Machine

Image: Pixabay

Assembly begins the day Lucifer
is fired from the Father’s project.
Since then everything on earth has been sacrificed
to construct this apparatus.

Millennia of patient assembly
leads to today’s precise Pharisaic gears
meshing Roman justice with Judas cog
to draw Son into Evil’s engine.

He is denied even a simple wheel
to drag the cross, while Roman soldiers work
elbow fulcrums and hammer-wielding arms,
pulleys and ropes to hoist Him high.

See how His naive followers
keep glancing up as if even now
some heavenly windlass will appear
to free Him from the cross?

Until His final “It is finished!”
screamed into the dark
means the switch can be flicked,
for this device’s work is done.

But wait—what is the meaning
of this gaping earth, unearthly praises
of wraiths walking Jerusalem streets
the temple veil, ripping from top to bottom?

Hell’s alarm bells ring as the belt
flings from the still-spinning flywheel
and careens crazy, powerful
out of all control toward heaven.

© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Prompt – Inspiration
This poem was based on Robert Brewer’s Poetic Asides prompt for April 3, 2015: “Write a machine poem.”

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This April I’m celebrating National Poetry Month by posting some not-as-yet published poems from my files, along with what inspired them. If the prompt inspires you to write a poem of your own, you’re welcome to share it in comments. Whether you write or not, thanks so much for dropping by!

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Lucifer at Calvary

Image: Pixabay

From the opening
whistle in the garden
it’s been an even match
though He boastfully predicted I’d be left
with a crushed head.

I’ve played my hand well
countered Abraham with Lot
Isaac with Ishmael
the Israelites with the Egyptians
David with Absalom.
My several setbacks?
Blame them on bad luck.

The last 33 years
have been a demonic joystick
of chess moves
the last three a dervish spinner
that landed Him today on Calvary.
The contest has been so even,
the outcome so unsure
His confusing words just now:
“It is finished.”
have me considering
my next move
long and hard.

Is this a loaded dice?
He tempting me to skip my turn?
Or He announcing a new level
or even giving up?

But see how dark this portal is
and how the game board shakes?
I think my luck has turned
my ascendancy begun.
I believe this game is over
and I have won!

© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Prompt – Inspiration
Inspired by the Poetic Asides blog on November 1, 2014, where the prompt was: “Write a game-over poem.” (Note to myself, filed with this poem: “This poem needs an Easter Sunday answer.”)

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This April I’m celebrating National Poetry Month by posting some not-as-yet published poems from my files, along with what inspired them. If the prompt inspires you to write a poem of your own, you’re welcome to share it in comments. Whether you write or not, thanks so much for dropping by!

Save

 

Cup

Image: Pixabay

I am thinking today of a cup
mug, glass, tumbler
goblet, teacup, sippy cup
tulip or barrel-shaped
angled or rounded
plastic, glass, china
silver or stainless steel.

I am thinking today of a cup
of water, milk or juice
drunk to slake thirst, add nourishment
coffee or tea to add a burst
of energy and well-being
beer, stout, nog or wine
to “gladden the heart.”

I am thinking today of a cup
a lot in life, a portion, a destiny:
“O Lord, you are … my cup.”
“My cup runneth over.”
“‘Father, if it is Your will
take this cup from me.”
“‘Shall I not drink the cup
which My Father has given Me?’”

I am thinking today of a cup
a pewter chalice, common mug
or plastic throwaway thimble
of grape juice or wine
and of memories:
“Jesus took the cup…’Drink from it
for this is My blood which is shed
for the remission of sins.’”
and choices:
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and the cup of demons.”

I am thinking today of a goal
a prize, a winner’s cup
that I have pressed toward
to be awarded at the end of life’s race
handed out at the judgment seat.
Will there be one for me?
Could winning it include
answering “yes” to Jesus’ question
“‘Are you able to drink the cup
that I am about to drink?’”

© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Prompt – Inspiration
The word “cup,” which has many meanings in Scripture, was the inspiration for this poem. I chose it for today’s post because today is  Holy Thursday when we commemorate Jesus establishing Holy Communion prior to his arrest and crucifixion.

~*~*~*~*~

This April I’m celebrating National Poetry Month by posting some not-as-yet published poems from my files, along with what inspired them. If the prompt inspires you to write a poem of your own, you’re welcome to share it in comments. Whether you write or not, thanks so much for dropping by!

Save

Save

 

Play with words

Image: Pixabay

Toy with words and you play with fire
Gather memories like moss and kindling
Quartz against quartz, ideas friction and spark
Wisp of smoke is a portent

Gather memories like moss and kindling
Focus thought to a pinpoint through the lens of time
Wisp of smoke is a portent
Soon we will be warmed and fed

Focus thought through the lens of time
Harness the heat through wires and coils
Soon we will be warmed, fed
And pondering in haze of pipe’s warm glow

Harness the heat through wires and coils
Inspiration, like lightning, breaks the rules
Brood in haze of a cigarette’s glow
Tossed-away word can also spark a conflagration

Inspiration, like lightning, breaks the rules
Destruction is sometimes the corollary of illumination
Tossed-away word can also spark a conflagration
Burn a reputation like a politician in effigy

Destruction is sometimes the corollary of illumination
The smoke of a living sacrifice
Burn a reputation like a politician in effigy
The firecracker effect of one life on eternity

The smoke of a living sacrifice
Quartz against quartz, Word frictions, sparks
to reverberating bang of One Life on eternity
Toy with Word and you play with fire.

© 2017 by Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Inspiration – Prompt

If I recall right, the pantoum form (wanting to write one) was the inspiration for this poem. That and the desire and pleasure of playing with words—specifically the word word, which has rich layers of meaning in the Christian faith.

Today is Palm Sunday, the day we celebrate the Word riding into Jerusalem in kingly fashion and the expectation by the crowds that He would reveal Himself to be Israel’s Messiah. How differently that turned out. Thankfully, that was not the end of the story!

~*~*~*~*~

This April I’m celebrating National Poetry Month by posting some not-as-yet published poems from my files, along with what inspired them. If the prompt inspires you to write a poem of your own, you’re welcome to share it in comments. Whether you write or not, thanks so much for dropping by!

Save

 

Present

Margaret Simon‘s one little word PRESENT was fun to explore because of its many meanings. I think I know the meaning of “present” that is giving her inspiration, but maybe not…

In writing about it, I chose as my subject a Bible character who demonstrates what being present means to me, even as I used the word in several ways. (In case you’re not familiar with the story – you can read it HERE.) Though poetry says it slant, I hope you can pick up why I think it’s a powerful word to focus on for a year.

Martha and Mary of Bethany, with Jesus (Artist unknown)

Mary’s rapt attention
is her present to Jesus.
Though kitchen’s clatter
bang, scrape and pour
together with multi-tasking Martha’s
deep and pointed sighs
make the present tense
Mary chooses to stay
present, focused, listening
to Jesus present life—
unwrap past, present
and future.

© 2016 by Violet Nesdoly (All Rights Reserved)

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Join us each week fpr Spiritual Journey Thursday

This post is linked to Spiritual Journey Thursday, hosted by Holly Mueller at her blog Reading, Teaching, Learning.

 

Evil’s party (guest list)

Evil’s Party (guest list)

(after Mark 15)

Sir Accusation
Miss Envy
Madame Bloodthirst (she usually brings a crowd)
Count Rebellion & his brother Murderer
Governor People-Pleaser
The triplets Mockery, Teasing & Making Sport
Mr. Violence & sons Hitting
Spitting, Scourging and Crucifying
Misses Gambling & Greed
Sir Sarcasm & Lady Reviling
Lord Blasphemy
Queen Death
Prince of Darkness

© 2014 – Violet Nesdoly (All rights reserved)

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Those who are of the Christian faith remember Jesus’ death on the cross today–the day we call Good Friday. I wrote this poem some years ago after reading the account of Jesus’ passion from Mark 15.

It is linked to Poetry Friday–hosted today by haiku queen herself, Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge.