Waterfall

BY WATER BEGAN
THE SIFTING DOWN FOR EONS OF THE SILT
OF DYING CREATURES AND THE LAND
TRANSFORMED BY HEAT AND PRESSURE INTO STONE
BY UPHEAVAL THRUST TO MOUNTAIN FORM
THEN DOWN THE WATERS RAN
CUTTING THROUGH MOUNTAIN
THROUGH STONE
WILDLY THE WATERS RUN
TO DROP OFF A CLIFF AND PLUNGE INTO A POOL
TO PASS A BILLION YEARS OF STONE WITHIN ITS PLUNGE
RACING RUNNING SWIRLING FROTHING
LIVING WATER CUP OF STONE


Frank A. Vollmer

Away They Went Rejoicng

AWAY THEY WENT REJOICING
THE SHEPHERDS TO THEIR FLOCKS ABIDING
THEY NEEDED TENDING
AWAY THEY WENT
TRAILING THE SMELL OF SHEEP
SWEAT
AND CHEAP WINE

THEY PASSED A NOBLE CARAVAN
WITH ROYALTY PERCHED ON CAMELS
ONE SENSED CLEANLINESS
AND GOOD MANNERS
THEY NODDED AT EACH OTHER IN PASSING

SOME SAY
THE BIRTH NARRATIVES
ARE ROMANTIC FICTIONS
MEANT TO DRESS UP A DRAB
ORDINARY SCENE

AS IF TO SAY
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
WAS NOT MIRACLE ENOUGH

WE TAKE HIS LIFE
AND SIMPLE WORDS
AND SPIN AN UNRECOGNIZABLE TALE
AT WHICH THE SHEPHERDS
WOULD COMMENT
A COLLECTIVE
HUH

THE SIMPLE FACT IS GOD CAME

A SIMPLE FACT LIKE GOD
CREATED HEAVEN
AND EARTH

WE ARGUE OVER
METHODS AND DAYS
WHO CARES
GOD CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH

GOD BECAME A MAN
TO LIVE AN ORDINARY LIFE
TO SUCKLE AT HIS MOTHER’S BREAST
TO KNOW HEAT AND COLD
HUNGER AND THIRST
TO WORK AT A TRADE
TO PAY THE BILLS
TO SHARE OUR OFTEN MUNDANE LIFE

IN AN ORDINARY BIRTH
NO ANGELS AUDIBLY SING
NO TRADESMEN COME TO CALL
NO ROYALTY BRING GIFTS

AND CHRIST CAME TO BE AN ORDINARY MAN

I MUST CONFESS
THAT CHRISTMAS STRIPPED DOWN
HAS MERIT
BUT LIKE HARDY’S POEM


If someone said on Christmas Eve,Come; see the oxen kneel,

I should go with him in the gloom,Hoping it might be so



COME GENTLE JESUS COME
YOUR BIRTH IS ENOUGH FOR ME
MAY I BRING THE GIFT OF WHO I AM
AND THE GIFT
OF WHAT WE BOTH
SHALL BE
WHEN WE GROW UP



FRANK A VOLLMER

Xmas

IT WAS THE COMING ON OF EVENING
THE SHADOWS GATHERING IN THE CORNERS
SPILLING OUT
FILING THE ROOM WHERE HE SAT
CONTENT
AT EASE
HAPPY TO BE AT HOME

SITTING IN THE DARKNESS
AT EVENING
CONTENT

IT HADN'T ALWAYS BEEN SO
IT WAS AN ACQUIRED HABIT
FOR LONG
HE HAD BEEN TOO BUSY
PREOCCUPIED
TO ENJOY THE DAILY TRIVIA
OF ORDINARY LIVING

BUT ONCE HE'D LEFT IT
ONCE HE'D GONE OFF
HE'D MISSED IT

SO THAT HE SAT IN THE DARK
QUIET AT TABLE
CONTENT
WAITING FOR HIS MOTHER
TO COME HOME
SUCH A NORMAL FEELING

WAITING WARM
IN HIS HOME
FOR HIS MOTHER
TO COME HOME

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN THIS YEAR
ON SOME LOST BOAT ON SOME LOST SEA
EXILED FROM MY COUNTRY AND NO OTHER PLACE
TO CALL HOME

SHALL I BE BORN AT SEA
OR IN A CAMP SUCKING DRYNESS
FROM MY MOTHER'S
WITHERED BREAST

WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

OR SHALL I BE BORN IN AN OLD MAN'S WHIMPER
WHO FINDS HIS INCOME CANNOT PAY
FOR RENT AND FOOD AND FUEL
AND IN THE TWILIGHT OF HIS YEARS
FINDS HUNGER HIS REWARD FOR SERVICE
WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
THOSE WHO FIND THEIR LIFE DIMINISHED
BY FORCES OUT OF THEIR CONTROL
WHO ALSO FIND NO REASON FOR THEIR PAIN
WHERE SHALL I BE BORN

PERHAPS AGAIN IN A STABLE
REJECTED
NOT ABLE TO JOIN THE PARTY

AT THE INN
SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE
A DOWN SYNDROME CHILD
OR ONE WITH AIDS
WHERE SHALL I BE BORN


GOOD EVENING MOM

HAVE YOU BEEN HERE LONG

I DON'T KNOW
I DON'T THINK SO
BESIDES
IT'S NICE JUST SITTING HERE
QUIET
IN OUR HOME
WAITING
ON THE DAY THAT I WAS BORN




FRANK A VOLLMER

Immigrant

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35)...





IMMIGRANT


SO QUICK HAD THEY LEFT
THE ANGEL HAD GIVEN THEM NO TIME
HEROD WOULD DIM HIS SMILE
FOREVER
QUICK
BE GONE

WHERE SHALL I FIND WORK
TO FEED AND CLOTHE
AND SHELTER MY FAMILY

I
A STRANGER
IN A STRANGE LAND
WHOSE WAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE
WHOSE GODS ARE DIFFERENT FROM MINE
WHOSE SPEECH IS DIFFERENT FROM MINE

I HAVE SKILLS
IF THEY'LL LET ME USE THEM
PERHAPS THE SHIPYARDS ON THE SUEZ
WILL HAVE WORK
BUT WHATEVER WORK IS THERE
I'LL DO

WILL PEOPLE LOOK ASKANCE AT OUR CLOTHES
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO PACK
WHAT WE'RE WEARING
IS WHAT WE HAVE

WE ARE TOLD TO WELCOME THE STRANGER
IN OUR MIDST
A RULE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL RELIGIONS
MAY GOD BE WITH ME IN THE NEW LAND

IF THINGS WE'RE BETTER AT HOME
I WOULD NEVER HAVE LEFT
BUT THE CHOICE IS NOT MINE
IF THE CHILD SHOULD LIVE
AND BRING HIS SMILE
TO THE WORLD

FRANK A VOLLMER

Holy Innocents

A VOICE IS HEARD IN RAMAH, LAMENTATION AND BITTER WEEPING. RACHEL IS WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN



HOLY INNOCENTS



HEROD’S SOLDIERS ARE BUSY AGAIN IN DARFUR
SUDAN
SOMALIA
NIGER AND BANGLADESH
IRAQ
LATIN AND SOUTH AMERICA
USA

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IDLE

WE STRUGGLE TO KEEP CHILDREN ALIVE IN THE WOMB
AND KILL THEM DAILY
WITH POVERTY
HUNGER
SICKNESS
WAR

ARE HEROD’S MEN BEING MORE MERCIFUL
ARE HEROD’S MEN ANGELS OF MERCY
BRINGING RELIEF IN TIMES OF TRIAL

THE LEGEND IS THAT CHRIST DIED
IN PART
TO BE WITH THE INNOCENTS
TO BE WITH THOSE WHO SUFFERED FOR HIM
TO BE WITH THOSE WHO DIED FOR NO GOOD REASON
TO BE WITH THOSE WHO DIE FOR NO GOOD REASON


TO BE POWERLESS IN THE FACE OF RACHEL’S PAIN
READING
WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU.............................

CHRIST CALLS OUT
IN THE VOICE OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE ABANDONED
ALL THOSE WHO ARE POWERLESS
ALL THOSE WHO ARE SPEECHLESS
ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED NO VALUE
AND CRIES OUT
WHY

AND THE INNOCENTS CRY
WHY DID WE DIE

AND IN THE FACE OF RACHEL’S PAIN
WE ARE MUTE
ASHAMED
HUMBLED
AND POOR



FRANK A VOLLMER

Epiphany

I SUPPOSE I WASN'T ON MY BEST BEHAVIOR
BUT A LIFE FULL OF BOOKS AND STAR GAZING
OF DAYS SPENT SLEEPING
AND NIGHTS SKY WATCHING
OF BEING ALONE
OR WITH OTHERS EQUALLY ALONE
OF GROWING OLD WITH BOOKS... AND MUSTY
OF GROWING OLD

WELL AFTER ALL
WE'D HAD A ROUGH JOURNEY
THINGS HADN'T GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN
WHAT WITH NAUSEA FROM THE CAMEL'S ROCKING
AND THE SAND
WELL
WHAT HAD STARTED OUT AS A GREAT ADVENTURE
SOON BECAME
SAND IN OUR SHOES
IN OUR FOOD
IN OUR HAIR
IN OUR CLOTHES
IN OUR BLANKETS
IN OUR UNDERWEAR AND SHOES
EVERYWHERE
SAND
NO GREEN
OH AN OASIS OR TWO
BUT MOSTLY SAND

THEY SAY I SOMETIMES GRUMBLE
WELL MAYBE A LITTLE


AND THEN WHEN WE GOT THERE
THIS JOURNEY TO SEE A KING NEWBORN
NO PALACE
NO PURPLE
NO COUNCILORS
NO COURTIERS
NO COURTS AT ALL

A STABLE
THAT'S RIGHT A STABLE

TWO ORDINARY ADULTS
AND ONE ORDINARY CHILD
MAKING ANIMAL NOISES
AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
AND NOTHING ELSE

BUT THIS IS WHERE THE STAR HAD LED
THE STAR BY LEGEND AND DUSTY TOME FORETOLD
A STAR
A BIRTHPLACE MARKER OF A KING
BUT GREATER THAN A KING
GREATER THEN ALEXANDER OR CAESAR
EVEN GREATER THAN THE GODS
GREATER THAN ZEUS OR APOLLO

BUT SUCH A LOWLY BEGINNING
DID HE STOOP SO LOW
TO MAKE HIS LEAP UP HIGHER

BUT MELCHIOR
QUICK AS USUAL WITH HIS TONGUE
SAID MADAM
AND SIR
WE BEG YOU FORGIVE OUR INTRUSION
BUT WE HAVE TRAVELED MANY MILES
TO SEE YOUR SON
AND WOULD YOU DO US HONOR
AND LET US HONOR HIM

WELL THEY WERE QUITE FLUSTERED
AS PEOPLE USUALLY ARE WITH UNEXPECTED COMPANY
AND THEY SET TO WITH STRAIGHTENING UP
AND APOLOGIZING FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS
BUT SOON WE WERE ENTHRONED
ON THREE BALES OF STRAW
AND THERE WE SAT
NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY

THEN MARY SAID TO ME
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD THE CHILD
NOW I HAVE HELD COSTLY TELESCOPES
AND PRICELESS MANUSCRIPTS
BUT BABIES
NEVER


PERHAPS I HELD HIM WRONGLY
I DO NOT KNOW
BUT ANYWAY HE CRIED
AND MORE THAN CRIED
HE WET ALL OVER ME

NOW WHAT CAN BE WORSE
THAN A SOGGY SCHOLAR
OR A WET WISEMAN

BUT CASPER BEGAN TO GIGGLE
JOSEPH HAD TO TURN AWAY
MELCHIOR HAD COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL
AND MARY
I WATCHED THE TIREDNESS LEAVE HER EYES
TRIED NOT TO
BUT LOST AND LAUGHED
A BEAUTIFUL RINGING LAUGH

WELL
AFTER THAT WE HAD A LOVELY VISIT
I LEARNED TO HOLD HIM MORE EXPERTLY
AND DRY



I'M SORRY I MET THEM SO LATE IN LIFE
SO CLOSE TO THE SUNSET OF MY YEARS
I'D HAVE LIKED TO WATCH HIM GROW
THIS NEPHEW MINE
FOR WAS I NOT AN UNCLE NAMED
IN HONOR OF MY WETTING

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WATCH HIM GROW
TO SEE IN HIM MY YOUTH RENEWED
TO SEE THE WORLD WIDE EYED AGAIN
TO SMELL A DAISY
OR WATCH A BUMBLE BEE GO
PERHAPS I COULD HAVE TAUGHT HIM
AND THEREBY EXTEND MY YEARS
A SORT OF IMMORTALITY


I HOPE THAT LIFE IS GOOD TO HIM
THIS NEPHEW MINE
THAT MEN WILL GROW TO LOVE HIM

BUT MOST OF ALL
WHEN MY MOST LONELY THOUGHTS PREVAIL
I WISH THAT HE WERE MINE

Frank A Vollmer

The Creche

THE CROTCHETY OLD MINISTER
SET IN HIS WAYS
CAME DOWN FROM HIS CHRISTMAS EVE NAP
AND FOUND HIS GRANDCHILDREN
PLAYING WITH THE NATIVITY CRIB FIGURES

HIS INSTINCT WAS TO CRY OUT SACRILEGE
THIS WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY
A FINE ITALIAN MADE SET
HAND CARVED AND PAINTED
AND ILLUMINATED JUST SO
A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE TO BEHOLD
AND HERE THEY WERE PLAYING WITH IT
LIKE ACTION FIGURES

WHAT STOPPED HIM FROM YELLING
IN HIS GRANDFATHER VOICE
HE DID NOT KNOW
HE’D BEEN GRUFF BEFORE
BUT HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS
AND LISTENED
AND THIS IS WHAT HE HEARD
THE OLDER CHILD TEACHING THE YOUNGER

AT THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTMAS
THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE
SCATTERED ALL OVER
THE ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE
BUSY DOING ANIMAL AND PEOPLE THINGS

BUT WHEN JESUS IS BORN
THEY ALL WANT TO BE AROUND HIM
LIKE A MAGNET DRAWS METAL
THAT’S WHY SO MANY CAROLS SAY COME
AND THERE IS NO PUSHING OR SHOVING
THERE’S ROOM FOR EVERYONE
EVEN GRAND POP WHEN HE’S NOT SMILING
OR EAVESDROPPING ON THE STAIR

FRANK A VOLLMER

BASED ON A SERMON BY PASTOR DAVID MCGETTIGAN

Someone's Missing at Christmas

IT PERVADED THE HOUSE
LIKE THE AROMAS
FROM THE KITCHEN
THE SENSE OF SOMETHING MISSING
OF SOMEONE MISSING
LIKE A MELODY
MISSING A NOTE
OR A POEM
MISSING A VERSE
IT FELT INCOMPLETE

WHAT A TRIBUTE
TO THE PERSON GONE
TO BE MISSED
THAT A PART OF ONE’S HEART
HAD GONE WITH THEM

SORROW
YES
THEY COULD UNDERSTAND
BUT ALSO THEY WOULD SAY
CELEBRATE MY LIFE

THE JOKES WE TOLD
THE ADVENTURES WE HAD
THE GOOD TIMES
THE BAD TIMES
THE ORDINARY
DAY TO DAY TIMES

THE TIMES WE WERE BROUGHT
TOAST AND TEA
ON A GREEN SAUCER
AND A YELLOW CUP

CELEBRATE MY LIFE
AND I SHALL LIVE ON
AND I SHALL PERMEATE YOUR LIFE
LIKE AN AROMA
WAFTING FROM THE KITCHEN


FRANK A VOLLMER

Tombstone Reader

TOMBSTONE READER


I WANDERED THROUGH THE HILLSIDE CEMETERY
TRYING TO READ
THE WEATHERED MARKINGS ON THE STONES
SOME STALWART ONES
STILL LEANED AGAINST THE HILL
WHILE OTHERS
TIRED
HAD FALLEN AND SETTLED
ON THE GROUND

IT WAS AN ANCIENT CEMETERY
WEATHER-WORN AND OVERGROWN
YET HERE I FOUND ONE PLOT
THOUGH OVERGROWN AS WERE THE REST
BORE ON ITS BOSOM A ROSE BUSH
THE STONE STILL STANDING

AND ETCHED UPON IT VERY DEEP
AS IF TO SHOW THE CARVER'S SORROW
WAS WRITTEN ANNIE
AND NOTHING MORE

HOW PRETTY THE BUSH
IN THIS SO DESOLATE SPOT
I WONDERED WHO HAD PLANTED IT
SOME LOVER OR A HUSBAND
HAD DUG AWAY THE DIRT
THEN STANDING
LOOKING AT IT
HAD RECALLED LAUGHTER

SOME SISTER OR A BROTHER
HAD LOOKING AT THE STONE
REMEMBERED THE BITTER THINGS
THAT CHILDREN SOMETIMES SAY

SOME CHILD
HAD LOVINGLY PATTED DOWN THE EARTH
AND GAVE IT
ITS FIRST WATERING
TEARS

SOME MOTHER
OR A FATHER
LOOKING AT IT BLOOMING
HAD CAUGHT THEMSELVES REPEATING
ANNIE ANNIE ANNIE

WHAT WAS ANNIE REALLY LIKE
I THOUGHT

IT HAD GROWN DARK
THE SUN WAS COLD
AND SLOWLY SETTING

WHAT WAS ANNIE REALLY LIKE
I THOUGHT

I PLUCKED A ROSE
FROM OFF THE BUSH
AND SLOWLY WALKED THE HILLSIDE DOWN
CRADLING IT IN MY HAND



FRANK A VOLLMER

COMMUNION OF SAINTS (1 Corinthians 12)

THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HORIZON

WHERE I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SKY

A PLACE I CANNOT REACH

NO MATTER HOW I TRY

BUT THERE IS A PLACE

WHERE MEET HEAVEN AND EARTH

THE ALTAR

THE TABLE

WHERE CHRIST COMES FOR RE-BIRTH

BRINGING WITH HIM

ALL WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE

AS IF THERE WAS IN TIME A DOOR

THROUGH WHICH CAN COME

ALL I LOVE

MY SAVIOR

AND MY HEART FRIENDS

TO THIS PLACE

TO THIS TRYSTING PLACE

WHERE LOVERS MEET

WHERE FOR A MOMEN

TALL MY HEART PAINS ARE EASED

IN THE PRESENCE

OF ALL I LOVE

WITH ANGELS AND ARCHANGELS

GATHERED AT THE HORIZON

GATHERED IN UNION

GATHERED IN COMMUNION

WE ALL SING IN JOY

IN LOVE

IN CONSOLATION

HOLY HOLY HOLY

FRANK A VOLLMER

HMNNN

Marriage is love. ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN IT PROBABLY RATES A ONE THIRTEEN IF IT'S ON THE LIST AT ALL IN A WORLD WHERE CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND SLEEP IN CARDBOARD BOXES WHERE SOLDIERS ARE SENT TO FIGHT FOR OIL AND THE LINE BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR IS STEADILY WIDENING SOMEHOW WHICH ORIFICE IS USED IN SEXUAL LOVE DIMINISHES TO NON IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY WHEN HETEROSEXUALS SOMETIMES USE THEM THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT HOMOSEXUALITY MIGHT BE GENETIC ARE WE NOT IN DANGER OF CONDEMNING GALILEO OR DARWIN AGAIN I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A HERMAPHRODITE WHOM MAY THAT PERSON LOVE DID GOD MAKE A MISTAKE TO MAKE HIM/HER ONE WAY AND THEN TELL HIM/HER TO LIVE ANOTHER IS GOD LIKE A LITTLE BOY WHO TEARS WINGS OFF FLIES TO SEE IF THEY FLY IN CIRCLES IS THE FRUIT OF FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF THE GOD EXPERIENCE A CONDEMNING GOD WHO CALLS HIMSELF LOVE GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON TO CREATE THAT IMAGE RATHER WE WHO WOULD BE GOD-LIKE HAVE DONE SO WE HAVE EATEN OF THE TREE AND FOUND EVERYONE BUT OURSELVES NAKED FATHER OF THE POOR THE WIDOW AND THE ORPHAN THE MESSAGE IS GIVEN TO US TO CARE NOT TO CONDEMN FRANK A VOLMER

Lazarus

WHEN JESUS CAME TO BETHANY
TO THE TOMB
OF HIS FRIEND
LAZARUS
HE CRIED

NO PLATITUDES
NO EASY SAYING
OF HIS BEING IN A BETTER PLACE
NO REMINDERS OF ETERNAL LIFE

HE CRIED
AS ONLY ONE WHO LOVED
AS DEEPLY AS HE LOVED
COULD CRY

HE CRIED

HE FELT THE DEEP
AND EVER WIDENING CHASM
OF SEPARATION

HE FELT THAT THE SOUL OF HIS FRIEND
WAS LIKE A SHIP LEAVING THE SHORE
SENDING BACK RIPPLES OF REMEMBRANCE
SENDING BACK ECHOES OF OLD CONVERSATIONS
SENDING THEM BACK WITH NO WAY TO ANSWER

PEACE WOULD COME LATER

BUT FOR THE INSTANT
THERE WAS PAIN
TEARS
THE GREAT UNKNOWING
AND TO NEED TO WEEP

BUT IN THE DESOLATION
OF THE MOMENT
HEARTFELT WITH LONELINESS
HE CRIED OUT
LAZARUS COME OUT

AND LAZARUS
CAME OUT
LIKE A SACK RACE RUNNER

AND JESUS
EYES SPARKLING
THOUGHT
LIKE ONE FRIEND
JOSHING ANOTHER

HOP TO IT


FRANK A VOLLMER

The Bridge

THE LEGEND GOES
THERE WAS A TOWN
WITH A BRIDGE
OVER A RIVER
DOWN WHICH
CHILDREN WERE FLOATED
ON A RAFT

THE GOOD CITIZENS WORRIED
THAT A CHILD
WOULD FLOAT BY IN THE NIGHT
AND BE LOST
SO THEY HIRED WATCHMEN
AND HUNG A NET FROM THE BRIDGE
TO CATCH THE RAFTS

THEY WERE DILIGENT
IN SAVING CHILDREN
SOMETIMES MANY
SOMETIMES FEW
FAIR WEATHER OR FOUL
THE WATCHMEN WATCHED

THEN ONE DAY
SOMEONE SAID
WHY ARE THESE CHILDREN
COMING DOWN THE RIVER
WHO WOULD ABANDON A CHILD
IN SUCH A WAY

THEN SOMEONE SAID
LET US GO UPRIVER
FIND OUT WHY
AND TRY TO STOP IT

I WONDER
BECAUSE WE ARE A SINFUL PEOPLE
WE ARE MORE INCLINED
TO EASE THE EFFECTS OF SIN
RATHER THAN THE CAUSE

AS IF OUR SINFULNESS
WEAKENS OUR RESOLVE
AS IF GOD
DOESN'T WANT A SAINTLY PEOPLE
TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD
WHAT HE WANTS IT TO BE

WE ARE TASKED
TO BE THE WATCHERS
ON THE BRIDGE

WE ARE ALSO TASKED
TO ASK WHY WE ARE NEEDED
AND TO PUT OURSELVES
OUT OF A JOB


FRANK A VOLLMER

LOWEST OF THE LOW

THE FIRST WORDS OF JESUS TO PETER

WERE

COME

BE MY DISCIPLE

HIS LAST WORDS TO PETER

WERE

FOLLOW ME

EVERY STEP OF HIS LIFE

BETWEEN THESE TWO CHALLENGES

PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW

EVEN THOUGH

AS WE KNOW FROM OUR BIBLE STUDY

HE OFTEN STUMBLED

THE OTHER TWO

JAMES AND JOHN

SEEM TO HAVE JOINED UP

FOR THE WRONG REASONS

THEY SEEMED BE AFFLICTED

WITH SIBLING RIVALRY

JESUS NICK NAMED THEM

SONS OF THUNDER

THEY HAD A BAD TEMPER WHEN CROSSED

BOTH WANTED TO BE IN IMPORTANT PLACES

IN JESUS’ POLITICAL KINGDOM

WHAT DID JESUS SEE IN THEM

WHAT DOES JESUS SEE IN US

IT WAS LESSON TIME FOR THE APOSTLES

AND THROUGH THEM

US

IT WAS TIME FOR AN OBSEQUIOUS DRILL

CALLING A CHILD

WHO WAS LOWER THAN A WOMAN

HIS FATHER’S PROPERTY

WITH NO RIGHTS

A WOMAN’S RESPONSIBILITY

TILL HE WAS OLD ENOUGH TO WORK

CALLING A CHILD

POSSIBLY SOME SNOT NOSED STREET URCHIN

CALLING A CHILD

WHO WAS LOWER THAN A SLAVE

HE SAID

UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING

TO BE A SERVANT OF THIS CHILD

YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF ME

UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING

TO BE FRIEND

TO THE LOWEST OF THE LOW

YOU SHALL HAVE NO PART OF ME

PETER JAMES AND JOHN

WHO HAD WITNESSED

THE MIRACLE ON TABOR MOUNTAIN

AND WERE FEELING FULL OF THEMSELVES

TO CARE FOR A CHILD WAS WOMAN’S WORK

WHY WAS JESUS

ALWAYS TURNING THE WORLD THEY KNEW

UPSIDE DOWN

THEY DIDN’T GET IT RIGHT AWAY

NOT TOO MUCH LATER

WHEN THE APOSTLES

WERE CHASING CHILDREN FROM HIM

HE SAID

LET THE CHILDREN COME

I AM NOT TOO BUSY

OR TOO IMPORTANT FOR THEM

SERVANT TO THE SERVANTS OF GOD

WE WOULD DO WELL

TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANCE

FRANK A VOLLMER

Towels

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TOWELS
THE SUBJECT IS SURE TO MAKE MEN HOWLS
YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO TO THE JOHN
WHAT YOU HAPPEN UPON
ARE TOWELS ARTFULLY ARRANGED
AND THAT’S THE CAUSE OF SOMETHING STRANGE
AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW
THEY’RE ONLY FOR SHOW
TO USE ONE SHOWS YOU’RE SOCIALLY INEPT
DRYING MY HANDS ON MY PANTS I’M SOCIALLY ADEPT
IT’S TIME FOR MEN TO STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS
LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT UP, NEVER TURN OUT LIGHTS
CLUTTER THE PLACE WITH NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS
AS LONG AS IT’S CLEAN WHO CARES HOW IT LOOKS
I REALIZE I’M UNDER A CLOUD
I’M MALE NO OPINIONS ALLOWED
OH FOR THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH
WHEN I’D DRY MYSELF WITH A T-SHIRT FOR SOOTH

Proudly submitted frank a VOLLMER

Shitty Shepherds

SHITTY SHEPHERDS
SHEPHERDING
CLEAN SHEEP

SO SAYS THE NOBLE POET
CHAUCER

HOW APT AN IMAGE

A ROLE PLAYED WELL
BY PRIESTS
MINISTERS
RABBIS
POLITICIANS
RULERS

ALL CLOTHED
IN SUNDAY FINERY
WITH THE BEST MANNERS

UNWORTHY SHEPHERDS
OF INNOCENT FLOCKS

TO QUESTION THEM
IS TO QUESTION
THEIR GOD LIKE STANCE
UNHOLY TO DO SO

BUT LATELY
THE SMELL OF THE SHEPHERDS
HAS BECOME TOO GREAT

THEY’VE MADE FRIENDS
WITH THE WOLVES
AND NO LONGER CARE FOR THE SHEEP

AND THE SHEEP
NO LONGER
LISTEN TO THE SHEPHERDS
AND THEIR CALL
TO FOLLOW

FRANK A VOLLMER

Eye of a Needle

A TRADITIONAL WAY OF PREACHING
ON THE CAMEL
AND
EYE OF A NEEDLE STORY
IS TO SAY
THERE WAS A GATE
IN JERUSALEM’S WALLS
LOW AND NARROW

A CAMEL COULD PASS THROUGH
IF HIS BURDEN WAS REMOVED
AND HE ENTERED ON HIS KNEES

A GOOD TEACHING STORY
BUT IT MAY NOT BE TRUE
THE EXPLANATION
IS NOT TRACED
BEYOND THE NINTH CENTURY

THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN
THE SAYING WAS COMMON
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
A SAYING OF IMPOSSIBILITY

IN BAGHDAD
THE CAMEL
WAS REPLACED BY A ELEPHANT

IT’S POSSIBLE
THE WORD IS MISTRANSLATED
AND MEANS CABLE
HAWSER
LARGE ROPE

HOWEVER IT IS TRANSLATED
IT DENOTES IMPOSSIBILITY
AND YET THE BIBLE SAYS
JESUS
LOVED THE RICH YOUNG MAN
WHO ASKED THE QUESTION

SO BEING RICH
WASN’T WRONG
BUT WHAT HE DID WITH IT
HOW TIGHTLY
HE GRASPED
WHAT HE HAD
AND WOULDN’T SHARE

WE SAY TO THE WORLD
GOD LOVES YOU
HE HAS GIVEN YOU HIS SON
HE HAS GIVEN YOU REDEMPTION
HE HAS GIVEN YOU ALL OF CREATION
TO SHARE

THE HUNGRY IN DARFUR SAY
WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLAN

THE POOR IN
BRAZIL’S CLUTTERED SLUMS
SAY
WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS

THE VICTIM’S OF RELIGIOUS
AND RACIAL HATRED
SAY
WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS

THE SICK OF THE WORLD
UNABLE
TO PAY FOR MEDICINE
SAY
WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS

I’M SINGING AN OLD SONG
BUT THE MELODY
LINGERS IN MY EAR
LIKE AN EARWORM
ALWAYS IN MY EAR

I BELIEVE
IN GOD
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THAT BELIEF
NOTHING MAKES SENSE
AND WE ARE NOTHING
BUT A BUNCH OF ATOMS
SPINNING AROUND THE SUN

I BELIEVE
THAT GOD
WITH MAN’S WORKS
CAN REDEEM CREATION
AND CHANGE THE SAYING
TO
WE NEED A SMALLER NEEDLE
THE CAMEL KEEPS FALLING THROUGH


FRANK A VOLLMER

Sketcher

SKETCHER

A FEW LINES ON A PAD OF PAPER

AND CREATION HAPPENS

LIKE LAZARUS COMING TO LIFE

NOT A PICTURE

BUT THE ESSENCE

THE TRUE NATURE

OF WHAT IS PORTRAYED

THE HEART SEES

THE FINGERS DRAWN THE LINES

WHAT IS LEFT OUT

IS AS IMPORTANT

AS THAT SHOWN

AND BOTH ARE LIKE A DREAM

THAT ONE REMEMBERS

AND TRIES TO PUT DOWN

FRANK A VOLLMER

Death in an Amish Schoolhouse

DEATH IN AN AMISH SCHOOLHOUSE

A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR

RECENTLY RELEASED FROM CAMP

CAME ACROSS A THRONG

WAILING DOWN THE ROAD

HE INQUIRED

WHAT HAPPENED

WHAT CAUSED SUCH SORROW

HE WAS TOLD THAT A MAN HAD DIED

AND HE

WHO HAD WITNESSED

THOUSAND OF DEATHS

COULD NOT COMPREHEND

AND STARTED TO LAUGH

SO MUCH TURMOIL OVER ONE DEATH

WHERE WAS THE OUTCRY

WHEN SO MANY DIED

THE AMISH

WHO FOLLOW A BIBLICAL DICTUM

OF BEING IN THE WORLD

BUT NOT OF IT

SAY IN THEIR GENTLENESS

WE FORGIVE THE MURDERER

AS WELL WE SHOULD

AS WELL WE MUST

FORGIVE BUT NOT FORGET

WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS TERRIBLE PLACE

WHERE INNOCENT LAMBS ARE LED TO SLAUGHTER

HAVE WE GROWN IMMUNE TO DEATH

HAS THE ENEMY FINALLY WON

WE KILL CHRISTIANS

JEWS

MUSLIMS

HINDUS

BUDDHISTS

GAYS

OTHER RACES

OFTEN IN A NAME OF A GOD

BUT THE CHILDREN

SAFELY IN THEIR FATHER'S BOSOM

ACCEPTED AS THEY ARE

AS THEY NEVER WERE

SAY

MOURN OUR DEATH

AND BE NOT PART OF THE KILLING MACHINE

THAT HAS CAUSED SO MUCH PAIN

AND INSPIRED SO MANY KILLERS

MOURN OUR DEATH

AND FORGIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

AS YOU YOURSELFWOULD WANT TO BE FORGIVEN

AND BY SO DOING

THROW YOURSELF

INTO THE SPOKES OF THE MACHINE

AND STOP IT

FRANK A VOLLMER

The Tolling of the Boats

THE TOLLING OF THE BOATS

LIKE A BELL BUOY
RINGING IN THE NIGHT
BONG BONG
BONG BONG
BONG BONG
THIS WAY
THIS WAY
THIS WAY
AT PEACE
AT PEACE
AT PEACE
AND THE SWIRLING FOG
LEFT TEARS OF REMEMBRANCE
ON THEIR FACES
THE OLD ONES
THE REMEMBERERS

I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE A GUEST
AT A SUBMARINERS
GRADUATION CEREMONY

THEY LOOKED LIKE CHILDREN
WERE WE EVER THAT YOUNG

BUT ALL GREW SOLEMN
AT THE TOLLING OF THE BOATS
SUBMARINES LOST AT SEA
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SERVICE

THE BOAT’S NAME WAS CALLED
THE BELL WAS TOLLED
THE DATE AND NUMBER OF DEAD FOLLOWED
A GROWING SENSE OF QUIET
FILLED THE ROOM

SHIPMATES GONE
MEMORIES OF YOUTH
AND GOOD TIMES
AND THE BELL TOLLING
FAREWELL
FAREWELL
FAREWELL

FRANK A VOLLMER