Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Harsh Words (A Limerick)

Harsh Words (A Limerick)
©Biz Gainey, 2014

Harsh words slip their slide from the north to the south;
You know!  The distance between one’s mind and one’s mouth.
Erode hope as they tumble,
Cripple life as they stumble,
Maim one’s heart ‘Neath the weight of their own frail glass house!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

The Good News (A limerick)

The Good News
©Biz Gainey 2014

I heard the Good News, as they say;
As I sadly slept my life away.
At once to my feet
Did I jump, did I leap;
Happily, I now  hope for That day.


Sunday, September 7, 2014

Poem: Summer's Last Gasp

Summer’s Last Gasp
©Biz Gainey, 2014
Summer grieves her last gasp; gathering
Twilight’s vapor.  'Midst her setting sun ease
Her expiration of days;
The steady tick-tock of life’s march
                As her dawn to dusk greet
                Autumn’s new dawn.

Horizon’s bluegold gaze
Her vast spellbound stare; Awakens
Autumn’s brooding slumber; Yawning she stretches
Into new dawn hope.
Hands and hearts clutch with all might
To grip she who fades as vapor;
                Warm breeze of summer fade;
                Howl cool winds of autumnal swell!













Yes!  New autumn moon gleams; She glories!
The answer to the unasked, oft sought question -
Fading season of life’s mist in pain expires;
Dawning season of life’s mist in pain gifts birth.
One season cries; her faint hope in tears, flee!
                She fountains new seasons of
                Life yet to be.

Lost in life’s seams ‘Neath the sleeves of time’s passage,
A faint whisper of truth
In life’s pace oft we pass;
                All autumns are birthed 'midst
                Summer’s Last gasp!

Friday, August 15, 2014

Poem: The Colored Robe of Death

UPDATE: I recently submitted this poem to Wildsound where professional artists and readers perform various works of art.  I value 'hearing' a poem and believe it aids our interpretation.  I, however, am not 'gifted' in the area of reading, so I have sought out those who are.  If you would like to 'hear' The Colored Robe of Death interpreted through the spoken word, then click one of the links below (one will take you to youtube, the other to the Wildsound web page, on which the poem is also visible.  

I hope you enjoy.



The Colored Robe of Death
About the Poem: I crafted this poem in the wake of a long week of unrest, chaos and death related to the killing of the young African American gentleman, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri.   The poem is not designed to make any political statement.  Rather, it is simply, an expression from my heart that is only illustrative of my own perspective.

The poem’s thrust is a ‘prayer’ which decries our own lack of sight (our blindness to prejudice, the fears that drive them and the desires they hide).  The poem’s ultimate hope is in God who creates, recreates and calls us to community within the midst of vast diversity and difference. 

The poem briefly explores the themes of fear, racial divide, the nature of community fractures, the deep longing to be whole and our desire to be connected to others in a meaningful way.  It briefly accentuates and hopes for unity across division and the wholeness that ensues.

The Colored Robe of Death
© Biz Gainey, August 2014

When loosed fear hues the fabric
Which weaves the colored robe of death
Known life is thinned;
She’s gaunt;
She’s startled;

Fear carpets like hairs erected
Upon the neck
Of all creation
Against the breath
Of bitter cringe. 

Taut fear now grips the trigger
Piercing through
One so adorned.
Moans wail amidst
 A people cloaked. In
The Colored Robe of Death;

Aloft!  Grief’s towered belfry
Weeps a tune toward heaven’s shore:
                This colored robe of death
                To our peril long ignored,
                Has hewn a fear-borne fabric
                Adorned by they beyond a tone adored.             

Shadows all we who dare to know.  Now know
The Colored Robe of Death;
                Will death find her true solace?
                How is requital gained?
Or is the deeply colored soul now lost?
The shadow’s breath ever present,
Beneath death’s dark hued stain!

Who reaps the one who reaps?
Who cries when colors smear?
Will a people pulse the tremor?
The exclaim of life lived, life feared!
               
One finger triggers power; exhausts another’s final breath;
Mourning unearths swamped longing.
Seeping.
                Sadly.
                                Slowly.
                                                Surely.  A country’s
Colored robe of death. 
Exhausted.   
Is this to be our final breath?
Death mocks the life of we adorned,
Haunting!  She cries: divided are we less whole.

O, to run with they who differ.
Robed colors hued in glory’s hands above.
O, to walk with they who falter.
Neath the weight of twisted love. 

Borne deep beneath the wrapping;
Hues once danced the waltz of old
Rooted desires left longing
A friend whose hand to hold
To walk and journey with.  In
World bent; set to scold,
By we who faintly dare to know: 
                Life is well lived in colored bloom!
                Suffused! 
Shaped all as one, we’re whole!


Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Cracked Pot (Nonet Poetry)

As an amateur in the craft of poetry, I continue to explore various forms of poetry or poetic expression.  The following expression is a Nonet, which, if I understand correctly, is a 9-line poem whose first line contains 9 syllables and descends in order.


Monday, July 21, 2014

Poem: As the Willow Weeps

I recently noticed this poem while reading through some of my older pieces.  I think this is one of the first poems I wrote, or as I often say, 'one of the first poems that found me.'  It illustrates the dance between trust, surrender, security and wholeness. Exploring the hopes and fears that both trap and animate our longings and desires.  

I 'inserted' the poem on background picture for effect.  If you find it cumbersome, let me know and I will add a text only portion to the blog.



Monday, July 7, 2014

Parents: Ways to Direct our Own Desires and Those of Our Children (a good read for grandparents and grandchildren as well)

From time to time, I write for a ministry called xxxchurch.com.  Recently, they posted an article I wrote relative to our desires and how they are 'directed' toward delight or destruction.  The article is tagged on the 'web page' as a student resource.   As such, I thought it would forward it on and share it with you.  I know that many of you have children that are the ages of my  own or younger and that leading them through this world of distorted and misdirected desires can be difficult.

Especially in the (what I call) 'pornographic culture of teen and pre-teen angst.'  The blog is brief and highly accessible.  In fact, it is one that you can read with your son or daughter and can be read by both mom and dad.  If you find it helpful, great!  The website has many, many other resources as well that you might find meaningful.


Feel free to reach out to me as well.  This journey has taught me much.  If I can help others avoid the mistakes I have made, I will gladly and willingly do so.

http://www.xxxchurch.com/teens/6-boundaries-to-keep-your-desires-in-check.html

For those who enjoy poetry, I am including one (along with a summary) called Northern Wind I crafted sometime ago regarding the pain of distorted desire and the hope of desire which ends in delight.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Heaven: Desire's Ascendancy (Final Progression of the Four Progression Poem, The Human Experience)

The final progression of my poetic work entitled 'The Human Experience' may be found below. Just beneath I will include the first three (in order) so that you can read them together - if that's your Desire . . .

Heaven: Desire’s Ascendency! (Refrain Poetry)
Desire ascends toward ageless wonder
Longing she flees world astray, bound by time
Old yearning’s damp dross melt ‘Neath the
Breadth of Dawn’s crystalline shine
Smiles dance on faces I know I’ve known
When all were painted, by grey gloss of night
Reminders of space once less well indwelled
Time less well spent oft lost in fright.
Desire ascends! on high sits enthroned
Fulfilled in his presence is creation’s deep groan!

Desire ascends sacred hall where I’m welcomed
Delight in this space where once lost I am found
Life’s ancient book bleeds true my borne name
Now I know fully as I’ve fully been known
Birthed anew, truth once shackled and fettered - leaps
Joyfully as one loosed, now unbound
Beauty restored on all seated at table
Invited by he whom we all adore
A silent hush falls on all we who gather as
Light’s sudden dance indulge the crisp air
Seated he feasts on all we before him
Consumed by deep love, filleted naked and bare
Desire ascends! on high sits enthroned
Fulfilled in his presence is creation’s deep groan!

Desire ascends now knowing no fright
Sheds tattered-worn cloth; once lost in dark night
Awakened the dawn’s new-day temple
Where we behold life yet to come
Shiver and quake as faint flesh trembles
While deep delight brace taut every eye
And the eyes they betray as heart
Beats swift retreat, entranced is their gaze
Upon the one grand - enthroned
One crowned a King, worshiped. by
Nation-vast peoples; many tongues echo their cry
A loft in the realm of the northernmost sky
Desire ascends! on high sits enthroned
Fulfilled in his presence is creation’s deep groan!

Desire ascends as I’m now prepared
To soulfully stride as dawn’s new bride
Down ancient gemstone soaked aisle
The sacred song sings sweet, softly on high
Trumping dear tune: “My bride – in union now let us be wed”
My heart beats free in vibrant waltz I am quickened
Drink from deep well waters, drenched with Him I am wet
O, how the sights and sounds now rumble
From deep within do they grip my soul
Desire embraced she ignites cardinal longing
Joy gorged faint whispered memory of old
Primal love gently holds creation’s soul-full groan-caked sigh
I bow to one as king terribly calm upon throne
Anchored aloft in the grand Northern great sky
Desire ascends! on high sits enthroned
Fulfilled in his presence is creation’s deep groan!
©Biz Gainey 2014













The Human Experience: Amidst Dreams Where We Leap (First Progression)
Borne forth in cold clay
Hardened whet for the One 
in whose hands
                I am naked,
                I am named,
                I am known.
I am called by name,
                to name the great throng!
A host
A herd
A swarm.
New life rumbles, longing along.
Crafted, they find
A place to call home.

Conscious desire,
Awash in this great throng,
     I feel
     I sense
     I know
     I am lone.
The soul weeps a soft,
Subterranean song.
More than mere
                Host
                Herd
                Swarm
How my heart does mourn
Dream a sultry bemoan.

Spied by another whose eyes hold me deep.
Abruptly awakened from abyssal sleep.
Where there was once one;
                now one are two,

Swathed tight, enfleshed;
Reborn in love lace.
Wreathed we are;
A most human embrace
Rooted in wonder,
Laughter now launched!
Stilled in great awe,
Sheer silence unsought!
Birthed here in rich clay,
Embed deep in our soul;
                To tend,
                To work,
 Art to craft in this space.

Primal grace moves the clay
Where feet from dust form.
Borne forth as we crawl,
Amidst dreams where 
                we long,
                we love, 
                we leap
With great awe.
©Biz Gainey, 2014


The Human Experience: Life Beyond Whole
(Second Progression)
Unripe fruit, aloft in sultry wind song slinks; 
Disturbs delight, masking death;
Seduced to distortion;
Life Beyond Whole

I Am.
          Desire
                    Reach
                              Grasp
                                             Take.
                                             Life.
                              Beyond
                     Whole
           Now
Am I.

Flattened
     is the leap which sprung once robust. 
Clinging
     is the grasp which once gently held.
Accusing
     drapes fingers once awash in love's caress, Pointing
backforth and back again.

Seeking to undo, unwed.
Loosed. is once tethered trust in fear’s soft deathbed.
Fault en grafts bodies once sanctified.

Aimless eyes wander; they wonder ‘Beyond sight, what remains?’
Not one is now known, where one is now unknown.
The fading path has darkened in sight’s last breathless gasp.

Not far fallen from the tree are we who've been loved
          and loved 
          deeply known Love.
Desire's distortion now borne by we of distorted desire; 
Darkness has swamped; 
Dim is the light;
Life Beyond Whole.
©Biz Gainey, 2014

Third Progression: His Love Drenched Waltz (A Sonnet)
No longer dance we naked
In hallowed loved soaked hall.
Dreams once dreamt now hated,
Cries our laughter, one and all.

Flailing wildly swamped about,
Fear gripped knuckles smudge life’s veil.
Scarred hands grip true, wild hearts bleed out,
Hollowed death singsongs his nail.

Yes! Incarnate tombsong truth burst forth,
Caroled the birth of dawn’s new day.
Humble love robed arights all wrong;
Invited! we dance his love drenched waltz,
                He pardons life’s long decay.

Alive beats fresh love! Heart assault;
Loosens the grip of listless life.
Invited! we dance His love drenched waltz;
Hallowed life singsongs eternal hope,
                Sired deep in darkest strife.

How the death and pain of listless life
His love drenched waltz assaults.

How the death and pain of listless life
His love drenched waltz assaults.
© Biz Gainey, 2014

Friday, May 16, 2014

The Human Experience in Four Progressions: His Love Drenched Waltz (Third Progression, A Sonnet)

This is the third of a Four Progression Poem entitled The Human Experience

Third Progression: His Love Drenched Waltz (A Sonnet)
by Biz Gainey

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Porn's Distorted Desire

Many of you know that I have been on a journey out of porn - into my truest self - for the past 20 years. The past 10 - 15 years have been ones of tremendous freedom from porn and victory over the struggle with porn which entrapped me between the ages of 9 - 11 (nearly 35 years ago). There are many others, however, who are unaware of this journey on which I travel. Therefore, I thought I would write an article birthed from my own experience, in the hopes that it might be of value to others!

Friday, April 25, 2014

The Human Experience in Four Progressions: Life Beyond Whole (Second Progression)

This is the second of a Four Progression Poem entitled The Human Experience
The first progression, Amidst Dreams Where We Leap, may be found at the following link:
http://theshapeofdesire.blogspot.com/2014/01/poem-human-experience-in-four.html

Thanks for taking a moment or two out of your busy day to reflect on my poetry. . . feel free to comment!!

The Human Experience: Life Beyond Whole
(Second Progression) by Biz Gainey
Unripe fruit, aloft in sultry wind song slinks; 
Disturbs delight, masking death;
Seduced to distortion;
Life Beyond Whole

I Am.
          Desire
                    Reach
                              Grasp
                                             Take.
                                             Life.
                              Beyond
                     Whole
           Now
Am I.

Flattened
     is the leap which sprung once robust. 
Clinging
     is the grasp which once gently held.
Accusing
     drapes fingers once awash in love's caress, Pointing
backforth and back again.

Seeking to undo, unwed.
Loosed. is once tethered trust in fear’s soft deathbed.
Fault en grafts bodies once sanctified.

Aimless eyes wander; they wonder ‘Beyond sight, what remains?’
Not one is now known, where one is now unknown.
The fading path has darkened in sight’s last breathless gasp.

Not far fallen from the tree are we who've been loved
          and loved 
          deeply known Love.
Desire's distortion now borne by we of distorted desire; 
Darkness has swamped; 
Dim is the light;
Life Beyond Whole.
©Biz Gainey, 2014

Friday, April 4, 2014

This Spotlight of the Ignored

A few days ago I sitting in a local Starbucks busily hacking away at my computer.  A commotion at the door interrupted my thoughts and drew my attention.  The commotion was created by a woman whose body has been distorted by life and left her with a limp that made walking difficult, to say the least.  I was struck by how her entrance changed the tenor of the environment.  This poem attempts to convey some of my reflections regarding what I noticed.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

How Noah's Ark Points to Our Exile

The top five things I have trouble relating to regarding the story line (narrative themes) in Noah and the one thing I do relate to - loudly and clearly - after viewing this epic motion picture . . .

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Eden's Strangled Hold

Eden’s Strangled Hold
Peace we must wrest from the blood soaked hand, Eden’s
Strangled hold.  She does dance we all to the rim of our self; Do we see?  Hope
flees our dance, strung aloft in winged flight. 
Lunge toward her with loss deep; we plunge, exhale
To know rest peace affords.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Poem (in progress): Thick With The Night

My poem, Thick With The Night, is an effort to translate my interpretation of two disparate pieces of modern literature; 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.  Knowledge of these two pieces will greatly aid you in your attempts to enjoy this admittedly complex poem.  If, however, you do not recall reading either of these pieces, it would help you to at least know how I, the author of this poem, interpret the afore mentioned works of literature(either rightly or wrongly).  
I interpret 1984 as a story of a society which fears oppression imposed upon them by an outside foe, aka.,  Big Brother. In other words the prison in which we are held captive is imposed upon us by an outside force.  Conversely, I interpret Brave New World as a work which foreshadows a day when our own pursuits, rather than an outside force, will become our undoing.  In other words the 'loves, longings and desires' we chase become the prison in which we are held captive.

That's enough for you to get started.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Imagining Heaven: The Day Without Night

I see a day - perhaps long in the distance or just yet to come - when I will stand between two worlds. For the briefest of moments, when the sun finally sets on this side of the horizon, I will awaken to the dawn of a new day in the great just beyond.  In the momentary merging of these two worlds, I shall say farewell to those with whom I have journeyed thus far even as I am welcomed into newness by friends and family who have already ventured into that great beyond.  Those with whom I have journeyed thus far will likely be unaware of the reality that I am with them, saying good bye.  In fact, apart from a general warming of their heart, they may not be aware of much beyond their own grief.  Where I will attend to the greying of the world's just before the white, they will contend with the darkness of a day enclosed by 'goodbye and nothing more to say,' all in one moment.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Poem: The Human Experience in Four Progressions (First Progresstion: Amidst Dreams Where We Leap)

Amidst Dreams Where We Leap

Borne forth in cold clay
Hardened whet for the One 
in whose hands
                I am naked,
                I am named,
                I am known.
I am called by name,
                to name the great throng!