Souls 1-21-15

I watch a dozen leaves or so

out circling on the drive -

reminding me of people who

no longer are alive.

To be content, they'll money earn.

They'll dress the part and bow -

because they are unsatisfied

of where they are right now.

Though deep into the winter,

they seem, in breeze, so dizzy.

Swirling 'round in circles cold,

they all seem very busy.

They don't take time for other folks

or problems they might bear.

They cannot empathize with them.

They rarely ever care.

So here outside my humble room,

outside my window sill,

I see them blowing 'round and 'round

with great deceptive skill.

They idolize their happiness

and idolize each need.

They idolize each fantasy

and idolize their greed.

So colorful before they fell,

now brown and curled and dry,

they aren't yet buried 'neath the snow -

and only God knows why.

Although their minds are thinking,

although their bodies fed,

although their hearts are beating -

their souls?  Completely dead.

I watch a dozen leaves or so

out circling on the drive -

reminding me of people who

no longer are alive.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Slips Away 1-20-15

The pain, immense for quite awhile,

but it is worth that precious smile.

The nurses measure and they weigh.

But soon our mother slips away.

We choose our friends and choose our spouse,

we choose location and our house.

And while the children romp and play

a friend or fam'ly slips away.

The love of money's in our blood

as if it's some fantastic drug.

While some are hunters, some are prey,

another dollar slips away.

We stack more food upon our shelves.

Ignore all others, help ourselves.

From off the narrow road we stray,

another homeless slips away.

The rider smiles and so approves

downtrodden trails beneath the hooves

of horse that stopped to eat some hay.

Another stranger slips away.

The sky awash in brilliant hue

that we have grown accustomed to.

It pauses not to hasten day.

Another twilight slips away.

Of what importance is the goal?

It's only God who's in control.

For while the old man bows to pray,

another friendless slips away.

We think we have life figured out.

We give opinions, argue, shout -

but step back from that vast array

when all we held just slips away.

Yes,

they'll stand around my casket and

they'll talk about the 'Promised Land'.

But what will matter on that day

when my opinions slip away?

When dirt is piled on casket lid,

they'll lie about the good I did.

But God is Truth.  He'll have His say

when my own soul... slips away.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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A Purpose 1-15-15

What eye would have a purpose -

if rainbows had no hue,

if sunsets had no colors,

if skies were void of blue?

What ear would have a purpose -

if lips, inaudible,

if harmony was absent sound,

if nature, all, was still?

What nose would have a purpose -

if flowers had no scent,

if perfumes had no fragrance,

if spring was no event?

What tongue would have a purpose -

if salt had ne'er a taste,

if thoughts were but a vapor,

if words just went to waste?

What mind would have a purpose -

if argumentative,

if self-absorbed in ignorance,

if truth was 'relative'?

What heart would have a purpose -

if love, it could not feel,

if it was hard as granite stone,

if it could never heal?

What life would have a purpose -

without salvation's tree,

without the birth of Jesus Christ,

without the Trinity?

What soul would have a purpose -

if grace had not been free,

if faithfulness had not been lived,

if saved, we couldn't be?

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Poet Friends 1-7-15

They write soft words with loyal pens

about God's love that far transcends

our drear, dark worlds of futile ends.

So thankful I, for poet friends.

Though Bibles have at times been banned,

we've come to search and understand

that narrow pathway God has planned

which leads us to the Promised Land.

For each of us who are forgiv'n

and faithfully are ever liv'n,

a unique journey God has giv'n

from home on earth to home in Heav'n.

It's true, so let each poem gird

creation's rainbow, rose and bird

and other things that run in herd

with Heaven's rhyme, with Heaven's word.

Away from earth's distracting din,

in Heav'n we'll read these words again,

so write some poems.  Now begin.

Make readers smile with widest grin.

Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we smile,

sometimes the words, we can't compile -

and though we cry through earthly trial -

our God shines through.  It's all worthwhile.

From earthquake to the mourning dove,

God's great creation speaks thereof,

so I give thanks to God above

for poet friends and poets' love.

Thank you!

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Coexist? 1-3-15

Took root, a little baby vine

had grown from tiny seed -

but it was insignificant,

so meaningless indeed.

It drew all our attention to

its cute, industrious scene -

and it seemed very harmless here

in suited leaves of green.

It hugged a tree so gracefully.

We thought we understood.

We thought it just a compromise.

We thought it all so good.

But was it we were taken in

to 'ends' we thought would be -

through 'means' by which it made its mark

upon one healthy tree?

That tree had given all it could.

"I welcomed you," it said.

Yet that one vine continued up,

consuming tree... 'til dead.

Because of its misfortune here,

our hill became abuzz.

Persuasive and invasive and

persistent that vine was.

But care?  Oh, no.  Us bothered?  Not!

For we could never fall.

We each had thought us healthier

and stronger than them all.

Well, one by one our trees did fall.

The vines grew larger still.

They grew the way they wanted to

while thieving our good will.

I should have stopped that little vine

that squeezed a bit too tight.

It's hug was a deceptive one

that never seemed quite right.

We all had thought that we were safe,

but we were taken in.

Our hill of trees was killed off by

just one deceptive sin.

No, sometimes we can't "coexist"

when others want their say,

when others prove gross disrespect,

when they demand their way.

From cults to sick be-headings and

abortions, right-to-die,

have we forgotten, God is Love?

The rest is all a lie!

We cannot coexist with sin.

God's truth and light we need.

If Jesus lives within our hearts,

He kills that sinful seed.

We forest trees majestically

had stood atop that hill.

If only we'd been prudent and

been faithful to His will...

One Nation under God we were -

but we had thought it fine,

so we allowed a monster here

through cute and tiny vine.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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Matthew 7:15 (KJV)

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves."