The Fantasist 3

His mind
Was on Mindy
Over Maendy
While in Somerton Place
In an embrace
With Grace.

The Fantasist 2

From the verandah he had a gander at Amanda,
As he sat in the flat with Cat.

See also here

In my Master's House

See Luke 13:22ff

I'm well fed and it's warm and light
In my Master's beautiful home.
But my Master is out of sight
And I'm looking where others roam,
In fields of sin, without a care,
I'm wishing I was with them there.

You are foolish to think this way,
Can't you see how the sun beats down
On those who sin, throughout the day?
Beneath their smiles they hide a frown,
Not a raindrop quenches their thirst.
While they still roam, then they are cursed.

If they would only turn this way,
Come to Christ, through the narrow door,
Flee the hot burden of the day,
Turn to him and worship in awe,
So very soon night time will fall,
There'll be no-one to heed their call.

I turned back to face the Master,
My head hanging down low in shame,
Thought of the coming disaster,
Worshipped his glorious name.
Forgive this abuse of your grace,
I'm a fool to turn from your face.

Advice for Year 6s about to become Year 7s

Don't be apprehensive
About the comprehensive

An Aberystwyth Back Lane

An Aberystwyth back lane
Walked again and again.
There George Jetson they portrayed
Upon a garage door.
Year by year the paint would fade.
It's not there any more.

A voice I love

A voice I hear, a voice I know,
It speaks the words I love,
"Praise him from whom all blessings flow"
Let's praise the One above.

The loneliest day

The loneliest day of my life

Was marked not by sadness
But was a day I spent alone
With you and no-one else.

I cried to the Lord

LM

I cried to the Lord from the deep
O Lord, hear my voice as I weep.
My Lord, listen closely to me
I cry to you, Lord, set me free.

If the Lord kept a record of sin
Then who could stand up before him?
Through Christ there is forgiveness,
Therefore holy fear shall be his.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
My hope is in all his Word states.
My heart keeps waiting for the Lord
Like a watchman who waits for the dawn.

Hope now in the Lord, be humble,
The God of love will not stumble.
Through him the full price has been paid,
On Christ all our sins have been laid.

(Based on Psalm 130)

2 Thessalonians 3:13

Lord, may the message quickly spread

And may it too be praised.

Spare us the evil that we dread.

For many have no faith.

But you, O Lord, you will stay true

To strengthen our weak arm.

It is for this that we him sue,

"Lord keep us from all harm."

Deuteronomy 32:3, 4

I will proclaim his Name - the LORD,
May he forever be adored!
His works are right, his ways are just,
He is the Rock on whom I trust.
My faithful God will do no wrong
(This is the message of my song)
How righteous is my God, how strong.

Hymn Jeremiah 16:19-21

O Lord my strength, my hiding place,
My refuge in distress,
To you the nations all will trace,
Each people tribe and tongue.

Our fathers' gods were false they say
By idols led astray
And we too make our gods of clay
Mere idols still, not gods.

For God on high shines forth to teach
His pow'r and might will reach
To every place his heralds preach
To show his name - the LORD.

Hymn The war within

What is this law at work I see?
What makes me live this way?
The Holy Spirit lives in me
But sin's a foe to slay.

It is not that I refuse to fight
Nor that I can't do right,
It's just that somehow all God's lght
Gets swallowed up in night.

The wrong I wish I did not do
Still stares me in the face.
The right I know that I should do
Is slow to take its place.

O who shall rescue me in life?
O where shall I find grace?
Thank God, my Lord, who ends the strife,
For Jesus took my place.

So, I myself am, in my mind
To God's own will a slave
But in my flesh this too I find
The way of sin, I crave.

Lament for the 82 bus

O bus! Red bus sublime!
Up whose steep steps I'd climb,
Looking for a seat (having stood before);
When again will you arrive on time?
No more - No, never more!

Not in the day or night,
Our bus has taken flight;
In spring and summer, and winter hoar,
The 82 that used to come – delight!
No more - No, never more!

(From April 1 the 82 bus has stopped running).

That Night

Cold night wore black,
Heaven's stars stood still.
Moon showed a track
Through Winter's chill.
Her urgent cries
Could forests fill
As this lone woman dies.

I still recall
That cold clear night
When I stood tall
Despite the sight
Of falling tears
She could not fight
As she succumbed to fears.

In your arms

In this case the connection between music and words is only that both have the same title. (I originally headed my words Held in your arms).

Trouble comes over me,
The world gives me pain,
But my heart is at rest -
I'm held in your arms.

When I'm held in your arms
No wave can floor me
No lion subdue -
I'm held in your arms.

Pop song

Some years ago I wrote these words to the tune you can find here

I don't believe in limbo
But I am there I know,
You're far away
Where? You never say.
And I wonder ...

Why did you say you love me?
Yet you don't call on me.
I still love you
And I need you so.
Do you still love me?

I suppose it's just the way things go for me
But I still love you

Why can't we be together?
Why must we be apart?
Why can't it be -
You and me again
Let's end this misery.

Prayer for the start of the day

Lord, accept my worship
Lord, accept my praise,
Nothing is a hardship
When on you I gaze.

Lord, be at the centre
Of my life today.
Every place I enter
Sanctify, I pray.

Lord, don't let me wander
From the narrow way.
Lord, may Christ's blood ever
Take my sins away.

Lord, grant your Spirit, too
'Til my days here end,
'Til I'm in heav'n with you,
My Saviour and my Friend.

Attention wandering

Line up on lecture notes ...
"In 1857  ..."
Heat increases.
Beans on toast and a refreshing cup of ...
"Fully intended to include this important concept.
Plato is interesting as ..."
When I rose, I wasn't as tired as this, was !?
"As we can see from the following extract ..."
Aah, a rest.
Time to think of just twelve and a half minutes more
Then home for my tea at the end of this bore.

(Written long ago in an undergraduate lecture)

Four minutes

Classical trumpet, vi'lin strings
In the shops they're selling things
TV, chocolate, magazines,
People live beyond their means.
Music, makeup, pleasure and wine,
Work so hard then waste your time.
Just four minutes left
Then it's all gonna go.

Looting, vi'lence, drunk in the streets,
Old ones standing, men in seats,
Light fingered workers moving slow,
Unemployed, nowhere to go.
Crooked scientists, fake results
Politicians trade insults.
Just four minutes left
But no one wants to know.

Perplex

Sometimes, it seems to me,
I can be
Master, faster, clearer, brother,
Longer, stronger, purer, lover,
Than any on earth.
This I call confidence,
The other despair

Sometimes, it seems to me,
I must be
Lower, slower, coarser, dimmer
Sneaker, weaker, liar, sinner,
Than any on earth.
This I call humbling,
The other sheer pride.

How can I
Meekly inherit earth,
Not overestimate my worth?
Not knowing,
I keep going.