Wish the Fish 09 (integrity) 4-2-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---
To show respect, they all stood up.
Wish wished this day would pass.
It couldn't be!  But yes, it was!
The judge was Big Mouth Bass!

The prosecutor raised his voice,
"His reputation's filthy!
He brags, he cheats, he steals, he lies.
He's guilty, guilty, guilty!

"I'll prove beyond a shadow's doubt -
That Wish is a disgrace!
His actions have dishonored us!
I know we'll win this case."

Well, Wish the Fish was quite perplexed
at all the accusations.
He didn't want to be in court
guarding reputation.

These 'trumped up' charges couldn't be.
His character was strong!
Profusely, Wish was sweating now -
with bubbles large and long.

But something odd occurred just then.
As far as eye could see,
a line so long it wrapped the town -
parading endlessly.

And one by one they took the stand -
(character witnesses).
They told the judge just who Wish was
in lauding sentences.

They said that Wish was honest and
he never misbehaved.
They said he had integrity
and to the poor, he gave.

He turned red with embarrassment
at their kind words he heard.
And never had a court seen this.
It really was absurd.

They gave such praise at who he was
it seemed so very weird.
For such a long time this went on
that Wish had grown a beard.

Judge Big Mouth Bass thought very hard.
He fought himself inside.
Would Wish the Fish be guilty now?
Which way would he decide?

Judge Bass made his decision then.
It went something like this:
"I don't like Wish - but know him well.
All charges I dismiss."
---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate,

integrity!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)
Sunfish (introduced in story 05)
Spark the Shark (introduced in story 05)
Grandpa Koi (introduced in story 08)
Farmer Flounder (introduced in story 08)

Wish the Fish 08 (charity) 3-24-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---
Oh, Grandpa Koi liked serving folks.
He lent a helping hand
to clients, neighbors, churches -
but did they understand?

He helped because they needed him.
He helped all those he could.
He helped the poor and rich alike
because he knew he should.

For years and years he served them all -
four decades plus, in fact.
He had a real joy in it.
It was a Godly act.

Then one day something bad occurred
that took all that he had.
And that's when Koi could help no more -
so then they thought him bad.

So Grandpa Koi, now penniless,
was nowhere to be found -
but they demanded he come forth -
and stop fooling around.

They had new cars and houses too.
They had high paying jobs.
They had each gadget they could buy.
They acted just like snobs.

While they were living for themselves,
with gossiping abuzz,
the talk 'round town was Grandpa Koi
and it was all because...

...things got so bad that what they had
was rusting all away.
If Grandpa Koi was still around
they'd have some words to say!

But Koi could not afford to stay.
He moved from the grandeur
into a place with many needs -
the 'least of these', the poor.

Away from greed and selfishness,
away from beast and witch -
where friendships grew in peace and love,
that thrived despite the rich.

The Sunfish was a caring nurse.
The Trout and Koi were cooks
preparing food that Flounder grew -
while Wish wrote children's books.

Respect had crossed all racial lines
from one fish to another.
Then love and joy had filled their hearts
with smiles at each other.

The fish that Koi once lived with were
now frightened and subdued -
entangled in earth's mortal nets...
while fighting over food.

---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate,

charity!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)
Sunfish (introduced in story 05)
Spark the Shark (introduced in story 05)
Grandpa Koi (introduced in story 08)
Farmer Flounder (introduced in story 08)

Pelicans to Parasols 3-20-15

A young and pretty girl sat

with elegance and grace,

pretending to be drinking tea

in soft pink bows and lace.

Her left hand held a parasol.
Her right hand held her tea -
when gust of wind had come along
and parasol flew free.

It's light and fragile beauty soared

along with ocean breeze -

drew notice of two pelicans

above the rippled seas.

She jumped up from her plastic chair

quite shocked at what occurred.

As wind gusts blew, it skipped along.

She chased it undeterred.

The pelicans cared not a whit

to parasol she sought.

Important though, her mission was,

that parasol be caught.

Her footprints in the pure white sand

had evidenced her will,

to catch that treasured parasol

that she was chasing still.

---

I wonder - do we race through life
for something temporal -
on our lone life's long endless beach,
chasing something futile?

I wonder - have we failed to see

our true priority -

at banquet table with our God

and His thirst-quenching tea?

Temptation's winds deceive us to

our pretty parasols.

Are we so busy chasing them

we're deaf when Jesus calls?

Past pelicans to parasols,
we chase for things we strive.
But woe to those of us who are -
when death and Christ arrive.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish 07 (dignity) 3-17-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---
It came about, Wish heard a shout
from deep inside the school
right after Shark made his remark
that Big Mouth thought was cruel.

Well, Big Mouth's rants were over pants
that sagged excessively.
He didn't care his underwear
was bared for all to see.

Now Wish showed up with coffee cup
and sat down at his desk.
It was obscene the sight he'd seen
and thought it most grotesque.

He wished he could, then knew he should -
a lesson he must teach.
He thought awhile, then slyly smiled,
and gave this little speech:

My fellow students:

Now Big Mouth Bass exemplifies all here that is fallacious
in this lone, revered world we live, in which we all must share.
His iconoclastic approach to our collective wisdom in this omnipotent environment
brought him to a definitive conclusion from which he seems not much to care.

He has a parsimonious view of others which has resulted in an entrenched desire
to expose a recrementitius portion of his (uh-hum) 'person' to others
exhibiting a total disregard and total desertion of any minuscule respect he may have had
and has brought us to this point in time, my fellow sisters and  brothers.
.
His absence of etiquette - not to mention his failure to bow or tip the hat, et-cet-er-a, was as a prelude
to the selfish conclusion that he knowingly exhibits upon the rest of us - is no myth.
His abominable act warrants an immediate reward of retribution for his present expose'
and as such deserves to be exercised accordingly- now, right here, forthwith.

Wish stopped, then sat - and after that
things went along quite well
for Bass's mom and dad came by
right after classroom bell.

Of 'cultured' stuff, they'd had enough -
hence screams most inhumane.
But then, when through, he answered to
the teacher, clear and plain.

Abide, he did, when Shark forbid
him showing underwear.
Yes, Bass reflected full respect
and wore his pants with care.

His seat had burned from lesson learned.
We knew that Bass was tanned.
Though pants had fit he couldn't sit.
Poor Big Mouth had to stand.
---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate,

dignity!
(do not confuse 'dignity' with 'pride')

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)
Sunfish (introduced in story 05)
Spark the Shark (introduced in story 05)

Wish the Fish 06 (patience) 3-12-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---
Said mom to her small hungry fish,
(her son, who we all know as 'Wish'),
"I'm sure you're hungry.  That is why
I'm baking you an apple pie."

Now Wish knew moms weren't very fast.
She'd answer, "Soon." if he had asked.
He couldn't wait for pie to bake,
so he, a different route, would take.

Inside his fist, inside his hand
Wish held a lonely quarter and
he headed for the big front door,

from his own house, to candy store.

Forever, it had seemed to take.
First running, quickly, then to brake -
in front of house, where sidewalk's ends -
was end of line with all his friends.

It couldn't be!  It couldn't be!
The candy store, he couldn't see.
The store was far, the line ten blocks -
backed right up to his mail box.

Yes, quite a ways away it was,
but candy store would be abuzz
with other fish with gills (not lungs).
They'd crave for sweets upon their tongues.

Excited Wish, at any rate,
for his sweet treats, just couldn't wait.
For candy bar- or two or three,
his mouth had watered hungrily.

He dreamed of creamy cho-co-lates,
filled with car-a-mel and nuts -
and covered deep with sprinkles too -
mouth-watering to taste and chew...

But snail's pace, the line moved slow...
and - seemed - to - a - slow - mo-tion - go.
The minutes dragged in stagnant ways.
So passed the hours - and then the days...

By this time Wish's feet were draggin',
eyes drooped dark, no tail waggin'.
He lost his quarter, lost his comb,
became so tired... so crawled back home.

He said, "Please mom, I am so weak...
I haven't eaten for a week."
Wish asked for pie through hungry yawn -
but then mom said, "That pie's long gone!"
---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate,

patience!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)
Sunfish (introduced in story 05)
Spark the Shark (introduced in story 05)

Wish the Fish 05 (courage) 3-9-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

Now Big Mouth Bass, it came about,
made fun of Wish's friend, the Trout.
Sarcastically, he bullied him,
then pushed him hard, again, again.

The Trout had fallen, hurt his side.
"I did not do it." Big Mouth lied.
He threatened Wish with piercing stare,
"You will not talk.  You wouldn't dare."

Now Sunfish was a pretty thing.
She swam around and loved to sing.
The Trout was lying in the dirt
She cared for him - for he was hurt.

Wish saw it all but didn't tell
when teacher rang the school bell.
The teacher's name was Spark the Shark.
He was as strict as his own bark.

About Trout, teacher Shark had learned -
so then to Wish the teacher turned.
"Please say exactly what you saw."
That stunned poor Wish.  It dropped his jaw.

Yes, just because of what he'd seen,
he -rock and hard place- was between.
Between Big Mouth and teacher here,
poor Wish was petrified in fear.

He couldn't breathe.  He started rockin'.
Loudly, both his knees were knockin'.
Then Wish sweat fervent beads of air.
Both Shark and Bass stared at him there.

The whole class was concerned for Trout.
Shark asked again, "What's this about?
So difficult, Wish in this spot -
oh, should he lie... or should he not?

About Trout, Wish had also cared -
but now was really, really scared.
"Well?" asked teacher yet again
while Big Mouth wore his evil grin...

If Big Mouth got away with it,
could future fish he shove get hurt?
What if, by chance, a fish should die?
And how'd he feel if he did lie?

Through courage then, Wish blurted out,
"He pushed him!  Big Mouth hurt the Trout!"
Then Wish, a little bit perplexed
was startled at what happened next.

Applause broke out throughout the class
defending Wish from Big Mouth Bass!
All practiced, they, the 'golden rule'
which brought peace back throughout the school.
---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate,

courage!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)
Sunfish (introduced in story 05)
Spark the Shark (introduced in story 05)

Wish the Fish 04 (respect) 3-6-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

In Fish Hook City down below

the ocean waves and ocean's flow -

are diff'rent colored fish in schools

who made a slew of bizarre rules.

Now Wish the Fish?  Mostly greenish -

avoided colored fish of bluish,

pinkish, reddish, brownish, whitish,

blackish, (well, you get the pictureish).

So anyway, Wish grew learning

how to judge without discerning.

Although he harbored little hate,

he learned how to discriminate.

He elevated self with pride

until there was a huge divide

between the greenish tone of Wish

and other hues of other fish.

His attitude of disrespect

was obviously incorrect

but Wish, a racist, had become.

He was naive, pathetic, dumb.

Wish came across a colored 'Trout'

and said something to think about

and Wish was firm down to his soul.

He said the rules gave him control.

He said those words, not once, but twice

They were not good and were not nice.

But then he heard that fish's cry

and felt so bad, he wished he'd die.

So Wish cried off proud scales that day.

They fell like rain and that gave way

to great respect for ev'ry kind

of fish that Wish could ever find.

Wish asked forgiveness on the spot

and his reward?  New friend he got.

So that's how Trout became a friend

who trusted Wish.  And that's "The End".

---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate

respect!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Trout (introduced in story 04)

Wish the Fish 03 (contentment) 3-5-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

Wish wasn't mean and wasn't bad -

but wanted things that others' had.

So Wish the Fish was not content

but had no money.  Not one cent.

And to his mother, he would fuss.

His friend's things made him envious.

Content, he wasn't, (without toys).

He longed to be "one of the boys"

Now his best friend was 'Big Mouth Bass'

He bragged a lot and he was crass.

And Wish the Fish was very sad

when he saw what his best friend had.

So then Wish asked of his best friend,

"Could you, to me, some money lend?"

How Wish's eyes got larger when

his friend pulled out a big green 'ten'.

But after getting his new game,

our Wish the Fish was not the same.

He told his mom it was routine

to stare at a computer screen.

Mom said one day, "Go pay it back

or I'll unplug the power pack."

But after working many times,

Wish only made a mere two dimes.

"Nine dollars, eighty cents to go."

Wish learned a lesson most don't know -
that money, on trees, doesn't grow.

It's wrong to borrow lots of dough.

Our 'wants' will always make demand.

Wish learned that very lesson and

confessed he did, then repented,

paid it back, became contented.

---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate

contentment!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)
Big Mouth Bass (introduced in story 03)

Wish the Fish 02 (chores) 2-27-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

One day mom said, "Now do your chores.

I've done all mine.  Now you do yours.

Go make your bed, then get your broom

and sweep the seashells from your room."

Well, this made Wish the Fish quite sad.

He wondered if his friends all had.

And then he thought, "Hmm, could I take

a little swim, a little break?"

So careful not to stir the sand,

Wish swam right out his window and

off to his friend's, he took a look,

then saw a juicy worm on hook...

It dangled down in front of him.

It seemed so small and awfully slim.

But Wish was hungry.  He would eat

and took a bite which was so sweet...

But oh, the yank that pulled him out!

The hook had hurt!  Wish tried to shout.

"What happened here?" himself, he asked.

It all had happened very fast.

Wish flopped around there on the sand

before he knew what happened and

his gills were hurting from the air.

Wish flopped some more.  Did no one care?

And there he lay to his dismay.

Wish wished he hadn't swam away.

Oh, how he wished he had obeyed -

so on the sand, at last, he prayed...

Now Wish the Fish, could not be found.

His mom had searched and searched.  She frowned.

She was perplexed.  She was afraid.

And then, at last, she also prayed...

Oh, Wish the Fish would soon be dead

if hadn't been for this instead:

He heard a lower bass voice call,

"Just throw it back!  It's way too small!"

No longer bound by ugly sin,

our Wish the Fish could swim again!

He swam straight home - despite so weak -

hugged tight his mom and kissed her cheek.

---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate

their chores!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Wish the Fish (introduced in story 01)

Wish the Fish 01 (mom's advice) 2-26-15

ONCE upon a splashing time

a little fish wished he could rhyme.

But 'Wish the Fish' lived in the sea

and brought so much calamity.

---

Now Wish was just a little fish,

Blue, red, yellow - oh, and greenish.

He loved his mom 'cause she was nice

but sometimes gave too much advice.

Wish thought, so crude, the meals she stewed.

They tasted more like people food.

But mom said, "Eat.  Eat ev'ry bean."

Just eat until your plate is clean."

Now mom's advice to clean his plate

was wrong, Wish thought.  He seldom ate.

(He'd take his fork, scrape off her cookin' -

then hid it when she wasn't lookin').

So no, Wish didn't eat too much

until his hunger pangs were such

he gobbled down his candy bars

and emptied all mom's cookie jars.

The next day, ohhh, the stomach ache!

And then mom offered cream and cake.

Wish turned her down, not once, but twice

and wished he'd taken her advice.

---

The moral of this poem's great,

if this whole world would love, not hate:

mom's advice!

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

God's Sparrow 2-23-15

My mother? I miss her. You don't know how much

with hugs, warm and loving, with her gentle touch.

And father, not perfect, had sure done his best.

Together, in Heaven, they in His arms rest.

---

Interpreting thoughts that were mine with my weeping,

on wee branch up high, a young sparrow was keeping.

With sharp and loud chirping, I felt ever small.

It ripped me to pieces when I heard it all.

Then, when it had finished, it flew out of sight -

and it left a message, quite brutal, but right -

when I heard, "You're fake - a great imitator,

forgiven by God, your Maker, Creator."

My eyes had welled up with tears of repentance -

with close fam'ly ties and those times of remembrance.

Though precious, the mem'ries I wouldn't exchange,

those days were but hist'ry that I couldn't change.

It sure got me thinking. Oh, how could it be,

I thought not of others - but only of me?

Those years have all passed and are not coming back.

They shook up my heart like a massive attack.

I now see the world and sparrow in tree -

and even myself now so dif-fer-ent-ly.

Priorities changed now that I've been set straight

by that little, lone sparrow I started to hate.

But I thank God's sparrow that perched in the tree,

which brutally, honestly uncovered me -

exposing my selfishness, failures and sin.

Repentant, forgiven, I'll see them again.

©2015 louis gander - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Tulips and Roses 2-19-15

Right under our noses

are tulips and roses.

There's no place that I'd rather be.

And if you come hither

you'll find they won't wither

for God surely loves you and me.

A rainbow of colors

are splattered on flowers

that all of creation can see.

And when they're a-blooming,

exquisite perfuming

enhances His paintings for me.

The world won't believe Him,

far out on their tree limb.

Opinions are having their say.

They make me so dizzy

because they're so busy

and can't find eternity's way.

I know you would rather

join with me and gather

up armfuls of rainbow's bouquets -

and inside His painting

enjoy His creating

the rest of eternity's days.

So join me and jump in

to painting, born again,

where flowering landscapes are true.

Here living with respect

is Heavenly perfect

in vibrant and colorful hue.

Right under our noses

are tulips and roses.

There's no place that I'd rather be.

And if you come hither

you'll find they won't wither

for God really loves you and me,

for God really loves you and me.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

I Corinthians 13:13 (NASB)

"...but the greatest of these is love."

As Darkness Falls 2-16-15

The sun's at rest

upon the west -

as lighted pathway fades.

Today I'm lost, so what's the cost for all my sick charades?

The bottom line:

Decisions?  Mine,

though future couldn't see.

I ventured off the straight and narrow pathway meant for me.

I can''t embark.

It's awful dark.

Time spurns to take me back.

Oh, how had I been led astray by winding pathways black?

Some say that no

one's perfect so,

"it doesn't matter much".

But that's not what the Savior said with cross and thorns and such.

He suffered there

in anguish where

His love could cover men -

and faithfully had paid my debt upon that cross of sin.

On grieving face

was matchless grace

so I could be set free -

but stubbornly I trod my long and winding path... for me.

Now here I stand

as owls land.

Life skates along its way.

I'm lonely, very lonely here a-midst my final day.

So what's the cost?
Today, I'm lost.

I've had so many fears.

The darkness falls.  'Forever' calls as pathway disappears.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Matthew 24: 10-13 (NASB)
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.
12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

Intentionally Left Blank 2-13-15

I look through all my papers.

I search but cannot find.

Exploring notes and all my files,

I hunt my absent mind.

But I can't find them anywhere.

I seek throughout the day.

I cannot sleep as stars come out

Have I something to say?

I'd like to write of God above
and all His majesty.
Unless I take the time to pray,
those words will never be.

But I can't find the words to use.

Thoughts pierce me like a knife.

My life could be much better if

pure words rhymed with my life.

Escapes me, too, the letters

that float away on streams,

winding through the rapids fast,

that disappear with dreams.

Oh, how can rhyming phrases flow

and sentences galore -

when I can't find mere letters here?

My phrases come no more.

If only I could find them...

the words, so you could know 'em,

then I could write the stanzas down

in one breathtaking poem.

Instead, I search inside myself.

With absent prayers, my words -

just float away on rivers or

are carried off with birds...

So here I sit with naught to say,

so let me just be frank.

Who'd care to read another line?

(intentionally left blank)

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

-------

Find the Butterfly (song lyrics) 2-1-15

I wanted to be different,
I wanted to be free,
I wanted something special but
I simply couldn't see.
For I was blind to peace of mind -
through clouds it'd never be.
How could I find the butterfly in me?
How could I find the butterfly in me?

On beach, so sad, I lonely was.
A large, dark storm cloud said,
"Your shore is very empty and
your soul is all but dead."
The waves crashed and - soaked in the sand
but truth soaked not in head,
and blackness washed my beauty out instead,
and blackness washed my beauty out instead.

My footprints weren't forever and
they didn't last long-term.
I sought to be so happy but
the sand just wasn't firm.
The hint I saw had dropped my jaw
but sun could not confirm.
My life was like a lowly, ugly worm.
My life was like a lowly, ugly worm.

I wanted to be happy and
be satisfied by noon.
I wanted to be joyous too
and laugh that afternoon.
I tried to fly high in the sky,
like colorful balloon -
and not confined to my dark, dead cocoon,
and not confined to my dark, dead cocoon.

Reality descended then
down to a weathered dock.
It's usefulness was gone and all -
its boards were stumb'ling blocks.
I couldn't halt nor could I fault
the waves upon heart's rock -
and time flew by with ticking of the clock,
and time flew by with ticking of the clock.

The angry sky had thundered then.
I heard the ocean's din.
I couldn't see creation or
the higher tide begin.
I searched my mind but couldn't find -
for nothing had sunk in -
while ocean's truth still splashed upon my sin,
while ocean's truth still splashed upon my sin.

Then lost and wand'ring aimlessly,
along some pine and birch,
my pride had died in front of an
abandoned country church.
I walked inside, but couldn't hide.
My soul was in the lurch -
but that had ended my long journey's search,
but that had ended my long journey's search.

My tears flowed as a river there.
I dropped down to my knees.
T'was then I saw some color like
the autumn's rainbow leaves.
My God above sent ocean's love,
His grace was as the seas -
and now this butterfly floats on the breeze,
and now this butterfly floats on the breeze.

If you confess that you're a worm,
repent in your cocoon,
then God has promised all His grace
and you'll become immune.
And by and by, your butterfly
will spread its wings and soon -
will glide on rainbow leaves to sunset's moon,
will glide on rainbow leaves to sunset's moon.

So if you find the butterfly
that's born again in you,
then you, my friend, have Jesus and
shall fly to Heaven too.
Agape love from God above
bares rainbow's brilliant hue -
and brings eternal joy to pull you through,
and brings eternal joy to pull you through.

©2015 louis gander ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

http://www.ganderpoems.org/

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1 John 1:9 (NASB)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 2:38 (NASB)
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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."