Gert Strydom, 18 november 2013
(in answer to Richard Aldington)
The hurt, the loss of my father at a very early age
brought me to my knees and to God
and I started to love God from being very young,
did not understand to where my dad had left,
although I saw people bury his coffin
in the cemetery just beyond our house
and death of people and animals
to me was a painful kind of thing
that went far beyond any kind of comprehension
but I did believe that God was still caring
although I missed my father terribly,
believed with the same honest sincerity
that my mother did when she asked God
to provide, to take care of us
and she cared with a selfless kind of love.
When I was about seven our puppy got tick-bite fever
and on that winter afternoon it laid dying
right next to the fireplace
and made a moaning sound and was silent.
I covered it with a small blanket
and the puppy was already stiff
but I did not realize that it had died
and in front of that fireplace prayed
for the little dog to be healed.
That afternoon a miracle did happen
and that small dog came alive again,
crept out from under the blanket
and on waggling legs walked right up to me
to drink a bowl of milk
and it was pure proof to me
that a caring and loving God does exist.
[Reference: “Childhood” by Richard Aldington.]
Gert Strydom, 18 november 2013
I have seen men
believing in avenging gods,
believing in weapons of war
and have experienced
the havoc that war does bring
and do know that nothing that is good
comes from fighting
and only death and destruction
is the final outcome of it.
I have seen men
believing in materialism,
that peace joy and love comes
from what you do possess
and in a hospital bed
I have seen a wealthy man
in desperation trying to end what life is
for whom life had cost far too much.
I have seen learned religious men
proclaim that Jesus Christ was only one of the gods,
I have seen learned religious men
proclaim that Jesus Christ did not rise from death,
I have seen learned religious men
proclaim that Jesus Christ was only a good man
and then they lecture at university seminaries
and call themselves Christians
and it’s clear that they do wait
for the Cosmic Christ to appear.
And still I do know that God does really exist
and I do believe in Him,
believe that Jesus Christ will return
to this catastrophic world
as its judge, redeemer and king.
Satish Verma, 18 november 2013
With gray wolves around,
he put the gun on the chin
and pulled the trigger.
The crowded nest and tainted gemones:
the double helix had the sex crumbling:
consensual hate.
Some beasts and hairy saints
were turning the world black,
sitting on marbled floor and talking of white moon.
Drifting faith in swollen eyes, watching
a burning train;
tomorrow I will travel again in pursuit of walking trees.
Proud legends like scorpions
climbing on your throat. Enamelled stings
ready to spin you blue.
Clams shut on the poor pink,
honeycomb becomes a trap.
Satish Verma
Bob Gotti, 17 november 2013
Friend, when I die, I won’t be dead, for I will be in Heaven instead,
Not because of flowery prayers, but, because of Him, who cares,
Christ, who cares for everyone, God’s Only Eternal Begotten Son,
Who died for me as a sacrifice, so that I could enter into Paradise.
It was Christ, who had rose again, displaying His power to all men,
This, my friend is the only power, which transforms us in that hour,
That moment we take a final breath, we will enter into life not death,
Eternal Life with Christ my friend, the perfect life which has no end.
It’s not the power of men on earth, but the power of a spiritual birth,
For it’s the power of resurrection, not mortal man’s prayer selection,
Not through prayer or man’s desire, but only by power much higher,
Only by the power of Jesus Christ, can a man enter into Eternal Life.
It begins when one is Born Again, not from prayers of religious men,
It starts when you are on the earth, when you experience a New Birth,
Born anew by The Spirit of God, as you are alive on this earthly sod,
It is not through a religious ritual, but, God’s Grace that saves a soul.
I’ve been saved by God’s Grace, Who, for me has prepared a Place,
This, for that day, if I should die, to reign and live with Christ on high;
The Rapture too, I could also see, should that Trumpet sound for me,
As I will leave this earth before I die, to meet my Savior up in the sky.
(Copyright ©11/2013 Bob Gotti)
Bob Gotti, 17 november 2013
We cannot read between each line, for the power of God is divine,
When God enters another heart, from guessing we need to depart,
Every new believer, needs to grow, for the Truths of God to show,
And as the new believer grows; Truths to those about them shows.
It is The Spirit, not any of us, Who draws each one to Christ Jesus,
And as His Spirit begins to reside, God’s changes will begin inside,
The heart of the new believer too, just like God did for me and you,
So as The Spirit moves their heart, changing Truths they will impart.
It’s God’s Spirit, Who will begin, sharing the changing Truths within,
As each believer shares the Truth, in being the Lord’s saving proof,
Of a believer’s spiritual change, sharing The Truth in Christ’s Name,
The truth of just how and when, they, by God, became Born Again.
Encouraged by The Spirit of Christ, they will grow in their New Life,
As The Savior’s New Creation, through the Power of His Salvation,
The very power that they received, when God’s Truth they believed,
As they came to that saving faith, all by the power of God’s Grace.
That Grace that’ll help them grow, in the Truths they come to know,
Again, as one more blessed soul, allows The Spirit to take control,
Producing evidence in their life, of changes made by Jesus Christ,
As Christ alone, receives the glory, for yet another Salvation Story.
(Copyright ©04/2012 Bob Gotti)
Bob Gotti, 17 november 2013
Whatever, my way, this life brings, I am safely under His Wings,
Under the wings of my Lord, by Whom, my life is never ignored,
Safely under His wings of Love, as He protects me from above,
Through this life I can be sure, in my Lord, I am safe and secure.
Within my Lord’s Everlasting Arms, I am safe from undue harms,
Though I may run into tribulation, He is The God of my Salvation,
Knowing I’m free from the curse, life without Him was truly worse,
Truly alone in the darkness of sin, without Grace, granted by Him.
As a dark storm pours upon me, I know The Lord God of Eternity,
By The One, in Whom I’m saved, in His palm, I’ve been engraved,
Engraved forever; there to stay, as He watches me night and day,
Being never far from God’s sight, as He guides me day and night.
The One, Who knit me in the womb, is there should troubles loom,
For all of my troubles, He is aware, as I am continually in His care,
I am always in the eyes of The Lord, this by God I’m fully assured,
With me from the beginning to end; He’s my Lord, God and friend.
Under The Wings of loving care, of The Lord, Who is always there,
Every new day, to see me through, all of the things God foreknew,
Also, my Lord knows all that’s ahead, so I haven’t a need to dread,
Any new trials or tribulation, but, just trust the Lord of my Salvation.
(Copyright ©04/2012 Bob Gotti)
Bob Gotti, 17 november 2013
When by God a soul is forgiven, the Spirit of Christ you are given,
The Holy Spirit marks a life, forgiven by God through Jesus Christ,
Friend when we come to Calvary, Christ changes both you and me,
Making a soul into a New Creation, through His Power of Salvation.
That soul with God, in one accord, as they come to Christ as Lord,
Now forgiven of their sinful past, they receive new life that will last,
A new life beginning at the cross, when cleansed of all sin’s dross,
Then looking to the Resurrection, Christ gives us His new direction.
A new direction while on the earth, when we experience a new birth,
When born through The Spirit above, born of God, in Christ’s love,
His love, that forgives all our sin, changing each heart deep within,
Creating forgiveness in each heart, that God, to others, can impart.
When by The Lord we are forgiven, by Christ’s Spirit we are driven,
To forgive others, just like Christ, this for us, is not a big sacrifice,
Considering all that God has done, for men, through His Only Son,
His love can flow from each of us, as we forgive, like Christ Jesus.
Any forgiveness that from us is shown, is not from us, on our own,
But, through the Spirit of Christ, who, manifests for God a new life,
A new life for the Glory of God, to touch hearts on this earthly sod,
With the forgiving spirit of Calvary, that leads souls to life eternally.
(Copyright ©04/2012 Bob Gotti)
Bob Gotti, 17 november 2013
Something bigger God is doing, when trials in a life are brewing,
Even as darkness may overwhelm, a life, with Christ at the helm,
It may be an illness or a trial, but, He’s at work, there’s no denial,
Touching souls, through all of us, those who follow Christ Jesus.
My life belongs to God down here, in Him I have no need to fear,
For my life here, is a walk of faith, led by Christ’s love and grace,
And God has a much larger plan, desiring the heart of every man,
So God may use my tribulation, to reach a soul with His Salvation.
Christ said tribulation would come, but He Himself, has overcome,
And not only for this earthly time, but, life to come that is sublime,
That time ahead, is sure to come, for all purchased by God’s Son,
Those who met Christ at Calvary, will overcome, with Him eternally.
Trial and tribulation is not my end, as I travel around a darker bend,
On this path God gives me peace, that in dark times doesn’t cease,
The end of all down here for me, begins my life with God in eternity,
The moment I step into Eternal Life, to live forever with Jesus Christ.
Soon all my trials will pass away, as I enter eternity with Him to stay,
When I step through that final door, I will be with Christ forevermore,
With all former things well behind, with a pure eternal peace of mind,
Where these times I will not miss, as I’m surrounded by eternal bliss.
(Copyright ©04/2012 Bob Gotti)
Satish Verma, 17 november 2013
Sitting at the edge of a bubble
uncooled, trying to light an eternal flame of anonymity;
counter the wrangler, one skull in each hand,
of ancestors, you prepare for the crime of breaking
the umbilical cord.
Ostracized, you forge the ariel in arid zone,
burned, one patch on the eye, rubber thighs,
sniped at, lay still in a pool of blood,
in cauldron of terror, the brilliance of sun cracks
the marble statues.
Avarice of black boots mirrors the borewell;
washes out the color of smiles on blue lips.
Fireflies sink in darkness of punishment.
Satish Verma
Satish Verma, 16 november 2013
gradients
vivid, humbling
I was collecting a bit of myself
reading anatomy
of animality
spawning the hidden eggs
flecks of echos scarring:
reconnecting to starry night
I could not hold my enrged otherself
and the homely smell of gunshots
orchestrated to send a message of
mayhem – for optic illusion
the reptiles have broken
the law for an oceanic boat
collecting the golden fish
on the burning ghats, streetscape
full of falling leaves and
bloody wings of black crows
Satish Verma
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