The Hunt for Christ Revision 2

 The Hunt for Christ

When I'm young

It’s about the sweets—
Gathering at the start line,
waiting for the signal.
Leaving everyone I know
behind me, I dash off in pursuit.

The chocolate, the candy,

Chocolate bunnies, Easter eggs.

It's the thrill of the hunt

And the treasures inside.

When I'm older

It’s a different day, but not a special day.
Sit through a church sermon,
go shopping, and cook.
Relatives, even those unfavorable ones,
Make a special trip to the house,
Where we laugh our way through conversation.
When everyone leaves, the cleaning begins.

I hunt for a reason to even be excited. 

When I'm dying
I finally see the importance.
It's peeling back the layers that society
has covered Easter in—looking beyond circumstances
and fabrications of the day.

I reflect back on the resurrection.

Salvation from the cross,

The love of my Savior.

I know there is life after death. 

My hunt for Christ has been satisfied.

Sonnet Revision #1

Life without You

The first streaks of light peek through my curtains.

I lie in bed, despondent for the day ahead.

I choose to dream of times we spent together.

When will you return?  How long will you stay

This time? Our nights are getting briefer

As the days without you elongate.

I close my eyes and allow you to flood

Over my thoughts, till the world becomes still. 

  

I cannot wait for your presence anymore.  

I must move on and live this day without you. 

With reluctance, I open my eyes and rise

Out of bed, knowing our time was short-lived.

But throughout the day, I think of you—

Please come back in my life, my precious sleep.

Villanelle Poem

This Moment

On bended knee, he gave himself to thee—

his heart, his promise, all disguised in gold.

And reality replaced fantasy. 

He knew that together their life would be

whole.  Whatever path that would soon unfold,

On bended knee, he gave himself to thee.

She stood, there speechless.  She did not foresee.

This moment she would remember and hold—

And reality replaced fantasy. 

He reached for her hand, and in jubilee,

told how together they would grow old. 

On bended knee, he gave himself to thee. 

Flustered, tongue-tied, excited, and giddy,

With one last look in his eyes, she was sold.    

And reality replaced fantasy. 

They joined together on a new journey

Where they would write a story yet untold.

On bended knee, he gave himself to thee,

And reality replaced fantasy.  

The Hunt for Christ Revision 1

 The Hunt for Christ

When I'm young

It’s about the sweets—
Gathering at the start line,
waiting for the signal.
Leaving everyone I know
behind me, I dash off in pursuit.

The chocolate, the candy,

Chocolate bunnies, Easter eggs.

It's the thrill of the hunt

And the treasures inside.

When I'm older

It’s a different day, but not a special day.
Sit through a church sermon,
go shopping, and cook.
Relatives, even those unfavorable ones,
Make a special trip to the house,
Where we laugh our way through conversation.
When everyone leaves, the cleaning begins.

I hunt for a reason to even be excited. 

When I'm dying
I finally see the importance.
It's peeling back the layers that society
has covered Easter in—looking beyond circumstances
and fabrications of the day.

I reflect back on the resurrection.

Salvation from the cross,

The love of my Savior.

I know there is life after death. 

My hunt for Christ has been satisfied.

The Hunt for Christ (rough draft)

The Hunt for Christ

When you’re young:

It’s about the sweets—

The chocolate, the candy,

Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies.

The thrill of the hunt

And the treasures inside.

When you’re older:

It’s just another day

To sit and attend church.

Shopping for candy, visiting relatives,

Cleaning and cooking—it’s just a checklist.

You hunt for a reason to even be excited. 

When you’re dying:

You reflect back on the resurrection.

Salvation from the cross,

The love of our Savior.

You know there is life after death. 

The hunt for Christ has been satisfied.

Sonnet

How I miss the way you make me stable,

Always putting my mind and heart to ease.

Just the thought of you alone can make me

Melt with satisfaction, anticipation.

Why have you wandered astray from me?

And when reunited, you push me away?

A love suffocated from demands, work. 

I long for the love we had when I was young.

But no, I cannot take this any longer.

The past behind us, let us make a new future,

Where you and I are together each night,

Sharing in dreams, in hopes, in desires. 

I just may weep, for I have missed you dearly.

Please come back in my life, my precious sleep.  

Narrative Poems Revision 1

 —NBA Star

They said they was only gonna sign me for 20 million. 

That ain’t enough to feed my family.  I got four children. 

I gotta provide for them.  They deserve the best from their father. 

So if you want me, you gonna have to pay me more than that. 

I spend my weekends on my yacht—with a bunch of women.
For only one million, I couldn't pass it up.
I divide my time between my four houses.  Not evenly though—
I spend most of my time at my house on the east coast.

But my children, man, they mean everything to me. 

My family, they are my top priority. 

I don’t let my children on my yacht or go to the other houses—

I’m protecting them, having them stay on the west coast.    

I know that I’m not allowed to see them anymore. 

But I still send them money once a year—50 dollars each. 

I work to give them a good future.  I treasure them,

All three of them—um—I mean four.  

...

—Professional Basketball Player 

Women are just an object. 

         I have been married five times.  But I was the one to file for divorce twice.   

         I have seven children.  But thankfully I don't have custody of them.  

         Monthly child support payments suck.  But I have enough money to cover it.

Money is everything. 

         I have a six car garage.  They are stocked with six cars, two motorcycles.

         I have two acres of land.  There is a regulation size basketball court in the back.

         I have money to buy whatever I want.  The newest iPhone, laptop, or TV—it's mine.  

Age is just a number. 

         They say I am too old for basketball.  I’m 37. 

         They say I can’t run as fast I used to.  I only had one knee surgery. 

         They say I can’t shoot layups as well anymore.  If everyone moved out of my way, I could. 

What am I worth?

         Only $150,000

...

—Professional Boxer 

Upper cut, jab, hook, round kick—that was my move. 

Living in the rink, beating men to a pulp,

No police ever knocked on my door.    

The crazy thing?  I actually got paid

For something considered crime on the streets.

For a living, I knocked out men claimed stronger than me.    

With the money, I did what any other person would—

Spent it on new obsessions of cars and motorcycles. 

4.5 million was all that it cost,

Whatever I wanted, I bought for myself.   

And it brought me joy to brew jealousy in others,

Watching them drool at the life that I lived. 

But one night everything went down the drains.

I took my career to the streets and this time the police were there.

The drug bust didn’t help—got sent to prison for the next three years. 

Then my wife divorced me, married for six years. 

Said I changed since we first met in 2000—

Now a liar, a cheater, disgusting to be around. 

The IRS is constantly on my case,

Saying “Where is your payment?” and “Time is ticking.”

My money went fast—now 27 million in debt. 

I’ve got nothing left, but my houses and cars,

But soon the IRS will be after those too. 

I’ll cling to my possessions, that’s all I have left. 

Upper cut, jab, hook, round kick—that was my move. 

Ain’t nobody gonna fight me.  

I’ll give anybody a fight for my money.

Narrative Poems

 NBA Star

They said they was only gonna sign me for $20 million. 

That ain’t enough to feed my family.  I got four children. 

I gotta provide for them.  They deserve the best from their father. 

So if you want me, you gonna have to pay me more than that. 

I got my yacht to take care of—or rather pay someone else to. 

For only one million, I couldn’t pass it up. 

And with having four houses in four different states,

I’m constantly traveling from one to the other. 

But my children, man, they mean everything to me. 

My family, they are my top priority. 

I don’t let my children on my yacht or go to the other houses—

I’m protecting them, having them stay right where they are.    

I know that I’m not allowed to see them anymore. 

But I still send them money once a year—$50 dollars each. 

I work to give them a good future.  I treasure them,

All three of them, um, I mean four.  

...

NBA Star

Age is just a number. 

         They say I am too old for basketball.  I’m 37. 

         They say I can’t run as fast I used to.  I only had one knee surgery. 

         They say I can’t shoot layups as well anymore.  If everyone moved out of my way, I could. 

Women are just an object. 

         I have been married five times. 

         I have seven children.

         Monthly child support payments suck.

Money is everything. 

         My garage is stocked with eight cars.

         My house has a regulation size basketball court.

         I can always the afford the newest gadget.     

What am I worth?

         $150,000