Wrestling

WRESTLING


WRESTLING WITH GOD IS NOT A SIN
BUT A TIME HONORED EVENT
AS WHEN A SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN
SAID TO JESUS

HEAL MY CHILD

HE SAID
BECAUSE SHE WAS A GENTILE
AND A PAGAN

IT IS NOT RIGHT
TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S FOOD
AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS

SHE REBUFFED HIM SAYING
EVEN THE DOGS
EAT THE CHILDREN'S
CRUMBS

YOU CAN SEE HIM SMILING
HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT
AND HE REPLIED GENTLY

GO
YOUR CHILD IS HEALED




FRANK A VOLLMER

Autumn Now

AUTUMN NOW

ON LEARNING HE HAD LYMPHOMA

I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

I HAVE FELT WINTER'S FIRST CHILL

AND COULD NOT GET WARM

BUT I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

I HAVE WONDERED AT THE MARVEL OF THE LEAVES

AT THE BEAUTY OF THEIR PASSING

AND THEIR RELUCTANCE TO LET GO

RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THOSE THEY CARE ABOUT

BECAUSE I LOVE

AND AM LOVED

THEREBY SHARING IN THE DIVINITY

AND IN FACING THE DIVINITY

KNOW

THAT NOT EVERY DAY WAS PERFECT

EVERY DAY

WEEK

MONTH

YEAR

EVERY PAGE

CHAPTER

BOOK

EVERY I NOT DOTTED

EVERY T NOT CROSSED

AND WHEN DONE

NOT DONE WELL

WINTER THOUGHTS

WINTER THOUGHTS

BUT I AM IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

I ASK THE PAST FOR FORGIVENESS

TO LET ME LAY MY BURDEN DOWN

KNOWING THAT FORGIVENESS

IS ALSO REQUIRED OF ME

IF I WOULD LAY MY BURDEN DOWN

BUT THE DAYS OF AUTUMN ARE NOT OVER

OH THAT I COULD MAKE MY AUTUMN BEAUTIFUL

TO CLING TENACIOUSLY TO THE TREE

NEITHER WILLING DEPARTURE

IN MIND OR BODY

OR THE LEAVING OF LOVED ONES

UNTIL CALLED BY THAT GREAT SUMMONS

TO BEGIN

THAT PEACEFUL

NOSTALGIC

ACCEPTING

JOURNEY HOME

BUT

AS FOR NOW

I AM MORE IN TUNE WITH AUTUMN NOW

AND THERE IS SERENITY IN MY SOUL

FRANK A VOLLMER

Eclipse and a Frozen Lake

ECLIPSE AND A FROZEN LAKE

TONIGHT THE DRAGON HAS SWALLOWED THE MOON

AND THE ICE SOLID LAKE IS MOANING IN SORROW

OH LET MY FRIEND FREE

HE BRINGS SILVER TO THE WORLD

AND MAKES ME BEAUTIFUL AT NIGHT

SOMETIMES WE GAZE AT EACH OTHER

SOMETIMES HE IS BROKEN INTO LITTLE BOATS

THAT FLOAT OFF TO DARK CORNERS

SOMETIMES HE WEAVES DREAMS

LET THERE BE AN END TO DREAMS

THE DRAGON ROARED

BUT IF THERE IS AN END TO DREAMS

THEN ALSO YOU WILL CEASE

THERE WAS SILENCE FOR A WHILE

THERE WAS SILENCE FOR A WHILE LONGER

THE LAKE GROANED

THEN GRADUALLY

SLOWLY

THE DRAGON SET FREE THE MOON

Frank A Vollmer

Come Lord Jesus

COME LORD JESUS

COME LORD JESUS

LIKE A YOUNG DEER LEAPING

DOWN HILLSIDE LEAPING

IN HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

LIKE WILD GEESE FLYING

NECKS OUTSTRETCHED FLYING

IN HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

LIKE A STRONG BELL RINGING

THE SOUND ALL FILLING

IN HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

SET OUR HEARTS RINGING

TO THE STRONG BELL'S SINGING

OH HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

TO YOUR CHILDREN CRYING

IN WILDERNESS SIGHING

OH HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

TO THE GREAT LAMP LIGHTING

OF OUR SOULS ON SIGHTING

YOUR HASTE TO BE HERE

COME LORD JESUS

Frank a vollmer

Mother's Spit

MOTHER’S SPIT


I REMEMBER
BEING SPIT POLISHED
BEFORE CHURCH
WITH MOTHER’S SPIT


I ALSO REMEMBER
HAVING MY CLOTHING WET CLEANED
BEFORE BEING SENT OUT INTO THE WORLD

AND BRUISES AND CUTS
WERE STARTED ON THE WAY TO HEALING
WITH THE SAME

MOTHER’S SPIT
MIRACLE POTION
HEALING TEARS
WHILE RESTORING
A CRYING FACE
TO ITS ORIGINAL SHINE

SOMETIMES I LONG FOR MOTHER’S SPIT
TO PUT THE WORLD BACK TO WHERE IT WAS

I LOOK AT MY GRANDCHILDREN
AND ALL THE BACTERIA
KILLING PRODUCTS

AND KNOW THEY'LL NEVER REPLACE
A MOTHER’S
ANXIOUS
AND LOVING FACE
SAYING LOOK AT YOU NOW
PLAYING STICK BALL
IN YOUR SUNDAY CLOTHES
COME HERE WHILE I FIX YOU

AND LIKE JESUS
BENDING OVER
THE BLIND MAN
THE DEAF MAN
SHE'D RESTORE ME
TO PRISTINE GLORY
AND SEND ME ON MY WAY


FRANK A VOLLMER

Carousel

CAROUSEL

MERRY GO ROUND
MERRY GO ROUND
HELD BY MY PARENT
ON A MERRY GO ROUND
WHEN I WAS SMALL
AND THE WORLD WAS TALL
CHASED BY DRAGONS
OR PERSUING THEM
ON HORSES, LIONS OR FANTASIES
WHICH NEVER WERE
BUT REAL TO ME
ON THE MERRY GO ROUND
THE MERRY GO ROUND
HELD BY MY PARENTS
WHEN I WAS SMALL
THEN LATER I WAS TOO GROWNUP
EXCEPT TO ESCORT A GIRL
THEN LATER I WAS TOO GROWNUP
EXCEPT TO ESCORT A WIFE
UNTIL NOW WHEN I AM MUCH GROWNUP
I STILL FIND
THE MUSIC OF THE CAROUSEL
INVITING
EXCITING
I WILL NOT RIDE THE SEATS
PROVIDED FOR THE OLD
NO
I MUST MOUNT A HORSE
A LION
OR A FANTASY
IT MUST MOVE
AS IT MOVES ME
TO BE A CHILD AGAIN
IN A WORLD
THAT OFTEN
HAS GROWN
TOO TALL


f. a. vollmer

Beaver College

BEAVER COLLEGE

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER
THE COLLEGE THAT LOOKED LIKE A CASTLE
A CASTLE WHERE KNIGHTS WOULD DO THEIR MIGHTY DEEDS
A CASTLE A COLLEGE
ON THE WAY TO THE AMUSEMENT PARK

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER
IT WAS MY FATHER'S ONE DAY OFF
AND FOR A BARGAIN FARE ON A TROLLEY CAR
THE FAMILY WOULD GO TO THE PARK

I REMEMBER I REMEMBER
HOW WE WERE TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO RIDES
WE WOULD EAT THE LUNCH WE PACKED
AND LISTEN TO THE BAND MUSIC ON THE GRASS
WHERE SAT ALL OF US WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A TICKET

BUT I REMEMBER I REMEMBER
MY DAD WAS WITH US
ON HIS ONE DAY OFF
HOW TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY
WE'D RIDE THE MERRY GO ROUND
NOT KNOWING THEN
BUT KNOWING NOW THAT HE'D WALK TO WORK IN THE MORNING

YES I REMEMBER I REMEMBER
BUT I DO NOT REMEMBER BEING POOR
BUT RICH
GOING HOME
NESTLED AGAINST MY FATHER
ON THE TROLLEY
SLEEPING WITH MY FATHER'S ARM AROUND ME
AND FEELING LOVED AND WARM

Frank Vollmer

Emmaus

A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING

EMMAUS

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HIS EYES
LIKE A SOLDIER OFF TO WAR
SAYING GOODBYE TO LOVED ONES
OR A SAILOR 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
SO YOU COULD LEARN
TO LOVE HIM AS YOU GREW
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

Reality

REALITY

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WAY
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LION TAMER
DRAGON SLAYER
WOOD GATHERER
GUARDIAN AT THE GATE
BUT LIFE HAS CAUGHT UP WITH DREAMS
REALITY WITH FANTASY
IT WASN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN THIS WAY

BUT IT HAS

AND NOW SHE WATCHES OVER ME DAY AND NIGHT
I'M GUY ENOUGH TO ENJOY IT
WHILE FEELING GUILTY

DON QUIXOTE
WITH DENTED ARMOUR
AND BROKEN LANCE HAS RETIRED FROM THE FIELD

TO ENTER INTO A DIFFERENT FRAY
THAT OF GETTING WELL

THE ENEMY HERE IS HARDER THAN ANY I HAVE FOUGHT BEFORE

BUT I HAVE MOTIVE IN WIFE
CHILDREN
AND IN
GRANDPOP “YOU'RE SO FUNNY”

LIFE IS BEING REDUCED TO LOVING
AND BEING LOVED
AND LETTING PEOPLE PRACTICE ACTS OF KINDNESS
BY OPENING DOORS
AND REACHING THINGS
THAT ARE TOO FAR
A MOMENTARY
BROTHERHOOD
SISTERHOOD
THAT SAYS
IT’S STILL GODS WORLD

ARMOUR MAY BE RETIRED
LANCE MAY BE PUT TO REST
BUT I CAN LOOK IN THE MIRROR
AND SEE GOD’S FACE BEHIND ME

Gentle Rebuke

GENTLE REBUKE

SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
IMPULSIVE PETER
SO QUICKLY HAD HE SPOKE
THE WORDS WERE OUT
BEFORE HE HAD TIME TO THINK
BUT OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS FRIEND
AND THE IMPACT
OF THE WORDS HE HAD SAID
I MUST GO TO JERUSALEM AND DIE

HE PUT HIS ARM AROUND JESUS
AND DREW HIM TO HIMSELF
SHELTERING
AND SAID
IT MUST NOT BE

AND JESUS HEARTBROKEN
BECAUSE PETER
STILL
WAS UNAWARE OF HIS MISSION
SAID SOFTLY
GET BEHIND ME SATAN

GET BEHIND ME SATAN
ADVICE GIVEN A CHILD BY A PARENT
DON'T STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY
THERE’S NO FUTURE
LONG HOURS
AND LOW WAGES
SHELTERING THE CHILD

OR THOSE
WATCHING BOX CARS
RATTLING ACROSS EUROPE
FILLED WITH HUMANITY
AND SAYING NOTHING

OR PREACHERS
PREACHING BROTHERHOOD
IN A SEGREGATED CHURCH
WHILE DISMAS
WAS UNDER THE TABLE
BEGGING CRUMBS

OR WORKMEN
AFTER YEARS OF SERVICE
FINDING NO PENSION
WHILE CEOS MAKE MILLIONS
WHERE IS THE CRY FOR JUSTICE
MUTED BY THOSE WHO HAVE

AND JESUS SAYS
GET BEHIND ME SATAN
UNLESS A MAN
IS WILLING TO TAKE A STAND
AND SUFFER WITH ME
HE IS NOT WORTHY OF ME

JESUS SAYS
GIVE ME PEOPLE
LIKE MOTHER TERESA
MAHATMA GANDHI
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
DOROTHY DAY
DANIEL BERRIGAN
JOHN XXIII

TAKE YOUR ARM FROM AROUND ME
I AM NOT A TOY
OR PRETTY FEELING
TO BE SHELTERED FROM THE STORM

I KNOW YOU LOVE ME
BUT YOUR ARM AROUND ME HINDERS ME
I NEED TO STRETCH
MY ARMS OUT
FOR THE CROSS
I AM YOUR FRIEND
WHO DOES NOT SHIRK
FROM EMPTYING HIMSELF
AND DYING ON A CROSS


FRANK A VOLLMER

Dandelions

DANDELIONS

DANDELIONS ARE A NAUGHTY BREED
THEY DON'T QUITE KNOW THEIR PLACE
THEY GROW IN EVERYBODY'S YARD
A NATIONAL DISGRACE
BUT I LIKE THEM
I LIKE THEY WAY THEY CLAIM A FIELD
RUNNING RIOT IN THE SUN
LIKE SOME MOD PAINTER GOING WILD
SWIRLS AND DASHES DOTS AND SPLASHES
FRAGMENTS OF THE SUN
SPRINKLED IN THE GRASS
YELLOW SEQUINS IN HER HAIR
WHERE WOULD CHILDREN BE WITHOUT THEM
FOR TULIPS ARE A NONO
AND SO ARE NEIGHBORS ROSES
BUT DANDELIONS ARE FREE
FREE TO PICK FOR MOTHER'S SMILE
WHO CAN PRICE THAT MOMNENT
WHO CAN GIVE IT WORTH
WHEN A CHILD TINY FIST TIGHTLY CLENCHED
THE DANDELIONS DROPPINGIN A CIRCLE
SAYS, "FOR YOU I PICKED THEM
I PICKED THEM FOR YOU"
HOW MANY YOUNG ONES
WALKING THE FIELDS
HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE
PICKING THE FLOWERS
HOW MANY OLD ONES
OUT FOR A STROLL
HAVE REKINLED FLAME
DOING THE SAME
HOW MANY GRANDPARENTS
GRANDCHILD IN TOW
HAVE MADE THE AIR MAGIC
WITH DANDELION SEEDS
HAVE TAUGHT THEIR GRANDCHILDREN
THE OLD-NEW SECRET
OF HOW TO KEEP DANDELIONS
AROUND TO MAKE PRETTY
THE FIELDS AND THE MEADOWS
WITH FRAGMENTS OF SUN
O GOD GIVE ME FRIENDS
WHO ARE DANDELION LOVERS
GOOD FRIENDS WHO ARE ROWDY
AND EASY TO LAUGH
AND PRETTY GIRLS WHO SAY THEY LOVE ME
ESPECIALLY THEM THAT LIKE TO WEAR
DANDELION FLOWERS
IN THEIR HAIR




FRANK A VOLLMER

Bring Out Your Dead

A CEREMONY FOR REMEMBERING

BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

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 STINKHOUSE 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

Basket Tree

BASKET TREE

BY THEIR FRUIT YOU SHALL KNOW THEM
THEN WHAT DOES THIS TREE PORTEND
COVERED WITH BASKETS
PUT OUT TO DRY
WHAT ODD FRUIT
EACH ONE HAND MADE
EACH ONE DIFFERENT
EACH ONE WITH A TOUCH OF IMPERFECTION
YET EACH ONE BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY
FROM PRIMITIVE TO ARTIST'S WORK
LIKE PEOPLE
SO WHAT SHALL WE PUT IN THEM
BUT ALL OUR DREAMS
AND ALL OUR STRIVING TO BECOME
THE QUALITY THE ANGEL WHISPERED IN OUR EAR AT BIRTH
BE JOYOUS HAPPY LOVING TRUTHFUL AND KIND
EVEN AT BIRTH WE KNEW THAT GOD WISHED US WELL
WHERE SHALL WE FIND A BASKET
BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD GOD'S LOVE
WE NEED A BIGGER TREE



FRANK A VOLLMER

Golden Girl

GOLDEN GIRL


GIRL OF MY GOLDEN YEARS
THANK YOU
THANK YOU FOR GENTLING ME
FOR STAYING BY ME WHEN I WAS LOST
WHEN SOMEONE CHANGED
THE CITY’S NAMES AND STREETS
AND NIGHTMARES WERE COMMON
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HUMOROUS THINGS YOU DO
WHICH MAKES LIFE WITH YOU QUITE AN ADVENTURE
AND YOUR NAIVETY AT TIMES
LIKE WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE WHO ARE REDOING THEIR HOUSE
HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING NEW IN YOUR BEDROOM LATELY
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME AS I TRY TO FIND THE QUICKEST SHORTCUT FROM A TO B
AND USUALLY GETTING LOST
A SKILL YOU USED WELL IN PULLING ME OUT OF DARKNESS
THANK YOU GOLDEN GIRL
YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF PAUL’S DISCOURSE ON LOVE
FOR YOUR GENTLENESS I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL


FRANK A VOLLMER

Any

ANY

OH GOSH OH GOLLY OH GEE

I CAN’T FIND THE ANY KEY

I’VE LOOKED HIGH AND LOW

AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW

I CAN’T FIND THE ANY KEY

THE DIRECTIONS ARE CLEAR AND PRECISE

INSERT THE CD IN THE DEVICE

AND THEN HIT THE ANY KEY

OH MERCY OH MERCY OH ME

WHERE OH WHERE CAN IT BE

IT’S NO WHERE NO WHERE TO BE SEEN

WHICH I THINK IS KIND OF OBSCENE

IT’S NOT IN THE F KEYS

THE NUMBER KEYS

THE LETTER KEYS

THE SYMBOL KEYS

MY HOUSE KEY

OR ANY WHERE

OR MY UNDERWEAR

WHERE OH WHERE CAN IT BE

SO FRIENDS IN PLACES HIGH AND LOW

PLEASE IF YOU KNOW LET ME KNOW

WHERE OH WHERE IS THE KEY

THE ERRANT MISCHIEVOUS ANY KEY

SO I CAN GIVE IT A HOME

IT NEED NEVER ROAM

IT'LL LIVE ON MY COMPUTER FREE

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Watch

THE WATCH

I WISH THEY WOULDN^'T WEAR A WATCH AT MASS

I MEAN IT'S OUT OF PLACE WITH THE COSTUMES THAT THEY WEAR

I MEAN...HE EXTENDS HIS ARMS

AND THERE'S HIS WATCH AND HALF HIS ARM EXPOSED

IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE COSTUMES WEREN'T MADE FOR PRAYING

AS IF THEY DIDN'T FIT FOR PRAYING

BUT IT'S REALLY THE CONSECRATION

I MEAN...THERE CHRIST IS

HELD IN TIMELESS WONDER FOR US ALL TO SEE

AND THERE^'S THE WATCH

AND IT BOTHERS ME

OR SHOULD IT

PERHAPS IT HAS MORE SYMBOLISM

THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE DO

IF TIMELESS GOD COULD TAKE THE TIME

TO SEND HIS SON TO MAKE IT HOLY

THEN I SHOULD WELCOME WATCH AND HOST

AS SIGNS PORTRAYING BOTH

THAT THAT SON CAME

TO MAKE NOW HOLY

THIS TIME THIS AGE THIS MINUTE HOLY

PERHAPS WE SHOULD MAKE IT PART OF PRIESTLY GARB

THAT'S A SILLY THOUGHT

IT WOULD TAKE TWENTY CANONS AND A PAPAL LAW

AND THEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHICH ARM IS BEST

AND THEN SOME AVANT-GARDE WOULD DECLARE

THAT SUN DIALS ARE MORE SYMBOLIC

WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF NOVELTY

PERHAPS INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING

I SHOULD WELCOME

SIGHT OF CLOCK ON ARM

FOR NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

AND NOW HE HANGS IN TIMELESS WONDER

HELD BY HANDS

AND WATCHED BY WATCH

AND HE BLESSES

NOW

FRANK A VOLLMER

Zen Garden

FIVE ROCKS THERE ARE
THOUGH IT SEES LIKE MORE
GRAVEL AND SOME MOSS

THE ROCKS ARE SMALL
THE GRAVEL RAKED
THE MOSS GROWS WHERE IT WILL

AT FIRST
I TRIED TO FIND THE MEANING OF THE STONES
WERE THEY SHIPS OR MOUNTAINS
PERHAPS A TIGER AND ITS PREY

I TRIED TO MEASURE IN MY MIND
THE SPACING OF THE ROCKS
TO MAKE THEM FIT A SCIENCE
SO MUCH HERE
SO MUCH THERE
BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK
IT WOULDN'T FIT

I STARTED TO GET UP
TO GO AWAY
TO LEAVE THE GARDEN
THAT WOULDN'T FIT MY SCIENCE

BUT HESITATED
DISTURBED BY FAILURE
AND SAT BACK DOWN

BE QUIET AND UNKNOWING
SEEMED TO SAY THE WIND
BE QUIET AND STILL
LIKE A POOL OF WATER
BE STILL AND DEEP
GIVE BACK TO THE SKY ITS BRIGHTNESS
IN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR BEING
BE STILL
THE WIND'S RIPPLES CANNOT DISTURB YOU
BE STILL
BE STILL
AND QUIET
AND KNOWING

FRANK A VOLLMER

January 15

JANUARY 15

TWO WHOLE WEEKS AHEAD

WITH NO DOCTORS

AND I HAVEN’T BEEN SICK ALL YEAR

BE STILL MY HEART

I CAN’T STAND THE EXUBERANCE

HOW WILL THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

EXIST WITHOUT ME

TWO WHOLE WEEKS

FREE FROM BLOOD TAKING

CHEMICAL INFUSION

LUNG AND HEART CHECKING

TOE NAIL CLIPPING

AND FEET EXAM

BEING FOLDED

MUTILATED AND SPINDLED

AND URINE BEING EVALUATED

AS IF IT WERE A FINE WINE

I FEEL SO HAPPY

I COULD DIE

WHAT A WONDERFUL THING IS MAN

WHAT A WONDERFUL CREATION OF GOD

WOUNDED HE STILL SURVIVES

I AM ACQUAINTED WITH DAMAGED PEOPLE

I’M ONE OF THEM MYSELF

PERHAPS WE ALL ARE IN SOME WAY DAMAGED

AND CHRIST IS THE WOUNDED PHYSICIAN

COME TO HEAL US

TO LEAD US THROUGH THE JOYS

AND PAINS OF EXISTENCE

AND TAKE US HOME WHEN IT’S OVER

AND HIS WORD TO US THROUGH ALL OF THIS

IS

PEACE

BE STILL

AND KNOW

THAT I AM

GOD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Musings

MUSINGS THIS IS MY BODY TAKE AND EAT THIS IS MY BLOOD TAKE AND DRINK SIMPLE STATEMENTS BUT SCHOLARS HAVE ARGUED FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS AS TO THEIR MEANING AND HOW WITNESS THE SCHOLAR’S DEBATE ROMAN CATHOLIC: SACRIFICE; TRANSUBSTANTIATION EASTERN CHRISTIANITY: TRUE SACRIFICE AND OBJECTIVE PRESENCE BUT PIOUS SILENCE ON THE PARTICULARS ANGLICANS/EPISCOPALIANS: REAL PRESENCE WITH OPINION LUTHERANS - THE SACRAMENTAL UNION: "IN, WITH, AND UNDER THE FORMS" METHODISM - REAL PRESENCE AS "HOLY MYSTERY" CALVINIST REFORMED: SPIRITUAL FEEDING, "PNEUMATIC" PRESENCE ZWINGLIAN REFORMED: NO REAL PRESENCE ET CETERA ET CETERA ETCETERA WHY SHOULD IT TAKE A PHD TO UNDERSTAND GOD GOD HAS SAID IT I BELIEVE IN GOD OR OTHERWISE NOTHING MAKES SENSE I LEAN MORE TO THE EASTERN CHURCH TO THE INDWELLING OF GOD WITHIN ME IN THE JEWISH TRADITIONAL ANIMAL SACRIFICES PART OF THE ANIMAL WENT TO THE PRIEST PART WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE PART WAS GIVEN TO THE DONOR FOR A FEAST IN HONOR OF THE SACRIFICE IT WAS THOUGHT THAT GOD ENTERED INTO THE SACRIFICE BECAME ONE WITH THE SACRIFICE SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ATE THE SANCTIFIED GIFT THEY FELT THEY WERE PARTAKING OF GOD NOT A STRANGE IDEA IN THAT PERIOD OF HISTORY IT WAS A COMMON THING THIS GOD MEAL IN ANCIENT TIMES THAT TAKING GOD WITHIN THEMSELVES THEY BECAME GOD-LIKE SINCE GOD CANNOT BE DIVIDED THEY BECAME OF GOD BECAME AS WITH ONE NATURE AND ALL THE FELLOW COMMUNICANTS BECAME AS ONE WALKING IN THE STRENGTH OF THAT MEAL FORTY DAYS FRANK A VOLLMER

Bert

BERT

BERT SHE CALLS ME
MY CAT I MEAN
SHE CALLS ME BERT
MY ORANGE FURRED TABBY
MY CHANGEABLE ORANGE FURRED TABBY
WHEN I WANT TO HOLD HER
SHE'S RELUCTANT
BUT OPEN MY MUSIC BAG
SHE'S IN IT
OPEN MY DESK DRAWER
SHE HAS TO CHECK IT OUT
GO SHOELESS
SHE'S BITING MY TOES
TAKE A NAP
SHE SITS ON MY HEAD
AND CALLS ME BERT
DUMB CAT
ONLY REASON I KEEP HER
IS BECAUSE I LIKE HER
I LIKE TO HEAR HER MOTOR RUN
WHEN SHE'S CONTENT
I LIKE THE LOOK IN HER EYES
WHEN SHE'S SITTING IN THE WINDOW
WAITING TO COME IN
I CALL HER TABBY
THE KIDS CALL HER PUSSYFOOT
WE COULD CALL HER ESMERELDA
SHE DOESN'T COME ANYWAY
BUT IF I RATTLE A FOOD BOX
SHE CALLS ME BERT
NOW SHE'S REGAL POISED AND COOL
NOW SHE'S TRYING TO CATCH HER TAIL
NOW SHE THINKS MY BEARD'S A KITTEN
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KISSED
BY A ROUGH TONGUED CAT
DUMB CAT
SHE'S SLEEPING IN MY CHAIR
SHE'S DRINKING FROM THE FISH TANK
SHE'S FALLING IN THE BATHTUB
SHE'S SHARPENING HER CLAWS
SHE'S LOCKED IN A CLOSET
SHE'S STRANDED IN A TREE
SHE'S A BOTHER AND A NUISANCE
BUT SHE'S KIND OF CUTE TO ME
BESIDES
SHE CALLS ME BERT



FRANK A VOLLMER