My old street

I drove down my old street the other day.
Some boys kicked a ball on the green, where I once would play.
The trees on the green are as fat as me
And one of the three trees no longer remains, I see.

I wanted to stop, speak of years before,
But they wouldn't have understood what I did it for,
So I drove on.

On looking through my window and seeing a hill

On looking through my window and seeing a hill peeping out between the concrete

There's always a gap in any terrain
There's always a way
To find comfort from pain.


There's always a space in any place
There's always a way
To go on by God's grace

Resolution

I'll guard the source of life, my heart,
From sin's foul stream I'll keep apart.
Lord, keep this well spring pure and whole
And oft may Christ refresh my soul.

Indecision

My spirit says yes
But my soul says no
The Lord says go
And I say whoa

She

She spoke of silence
Her words were grey
We'd walked through meadows
Of amber hay.

She spoke of values
Her words grew strong
We'd walked through mountains,
Heard birds in song.

She spoke of wisdom
Her words were clear
We'd walked through showers
On land so drear.

She spoke of leaving
Her words grew cold
We'd walked through forests
Our love now old.

Carnivores

If I were a tiger
Maybe I'd bite your leg.
If I were a spider
I guess I'd spin a web.
But as I'm a man
I've a better plan,
I'll just look the other way.


If I were a cobra
I'd go straight for your head.
If I were a boa
I'd squeeze you 'til you're dead.
But as I'm a man
I've a better plan,
I'll just look the other way.

Time

Time, like water,
Tickle-trickles through my fingers
And I lick the silver bubbles
As I try to taste this life.
Days surge on like soldiers
Heading for the front
And I find myself in anguish
As I seek and strive to warn
This fading generation.

Whereat

Had you heard,
Ed had a hood?
He would.
It looked so odd,
Handmade in hide.
To hide your head
Inside a hood
It is not good.

And I'll add -
Hudd had a hat,
Cool cat.
The hat was hit
But it was hard.
To hide your head
Inside a hat
That's where it's at.

Hymn Haggai 1.12

SM

The Lord our God sends word,
He does not silent stay.
His prophets show to us the way
To serve his Christ, our Lord.

Our Lord declares to each
"Forever I'm with you"
And stirs his people up to do
All that his servants teach.

And those who serve the Lord,
Who long to see him bless,
Through him do nothing more nor less
Than heed his every word.

This way alone is wise,
It makes the conscience clear
For true and valiant son-like fear
Behind obedience lies.

Come come come

Come, come, come
Imprison me, Lord,
Shackle my soul to obeying your word
In your grace, O Lord.

Come, come, come
Lock me in your heart,
Fetter my faith that I may never part
From your way, O Lord.

Come, come, come
Never let me go,
Capture me always and so let me know
All your will, O Lord.

Come, come, come
Never let me flee,
Make me your servant and so set me free
Every day, O Lord.

The Preacher

Ink onto paper,
Tongue licking lip,
Then running through the fields,
Falling as I trip.
A final chord strikes,
A raindrop in the yellow flower -
A moment of beauty
Is a moment of you.


Within lies an age
Gone. Couldn't wait.
Reaching, clutching, grasping -
The last straw floats
Away. Today and yet.
There is now and there will be
Within us - forever.
Holding and being held.

We only gain what God gives.

Babies

Pharaoh he hates you
You make the Israelites strong
Therefore he decrees
You won't live long.


Molech he hates you
Says he needs you for his pyre
Therefore, so they say,
You're for the fire.


Herod, he hates you
He seeks the One from on High
Therefore "innocents"
You all must die.

Britain, we hate you,
Inconvenience, we are taught,
Therefore they declare
"We must abort".

Duty

The way is called duty
The way to beauty
The only way
And so each day I pray.

The truth is in duty
Truth has such beauty
That is so true
And so I worship you.

A life full of duty
A life of beauty
That's how to live
And so my life I give.

Ship

Down to the green sea,
The black sea,
The foam white froth sea.
Down she goes,
The seagulls follow on.

Through water,
Over water,
Up then down she goes,
Seeking safe haven,
From the wild wind that blows.

Now

Now is always now
(At least it is now).
Tomorrow is tomorrow
'Til tomorrow comes
And then it is today.
Today was tomorrow
Just a day ago
And soon it will be yesterday -
So fast the hours flow.
But now is always now,
At least it is for now,
For even "nows" are "thens"
And some of them "agains".