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.

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.

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