Lay up Treasures: Christian Poetry

Goodbye for a while

2007-05-23T09:29:00.000Z

Hi there,

you may have noticed that I haven't updated this blog on Sunday. this is because I am pausing Lay Up Treasures for a while. I set off from home five days ago to begin a summer-long backpacking trip around Britain. this means that I've decided, sadly, to leave Lay Up Treasures behind for a time.

It's not all doom and gloom though. if you are interested, you can follow my journey on my brand-new blog: www.travelbritain.blogspot.com.

In the meantime, thanks for everyone's support who has been following Lay Up Treasures. Goodbye and God bless.

Craig

XXXVII: Your love

2007-05-13T09:39:00.000Z

Your love.
It fits.
Like a glove.

It fills.
Me up.
Like coffee.
In a cup.

O Your love.

It fits.
Like a glove.

XXXVI: Reassurance

2007-05-06T18:05:00.000Z

The past is a burden.
‘No it isn’t.’

The present is difficult.
‘No it isn’t.’

The future is scary.
‘No it isn’t.’

No it isn’t.

XXXV: Can you see Him?

2007-04-29T17:45:00.000Z

O flower, can you see the Lord?
Can you hear Him?
Can you feel Him?
Turn your face up to the Lord,
And you will see Him.

O moon, can you see the Lord?
Can you touch Him?
Can you reach Him?
Turn your face toward the Lord,
And you will see Him.

O mountain, can you see the Lord?
Can you call Him?
Can you need Him?
Bear your face before the Lord,
And you will see Him.

XXXIV: The things that I do

2007-04-22T19:01:00.000Z

I make my breakfast.
I eat my breakfast.
I wash the dishes.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

I put my shoes on.
I go out.
I come back.
I take my shoes off.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

I sit down.
I close my eyes.
I ponder.
I yawn.
These are the things that I do –

And I do them with You.

XXXIII: The way to heaven

2007-04-15T21:59:00.000Z

I met some people,
And asked them the way to heaven.

The first said,
“Climb this ladder – see, angels are going back and forth through the clouds, heralded by trumpets. You will arrive in glory!”
So I started to climb.
But I fell off.

The second said,
“I have a needle here. If you can concentrate and squeeze through the eye, heaven is waiting on the other side. Peer closely and you can see it – all the rest and comfort you could desire!”
So I started to squeeze my way through.
But I got stuck.

The third said,
“Follow that narrow path over there. It’s a long way, but the road is straight, and look – you can see Paradise in the distance, glinting with pearls!”
So I set off down the path.
But I fell by the wayside.

I was weary, battered and bruised.

But a fourth man came to me, with unkempt hair, and said,
“Pick up a lump of wood, and walk this way.”

So I followed Him.

XXXII: The edge

2007-04-08T22:29:00.000Z

After Appollinaire

“Come back, come back from the edge,”
They cried.
And then he fell.

“Perhaps he was unhappy.”
“Perhaps all his life he was living a lie.”
“Perhaps he wasn’t right in the head.”
Or perhaps he knew that he could fly.

XXXI: If I could sing

2007-04-01T09:33:00.000Z

If I could sing just like the birds
Without the need for foolish words,
Well then, O then, Lord, can’t You see,
How pure would my praises be.

But since that I am given this voice,
And given this pen, I haven’t a choice,
But to my smile must add a frown,
And with my praise my sins write down.

XXX: Obstacles

2007-03-25T10:36:00.000Z

Who put these obstacles in my way?
What are they doing here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

My life was going smoothly.
My hair was neatly arranged.
I was getting to heaven one step at a time –
Before things started to change.

I didn’t ask for problems.
I didn’t ask for cares.
I had everything under control,
As You are well aware.

Then someone put obstacles in my way.
Why did they put them here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

On Monday I was going to love.
On Tuesday I wanted to give.
On Wednesday I planned to help someone.
On Thursday just to live.

I’m a very busy man you see, dear Lord,
Doing good week-in, week-out.
I haven’t got time for these difficulties
In the work that I’m about.

So why put these obstacles in my way?
What are they doing here?
Move aside please!
Let me past!
I haven’t got all day!

XXIX: What can you hear?

2007-03-18T14:47:00.000Z

Listen.
What can you hear?
This is the sound of angels.

Listen –
This is the sound of angels.

XXVIII: Glance

2007-03-11T21:40:00.000Z

Glance out at the splendour of the Earth,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For the fresh winds, and the smell of pine,
Sing!

Glance in at the warmth of your fireside,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For your soft rugs and the taste of wine,
Sing!

Glance across at the beauty of your wife,
And then sing, sing,
Sing!
For her gentle eyes and hair so fine,
Sing!

XXVII: There's a hole

2007-03-04T11:53:00.000Z

There’s a hole in my heart –
It helps my life-blood flow.

There’s a hole in my head –
It lets in fresh air.

There’s a hole in my soul –
It’s open and waiting for You.

XXVI: If someone asks you to explain the Trinity

2007-02-25T10:26:00.000Z

If John wore a garment of camel’s hair
Wouldn’t it have given him itchy skin?
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If the sheep are divided from the goats
Won’t the farmers be quite upset?
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If every hair on my head is numbered
Some of the numbers must be quite big.
– well, this is known as a mystery.

If God is One how can He be Three?
And if He’s Three where’s the Unity?
- well, this is known as a mystery.

XXV: Pride comes before a fall

2007-02-18T23:28:00.000Z

Pride come before a fall.
Or so they say.
But I fell down in a humble mood –
The other day.

I won’t say that I’m modest,
But I wouldn’t say I’m proud.
So how did I fall the other day,
While walking in the crowd?

I didn’t have my head up high.
I didn’t push or shove.
I had my eyes down on my feet,
And my thoughts on the above.

I didn’t meet a stranger’s eye,
Or get in their way.
Yes, I was in a humble mood –
The other day.

I can’t see that I did anything wrong,
And yet I fell.
Perhaps somebody tripped me up.
I couldn’t tell.

I’m not a proud kind of person.
It’s not my vice.
I’m patient, and pleasant, and – well,
I hope quite nice.

Pride comes before a fall.
Or so they say.
But I fell down in a humble mood –
The other day.

XXIV: Lines written while pulling the petals off a daisy

2007-02-11T18:15:00.000Z

He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.
He loves me.

XXIII: Unity

2007-02-04T22:00:00.000Z

Body.
Mind.
Spirit.
Soul.

O
What
A
Glorious
Whole!

XXII: I walk on

2007-01-28T23:38:00.000Z

I walk on, and You’re just behind me.
I know You’re there.
I walk on, and You’re just behind me.
I can almost feel You nudging me in the back.
I want to sing to myself a little ditty,
’Coz I just know I’m on the right track.

I’m stepping on the toes of the devil.
He don’t like it.
I’m stepping on the toes of the devil.
Oh boy, he wants to attack.
He don’t want to sing to himself a little ditty,
’Coz he just knows I’m on the right track.

I’m dancing to the tune of tomorrow.
You know it’s true.
I’m dancing to the tune of tomorrow.
Come on Lord, don’t look back.
Sing with me a little ditty,
’Coz You just know I’m on the right track.

XXI: Talking to thin air

2007-01-21T09:23:00.000Z

Sometimes it feels like I’m talking to thin air.

When I kneel before Your throne and You don’t notice me.
When I put my hands together and You don’t respond.
When I’ve done everything right but You’re still not there
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I glorify Your greatness but Your glory is withheld.
When I tell You how much I love You but the love’s not returned.
When I mouth the words I think I should say but my mind is elsewhere
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I ask very kindly but I do not receive.
When I knock on the door and nobody answers.
When I think I want something but I don’t really care
It seems as if I’m talking to thin air.

When I tell You all my worries and You don’t pay attention.
When I cry out for help and You don’t give me a hand.
When all I want is a crutch to make this life fair
Then I’m talking to thin air.

XX: Sacrifice

2007-01-14T10:30:00.000Z

Sturdy Oak.
Golden Bough.
Weeping Willow.
Tell me how.

How can it be
That such a tree
Should bear such pain
For you and me?

XIX: Fire!

2007-01-07T22:12:00.001Z

(after Langston Hughes)

Fire!

I’m on fire!
I’m burning!
I’m on fire for the Lord!
Filled with His spirit!
Oh yes!
I’m on fire!

Fire, Lord!

I’m on fire!
I’m burning!
I’m on fire in the depths of Hell!
Filled with sin!
Oh no!
I’m on fire!

Fire, Lord!
I’m on fire!

XVIII: Looking for love

2006-12-31T11:30:00.000Z

I looked for love everywhere.

I looked upstairs.
I looked behind the fridge.
I looked inside my pencil case
And underneath the bridge.
But it wasn’t there.

I looked for love – everywhere.

I looked under my pillow.
I looked inside my car.
I even looked up a girl’s skirt
And down her bra.
But it wasn’t there.

I looked for love – everywhere.

I searched through my drawers.
I combed through the grass.
I checked under my finger nails
During French class.
But it wasn’t there.

I looked for love – everywhere.

It wasn’t in England.
It wasn’t across the sea.
It wasn’t in the sky.
I found it in –
Me.

XVII: Gifts

2006-12-24T12:26:00.000Z

The Lord has given you many gifts.
They’re inside you.
You are the wrapping paper for God’s gifts.
Your hair is the ribbon.

When I first realised that God has given me gifts
I tried to figure out what they were.
I shook myself lightly.
Put my ear to my chest.
Looked at my shape and tried to guess what was inside.
Turned myself upside down and rattled myself.

But it was no good.
Eventually I went back to God and asked sweetly if He could help.
And He opened me up.

XVI: What I'm told

2006-12-17T10:34:00.000Z

God says do;
So I do.
God say don’t;
So I don’t.
But if He asks me to do that –
I won’t.

God says wait;
So I wait.
God says go;
So I go.
But if He tries to push me there –
I’ll say no.

God says ask;
So I ask.
God says pray;
So I pray.
But if He wants me to confront them –
I’ll run away.

God says hope;
So I hope.
God says try;
So I try.
But if He opens His arms like that –
I’ll cry.

XV: The divine image

2006-12-10T14:13:00.000Z

Jesus in a manger,
Looking up at me,
While anger blazes through the world, and sometimes
Men are cheating and sometimes men are lying,
Crying.

Jesus in his mother’s arms
Looks up at me,
While in distant lands sword crosses sword,
And blood is watered down with tears,
And fears.

Jesus on a cross,
Looking out at me,
While a thousand thousand empty faces
Wait beyond the blackness, and far across the sea,
Patiently.

Jesus in a manger,
Looking up at me.

XIV: The glory of God

2006-12-03T19:53:00.000Z

Welcome is every organ and attribute of me, and of any man hearty and clean,
Not an inch nor a particle of an inch is vile, and none shall be less familiar than the rest.
(Walt Whitman, Song of Myself: 3)

The glory of God is in my blood. Ooh, it feels good! It goes down my arteries and up my veins, into my ears and my toes. I tap my feet to its beat beat beat. I dance to its tune – the tune of the glory of God.

The glory of God is in my lungs. They fill up like pink balloons. I suck in as much as I can, I use it to sing and to shout. I let it settle on my tongue, mmmm, so cool and fresh, and then I purse my lips and whistle.

Yes – the glory of God is in me and it wants to get out. I shiver with the pleasure of it. It forces itself through my pores and trickles down my skin. I wipe it up but still it comes. I cut it off my hair and shed it off in dead cells. I cough it, I yawn it, I splutter it. Sometimes I have to spit it out because its sticking in my throat. God’s glory know no boundaries. It pushes itself through my fingernails and I hack it off. It clogs up my ears and my nose. I have to pick it out. I defecate it, I puke it, I ejaculate it. It even seeps out of my eyes – I cry with God’s glory because there’s so much inside me.

The glory of God is in my fingers. Ooh, it tingles and it lingers. It frizzes up my hair. Where did it come from? Where?

XIII: The journey

2006-11-26T23:26:00.000Z

I am on a train.
Where it is going
I do not know.

Actually, that’s a lie.
I know exactly where it's going.
But it sounded more poetic
Not to.

XII: Sometimes

2006-11-19T23:51:00.000Z

Sometimes I look at the flowers;
Sometimes I look at the rain.
O Lord when in Your glory
Will You come to me again!

Sometimes I drink my coffee;
Sometimes I drink my tea.
O Jesus let Your mercy
Come pouring down on me!

If ever there’s a place
And if ever there’s a time
For You to show Your face, O Lord,
It’s now! O please – be mine!

XI: Surgery

2006-11-12T09:18:00.000Z

Imagine.
In your head.
A banana.
It’s green.
What does that mean?

Take a knife.
Any knife.
A sharp knife.
And cut the banana.
In half.

Ooh!
It’s in two!
And how about you?

Watch.
It change.
From white.
To brown.
Don’t frown.

It’s natural.
It’s the air.
The banana’s in touch.
With the air.

You’re a banana.
Green.
And clean.
But God has a knife.
Are you afraid.
To lose.
Your life?

X: A sufficient blessing

2006-11-05T10:00:00.000Z

Where’s the joy and where the hope?
Where the passion and vigour of God?
Where the rapture? Where the praise?
Where the bounteous gifts of the Lord?

All I have is peace.
Peace in my heart; peace in my soul;
Peace in my mind: that is all.

What good is peace to me?
I can’t use peace to move a mountain.
Peace won’t make a shield to fend off sin.
I won’t win many battles with peace.
Peace won’t carry my burdens very far.

Where’s the sword and where the cross?
Where the roots to hold the tree?
Where the lion? Where the strength?
Where the power promised to me?

All I have is peace.

IX: Something in common

2006-10-28T23:19:00.000Z

Whenever I talk to people, they talk back to me.
It's strange I know, but there it is, and I can't
Help but feel a truth lies hidden in this statement
That will enlighten many. It's far beyond my meagre
Powers to say much more about it, but maybe if we
Work together, you and I, we shall have some success.

Why don’t you start us off – tell me a story. Something
Simple, something truthful, something that will help me
Understand the workings of your mind. Thankyou, yes,
This is very interesting – I too was born, I can’t deny it.
I believe it happens to many of us. But this is good.
We have something great in common and it will serve us well.

Now, please, you ask me something. Ah, very good.
What do I expect for the future? Well, friend,
I suppose I hope for many things, but the one
Event of which I’m certain is that I’ll die. Oh – you
Agree? Well, this is excellent. We are not so different,
You and I! Come comrade, brother, fellow sojourner,
Let us walk arm-in-arm and talk of many things!

VIII: Jesus is my friend

2006-10-22T09:50:00.000Z

Jesus is my friend.
I took him for a walk.
We didn’t get home ‘til half past ten
And all the time we talked.

Jesus is so cool.
He knows all kinds of stuff.
I never get tired of listening to him,
He never says “that’s enough”.

Jesus could be famous.
He wants to write a book.
If only you could read it
I think you would be hooked.

VII: So you think you're a sinner?

2006-10-15T07:31:00.000Z

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I'm more sinful than you.

You don't speak to your neighbour?
So what? I might be nice to mine, but really
I resent him, I envy him, I hate his guts.
I want to be just like him and have his life.
If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't even smile at him.

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I'm more sinful than you.

You lie and manipulate to be successful?
Is that the best you can do? I might never lie,
But I always want to get my own way.
I want to crush anyone who stands in my path.
If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't be so kind.

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I'm more sinful than you.

You stole a bicycle from a small child?
You're an angel next to me! I might never steal,
But I dream at night of power and wealth.
I want to make people notice me and see how great I am.
If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't seem so humble.

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I'm more sinful than you.

You cheated on your wife? With three different women?
And you think that's bad? I might never cheat on mine,
But I have wild, unspeakable fantasies. I want to be in control
And have whoever I desire for myself.
If it wasn't for God, I wouldn't seem so loyal.

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I'm more sinful than you.

You killed your brother? And your friend got
Imprisoned for it? Actually, that is pretty bad,
I've never wanted to do that. But on Good Friday,
I get together with a bunch of other weirdos and
Bay for Christ's blood. Have you ever done that?
If you really want to be a sinner, you should try it.

You think you're sinful? Huh! That's nothing.
I might never have sinned, but I'm more sinful than you.

VI: The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways

2006-10-08T21:30:00.000Z

There was a young woman from Stoke
Who wanted to marry a bloke.
She said to God, "Please,"
God said, "You're a tease!"
And sent her a vodka and coke.

There was a young man from Ephesus
Who wanted to be the next Jesus.
He said to God, "Please,"
God said, "You're a tease!"
And sent him a week of the measles.

There was a giraffe from Peru
Who wanted to meet Dr Who.
It said to God, "Please,"
God said, "You're a tease!"
And sent it to London Zoo.

Don't worry, He has other plans for us!

V: My One and Only

2006-10-01T09:44:00.000Z

Do not be shy, O my turtle dove,
For I shall treat you well.
Your face shines more brightly than God above,
Of your beauty no tongue can tell.

Look on my features, created for you,
And your body, fitted to mine.
Our love is so perfect, we need nought else.
We exist outside of time.

O Love, O Love,
Come quickly, come,
And I’ll lay you beside me
Right under the Sun.

Cast off your family, abandon your home
And never go back there again.
For the past is no longer needed, my dear,
It will only cause you pain.

Do not be uncertain, my angel of light,
For I shall provide all you need.
Your doubts will pass once under the covers
Our bodies true love have decreed.

O Love, O Love,
Come quickly, come,
And I’ll lay you beside me
Right under the Sun.

Your skin so soft, your flesh so firm,
I hardly know where I am.
I can’t be responsible for everything, love,
I’m only a mortal man.

Please don’t be angry, do not cry out,
Do not forsake me now.
No I can’t! I still love you – of course I do,
I shall figure out a way how.

O Love, O Love,
Come quickly, come,
And I’ll lay you beside me
Right under the Sun.

It cannot be that I have done wrong.
All I did was to be in love.
Love is so great it cannot be ignored.
I still want you, my turtle dove!

Where are you going to? Where, O where?
I thought you loved me too.
I thought I was your all, your best.
Am I not enough for you?

O Love, O Love,
Come quickly, come,
And I’ll lay you beside me
Right under the Sun.

Now I am alone. My soul is dry.
My judgment no longer seems best.
I thought I knew how the world turned,
I thought I was not like the rest.

O where are you now, my one and only?
My love is reserved for you.
Come to me quickly, wash me clean,
And make me a man anew.

O Lord, O Lord,
Come quickly, come,
And I’ll lay down before you
Right under the Son.

IV: The Mountain

2006-09-24T17:02:00.000Z

There is a mountain not far from here.
It is very tall and it has lots of trees on the side.
Sometimes there is a bit of snow at the top.
A man told me that bears live in caves on the mountain.
I have never seen one but there are lots of caves.
Once a helicopter crashed on the mountain and started
A fire that burnt a lot of the trees.
But most of the trees have grown back now.
There is a stream that flows down the mountain.
It goes past here and sometimes children splash in it.
It is a very strange mountain because there aren’t
Any other mountains for a long way around.
I think that is because of something that happened in the Earth’s crust.
People here work very hard so they don’t have
Much time to climb the mountain.
I think some of them have stopped noticing it is there.
But right now all I want to do is go to the
Top of the mountain and proclaim the glory of the Lord.

III: He is Hidden

2006-09-17T20:19:00.000Z

Why is Your glory hidden from me?
I only want to know You, but instead I know
My neighbour and I don’t even like him.
Why are Your mysteries out of reach?
I only want to do Your work, but instead I work
For my boss and I don’t even like him
Why are You so distant?
I only want to talk to You, but instead I talk
To my friend and I don’t even like him.
Why do You not reveal yourself?
I only want to see You, but instead I see
Big crowds of people and I don’t even like them.
Why is Your love withheld from me?
I only want to be Your child, but instead I am the child
Of my parents and I don’t even like them.
Why do I feel dry of Your grace?
I only want to break Your bread, but instead I break
My own heart and I don’t even like it.

II: Life

2006-09-10T12:14:00.000Z

Life starts when you are born and ends when you die.
That means that all of the time in the middle you are living.
When you are living you can do lots of things you can’t do when you are dead.
Here are some of the things you can do:

Sail on the ocean.
Make lots of money and put it in a bank and take it out of the cash machine.
Jump up and down in the same spot.
Work for the government.
Ride on a motorbike next to other people riding on motorbikes.
Pray in the morning with a glass of orange juice.
Hold your breath for a long time.
Meet someone who is really famous.
Listen to the trees.
Buy a newspaper you’ve never bought before.
Read the books of the Bible in a weird order.
Go to three parties in the same week.
Hate other people’s pet dogs.
Eat recipes you made up yourself.
Show other people some of these things that mean a lot to you.

I: A simple solution

2006-09-03T22:24:00.000Z

Two and two make four.
Three and three make six.
Life is very simple with
The right building-bricks!

Elephants are big
But mice are very small.
It's also very simple
To be a know-it-all!

Here's the solution -
Pray you mark it well.
Actually, I've changed my mind -
I'm not going to tell.