOR JOY
AND I WILL GIVE THANKS TO HIM IN SONG

PRIME

WE ARE ASKED TO BEGIN THE DAY’S WORK
WHETHER RESTING OR HEALING
TESTING OR EATING
SLEEPING OR STARING AT THE WALL
BUT FIRST WE WASH
OR OTHERS WASH US

CLEANSE ME WITH HYSSOP,
AND I WILL BE CLEAN; WASH ME,
AND I WILL BE WHITER
THAN SNOW

TERCE

COFFEE BREAK TIME
NO ONE HAS EVER CALLED IT THAT
A MID MORNING RECOLLECTION
OF WHO WE ARE

THE LORD WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS

RESTORE TO ME
THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION
AND GRANT ME
A WILLING SPIRIT
TO SUSTAIN

SEXT

WE GIVE THANKS FOR OUR FOOD
AND ITS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
NO SUGAR ADDED
OR NO SALT
BUT THE PORTION LOOKS INCREDIBLY SMALL

BE ALERT
FOR YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL
PROWLS AROUND
LIKE A ROARING LION
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
TO DEVOUR

HE GIVES FOOD
TO EVERY CREATURE
HIS LOVE ENDURES
FOREVER

HE RAINED DOWN MANNA
FOR THE PEOPLE TO EAT HE GAVE THEM
THE GRAIN OF HEAVEN MEN ATE THE BREAD OF ANGELS
HE SENT THEM
ALL
THE FOOD
THEY COULD EAT

NONE

TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TIME AGAIN
THE GATHERING OF THE ENDS OF THE DAY
MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR SUPPER
PERHAPS A NAP
A QUIET RESTFUL TIME
A TIME TO SAY

BUT I HAVE STILLED
AND QUIETED MY SOUL
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
WITH ITS MOTHER
LIKE A WEANED CHILD
IS MY SOUL WITHIN ME

YOUR SUN WILL NEVER SET AGAIN
AND YOUR MOON
WILL WANE NO MORE
THE LORD
WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT
AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END

VESPERS

WE HAVE WASHED OUR FACE FOR EVENING
WE’VE HAD OUR TEMPERATURE AND PULSE TAKEN
A FINAL ROUND OF PILLS
A CERTAIN SENSE OF SADNESS
AT THE END OF THE DAY
A CERTAIN SENSE OF FRIGHT
AT THE COMING OF THE NIGHT
A CERTAIN SENSE
OF BEING HELD IN GOD’S HAND

O LORD
I CALL UPON YOU;
HASTEN TO ME GIVE EAR TO MY VOICE
WHEN I CALL TO YOULET MY PRAYER RISE UP
LIKE INCENSE BEFORE YOU, THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE!SET A GUARD, O LORD
OVER MY MOUTH KEEP WATCH
OVER THE DOOR OF MY LIPS

THE LORD
WILL SUSTAIN HIM
ON HIS SICKBED
AND RESTORE HIM
FROM HIS BED
OF ILLNESS

COMPLINE

IT’S TIME FOR GOING TO BED
THE LORD GRANT US A PEACEFUL
PAIN FREE NIGHT
AND LET US WAKE UP SINGING

I WILL BOTH LIE DOWN
AND SLEEP
FOR YOU ALONE
O LORD
MAKE ME DWELL
IN SAFETY

KEEP US O LORD
AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE
PROTECT US
UNDER THE SHADOW
OF YOUR WINGS
THE LORD BE WITH US
AND ALL OUR ABSENT
BROTHERS AND SISTERS

AMEN SO BE IT AMEN

FRANK A VOLLMER

A Day Like This

2007-05-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

A Liturgical Playlet

REFRAIN: WHEN WERE YOU HUNGRY OR NAKED OR POOR?
WHEN DID YOU ASK FOR WATER?

I WAS AT DACHAU AND AUSCHWITZ
I AM AT HANOI AND SAIGON
I AM BURIED IN EGYPT AND ISRAEL
I AM SICK OF WAR
.

I STAND WITH HUNGRY EYES
AND WATCH SURPLUS FOOD GO UP IN FLAMES
I AM A MIGRANT WORKER'S CHILD
STARVING IN THE LAND OF PLENTY

I AM THE BASTARD CHILD OF A BASTARD CHILD
I AM GHETTO BRED WITH TORCH AND STONE
NO ONE LISTENS UNLESS I AM VIOLENT
NO ONE CARES UNTIL THEY FEEL MY HATE

I AM AN OLD PERSON IGNORED AND ALONE
I AN A YOUNG MAN IN THE GUTTER ON DRUGS
I AM THE CHILD TAUGHT HATE BY MY ELDERS
I AM LOST AND DO NOT KNOW THE WAY

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS

THAT I WAS HUNGRY
A DAY LIKE THIS THAT I WAS POOR
A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN I TRIED TO HELP
A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN MY CHURCH BEGAN

IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN IT ALL BEGAN
A DAY LIKE THIS
WHEN HE NAMED PETER... ROCK
WHEN HE GAVE IT BIRTH
KNOWING THE BIRTH PAINS WOULD NOT CEASE TILL IT WAS DEAD
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN IN AGE AND WISDOM
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN IN DREAMS AND HOPES
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN RECEIVING TRUTH
TWELVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF TELLING IT BACK
TWELVE DIFFERENT MEN

IT NIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS
THAT SATAN TIPTOED UP
"DUMMY
ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT AGAIN

ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES
YOUR FATHER DID
ARE YOU GOING TO FOUND A CHURCH?"
AS USUAL SATAN HAD SHOWN GOOD SENSE
HE'D TOLD THE TRUTH
FOR EVEN CHRIST WAS FINDING FAULT

WITH WHAT HE SAW

I DO NOT WANT SACRIFICES BUT KINDNESS

MATTHEW 12

THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR WORDS
BUT THEIR HEART IS REALLY FAR FROM ME
IT IS NO USE FOR THEM TO WORSHIP ME
BECAUSE THEY TEACH MAN MADE COMMANDMENTS
AS THOUGH
THEY WERE GOD'S RULES

MATTHEW 15

THEY FIX UP HEAVY LOADS
AND TIE THEM ON MEN'S BACKS
YET THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO LIFT A FINGER
TO HELP CARRY THESE LOADS

MATTHEW 23

YOU ARE LIKE WHITEWASHED TOMBS
FINE ON THE OUTSIDE
BUT FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES

MATTHEW 23

I HAVE NOT COME TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW
BUT TO GIVE IT REAL MEANING

MATTHEW 5

THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED
TURNED OUT TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT STONE

MATTHEW 21

MY WEDDING FEAST IS READY
BUT THE PEOPLE I INVITED DID NOT DESERVE IT
GO OUT INTO THE STREETS
AND INVITE WHOM YOU FIND

MATTHEW 23

SO HERE WE ARE
WALL FLOWERS OF THE LORD
THE LATE COMERS
THE PEOPLE HE INVITED
WHEN NO ONE ELSE WOULD COME
WHAT WERE SOME OF HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT HIS CHURCH
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE RULES

YOU HAVE HEARD IT WAS SAID
LOVE YOUR FRIENDS HATE YOUR ENEMIES
BUT I TELL YOU LOVE YOUR ENEMIES
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU

MATTHEW 5

WHEN YOU PRAY SAY
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
MAY YOUR NAME BE KEPT HOLY
MAY YOUR KINGDOM COME
MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY THE FOOD WE NEED
FOR GIVE US THE WRONGS THAT WE HAVE DONE
AS WE FORGIVE THE WRONGS THAT OTHERS HAVE DONE US
DO NOT BRING US TO HARD TESTING
BUT KEEP US SAFE FROM THE EVIL ONE

MATTHEW 6

IF ONE OF YOU WANTS TO BE GREAT
HE MUST BE A SERVANT OF THE REST
LIKE THE SON OF MAN
WHO DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED
BUT TO SERVE
AND GIVE HIS LIFE TO REDEEM MANY PEOPLE

MATTHEW 20

DID HE NOT KNOW WHEN HE LOOKED PETER IN THE EYE
THAT HE WAS A MAN
COULD HE NOT HEAR THE DISTANT ECHO OF COCK CROW
WAS HE NOT AWARE OF THE IMPETUOUSNESS
THAT MADE HIM WALK ON WATER
OR THE SELF DOUBTS THAT LET HIM SINK
DID HE NOT SEE
WEATHERED FACE AND WEATHERED SOUL
NO STRANGER TO OUR JOYS OR SORROW
NO SCHOLAR HE
POET MAYBE
ONE IN TUNE WITH SEA AND TIDES AND WEATHER
THE CYCLE OF SEASONS THE RUNNING OF FISH
THE PATIENCE OF THE FISHERMAN

I WONDER IF THAT'S WHY HE PICKED HIM
IF HE SAW IN HIM THE SAME WORKMAN'S PRIDE
THAT JOSEPH HAD
IF HE SAW IN PETER'S WORDS AND ACTIONS
MEMORIES OF JOSEPH
IF HE DID NOT INSTINCTIVELY TRUST HIM
A MAN MINDFUL OF HIS NETS AND BOATS
MINDFUL OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WHO WOULD BE CAREFUL OF LITTLE THINGS
THE NECESSARY UNPRETENTIOUS DOING THINGS
NOT PLAYING FOR THE BALCONY
JUST DOING HIS JOB
THIS MAN HE CHOOSE

I GIVE TO YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

MATTHEW 16

PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME
FEED MY LAMBS
PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME
FEED MY SHEEP
PETER - DO YOU LOVE ME

FOLLOW ME
JOHN 21

AND YOU PETER
WOULD YOU LEAVE ME
TO WHOM WOULD I GO LORD
YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE

JOHN 6

PUSH OUT THE BOATS
AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS
BUT MASTER WE HAVE LABORED ALL NIGHT
AND CAUGHT NOTHING
BUT WE WILL TRY AGAIN

LUKE 5

I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN
I WILL MAKE YOU HARVESTERS IN THE FIELD
YOU WILL TEND THE VINE AND THE FIG TREE
THE MUSTARD SEED THE COCKLE THE WHEAT
SHALL BE YOUR CONCERN
I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN

HE'D PICKED A FISHERMAN TO WORK IN HIS GARDEN
TO TEND THE SEED HE'D PLANT IN THE SPRING
STRUCK DOWN IN THE SPRINGTIME
THRUST DOWN IN THE EARTH
PLOWED UNDER BY EVIL

HE'D PICKED A FISHERMAN TO TEND TO HIS GARDEN
TO WATCH OVER THE GROWTH OF THE SEED
FROM THE SEED TO THE PLANT
FROM PLANT TO THE FLOWER
TO THE SEED TO THE PLANT TO THE FLOWER
ALWAYS RENEWING
THROUGH CYCLE OF SEASONS
ALWAYS THE SEED DOWN THE AGES
ALWAYS THE SEED TELLING THE MESSAGE
GOD IS HE LOVES HE CARES

DOWN THE AGES ALWAYS THE MESSAGE
ALWAYS THE SEED THE PLANT OR THE FLOWER
ALWAYS THE SEED
TENDED BY GARDENERS POETS FOOLS OR BY THIEVES
ALWAYS THE SEED

IF YOU LOVE ME - KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL SEND YOU THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
TO STAY WITH YOU FOREVER
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS
I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ORPHANS

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN IT ALL BEGAN

A DAY LIKE THIS WHEN WE TRIED AGAIN

Stage directions;

Poetry read by narrator.

Bible verses by various members of the congregation.

Opening verses like a Sunday psalm.

War Memorial

2007-05-26T07:39:00.000-07:00

FOUR COLUMNS OF GRANITE
AND A ROOF
WEATHERED BRONZE STAINING THE STONE
A PLACE WHERE WINDS GATHER TO SIGH
AND LEAVES TO DIE
HOW NOBLE THE WORDS UPON THE PLAQUE
WE WILL NOT FORGET
NOR SHALL YOUR DEATH BE IN VAIN
HOW MANY WARS AGO
HOW MANY MONUMENTS SINCE
ONE WOULD WISH THAT THE NOBLE THOUGHTS
COULD BE ENGRAVED UPON THE HEART INSTEAD OF STONE
BUT PERHAPS THE HEART IS HARDER
AND WOULD WEAR THE CHISEL OUT
MAYBE IT'S THE DARK LINES IN THE SKY OF A FADING DAY
THAT MAKES ME FEEL THIS WAY
WRINKLES ON THE BROW OF AN AGING SKY
STANDING BESIDE A MONUMENT WITH NOBLE WORDS
KNOWING WE HAVE AND WILL FORGET

FRANK A VOLLMER

Dives

2007-05-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

LET US SING A DIRGE ABOUT DIVES
WHO SUPPED AT A BANQUET TABLE
WHILE UNDERNEATH SAT LAZARUS
WAITING FOR CRUMBS
FROM BREAD
DIVES USED
TO CLEAN HIS GREASY HANDS

FOOD FOR THE DOGS
WHO LICKED HIS SORES

HE FELT GRATEFUL FOR THE CRUMBS

DIVES DIVES
WHY ARE YOU THERE
IN HELL
WHAT DID YOU DO WRONG

NOTHING

THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE

BECAUSE LAZARUS WAS INVISIBLE TO ME

I NEVER BEAT HIM
OR CHASED HIM FROM MY TABLE

HE WAS INVISIBLE TO ME

FRANK A VOLLMER