I Don't Believe in God

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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