Poems

Not crime/not time

June McCleneghan Fowler

I have never been held on any death row,Never been imprisoned in a cellblock so;Nor am I a human storage binOf wrath or fear, disease or sin,Sentenced to die by earthly law or medical decree—I am God's man, His image, wholly freeOf error's ways or ill desire,Not mortal selfhood set on fireBy evil thrust.

Poem

"Be ye ... wise as serpents, and harmless as doves"*

Nancy L. Holder

The wily serpent, finding that his skinis now an outgrown, worn-out sheath,simply shrugs it offand moves on, free in the new onealready right there underneath.

Poem

God and me

Eileen Sorrels

God is AllandGod is One.

Poem

The sermon and perfection's call

Marjorie Kaye Talbot

Let me see from that mount too,And in whatever task I do,Always let me keep in mindThese instructions for mankind:

Poem

Sacred eyes

Julie Schmitt

Seeing with sacred eyes—holy consciousness—the view is manGod-made,anointed and perfect.

Poem

A suitable place

Elna W. Hull

No room in the inn—where wine flowed freeto slake the thirstof a motley crowd.

Poem

Truth, not time

Lawrence T. Campbell

In all of life there's no "ago"or "was";no nebulous "will be"or "future perfect"to be labored for;not even "present tense"—as time.

Poem

Remembering a member

Margaret Singleton Decker

So often at our Wednesday church meetingduring testimony time,she would rise and give thanksfor seemingly trivial blessingsrecognized in her daily routine.