brandy

Old Age

Time is a hunter

I am his prey

Since birth he has sought me

From him I flee each day

Thus far I have eluded him

But I don’t know how much longer

And run and run as I do

I am always in his sight

Long withered arms reach out

Thin aged fingers seek me

Since birth it has been so

But still the chase goes on

A winkle in my shirt

His hands have a hold

But still I must escape him

For I will never be old

Must I move so slowly?

My hair is turning grey

And I ‘m so short of breath

But still... I must run

I feel him pulling me down

My eyes are becoming weak

My heart throbs from the strain

But the hunted can never give up

My lungs begin to burn

And I have fallen to my knees

Looking up I see him

As he passes over me

Now I too am old

White hair blown by the wind

Since birth he had sought me

And now his work is done

The Love of the Shepherd

Wolves were howling at the door of the fold

And the shepherd knew it could never hold

It needed repairs and the gate was weak

But he had promised to save his sheep

His father had told him what he must do

To strengthen the fold and make it as new

Whatever the cost, it must be paid

A new cornerstone would have to be laid

(chorus)

The love of the Shepherd

Was for his sheep

The love of the Shepherd

His promise he’d keep

The wolves had gathered once more at the gate

Stepping outside he did not hesitate

And the shepherd knew just what must be done

The wolves were given the life of the son

Covered with blood they threatened no more

Leaving his grave he had strengthened the door

And because the shepherd had kept his vow

All who enter are safe even now

(chorus)

The love of the Shepherd

Was for his sheep

The love of the Shepherd

His promise he’d keep

Pages of My Life **

Today I was writing on a page of my life

Things I had done, cheating and strife

Each page was filled with lies and with hate

I was trapped in my world, there was no escape

Each day was adding more things I had done

Again and again, one by one

It was clear to see as I wrote each page

There was no chance of me ever reaching old age

Then one day as my lips again lied

I thought of something I had not yet tried

Walking nearby I saw an old man

A bottle in a sack he had in his hand

Briskly I walked until I was behind

Stealing that bottle, I had on my mind

Quickly I snatched it from the old man’s grasp

It was mine, it was mine, I thought at last

As I turned to run, I heard the sound

Of the tearing sack, bottle struck the ground

A stone, a stone so very small

Had shattered the bottle as it ended its fall

As the liquid spilled out and splattered all around

The world had stopped and there was no sound

Stunned for a moment by the recent event

Myself I found in the hands of the old gent

Struggle and turn and kick and strain

I couldn’t pull loose, my freedom to regain

Surrender I did, then I realized

The look of kindness in the old man’s eyes

Caught by his gaze my struggling ceased

I didn’t even notice I had been released

A single word from his lips was sent

To my ears, to my mind, to my heart, Repent

The word was echoed through my evil mind

Not just once but for countless times

Etching itself on the walls of my heart

Repent, repent, and from Satan depart

The old man’s presence I was again aware

That look in his eyes, he really did care

Standing in silence I watched as he turned

Just one word was spoken and he knew I had learned

I was writing today on a page of my life

It was the end of the lies and the end of the strife

The old man’s word was bound in memory

Repent and live from now through eternity

In this poem, The old man represents an angel and the bottle represents a life of sin.

The small stone that broke the bottle was Jesus.

The liquid in the bottle were the sins which had been hidden but were cast into the light.

For Amy (Ee-mia)

In a field of grass

Stands the giant oak

Beneath the tree a lass

A prayer she softly spoke

In the leaves above

A gentle breeze did whisper

It uttered words of love

A squirrel twitched it’s whisker

The clouds above had knelt

Sunlight ran on beams

A loving touch was felt

The hand remained unseen

The lass has long since gone

The loyal oak has fallen

Memories of that once sweet song

Still echo in the halls of Heaven

The End

Darkness gathered in the sky above

Lightening struck and thunder roared

Such as this had not been seen

By me or anyone there before.

A storm came in upon the land

With a wind of greatest power

The Fire fell from the heavens

Burning all before my eyes

Many friends fell near me

Crying from their pain

Begging God for death to come

And end this awful day

Racing through my frightened mind

My life of cheats and lies

As I watched the Earth was torn

And fire came from the gaping wound

Unseen hands began to push

And people fell into the fire

I felt the hands upon my back

And the flames seemed even higher

Harder they pushed as the edge came near

And I cried out to a merciful God

Screaming his name as others did

And panic grew out of fear

Why must I die

Why must it be

You chose to save Lot

But why not me?

Silence came as I fell from the edge

And just as I ceased to be

I heard a voice so softly say

' I never knew you, You never knew me '

The Last

He told of how so long ago

Friends and he had come

Searching for a fruitful meadow

A home for one called Adam

Adam was not one of them

He lived here on this land

They took him from a great tree limb

And changed him with their hand

The story spread so far and fast

Belief in it was great

Man was not created last

He was just an altered ape

Many fled the ancient laws

Given by Jehovah

Men struck out with sword and claw

To kill and loot and plunder

Together they amassed themselves

In armies as never seen

Marching toward the peaceful city

Of those who still believed

They covered the land and filled the skies

Machines and beasts and men

Going forth to destroy at last

Those fools who believe in sin

The armies came from north and east

To where it all began

Then fire fell and consumed them

Courtesy of the Great I Am

Eyes of a child

A young child was I

Playing in the dust of the street

Building small hills and fields

And making winding paths

A beautiful day it was

Mother had gone to the well

Father was gathering his tools

I had been playing with them

Cheerful birds sang nearby

Looking for a single grain

To fall from a passing basket

To be part of their daily meal

Distant shouting broke the peace

My eyes could not see them

But the dust rose from their feet

And I just sat there waiting

Then I saw the first one

And the second and the third

Soon the distant street was filled

And their shouts became much louder

Soldiers walked ahead of them

Demanding “clear the way”

I was lifted by a single hand

And thrown like a sack to the side

Falling to the street so hard

My knee upon the stone

Blood began to trickle down

And tears had filled my eyes

The crowd passed by with so much noise

So many I could not see

I wondered if my hills and paths

Would still be there for me

Weeping women followed close

And soon they all were gone

To my hills and paths I ran

Nothing stood , not one

Father put me on his back

And followed the shouting crowd

To a place outside the wall

But still I could not see

Soldiers lunged into the crowd

Men were falling all around

Pushing , striking , shouting

And we also fell upon the ground

Standing on my feet again

I saw them against the sky

The soldiers did not notice me

As I quietly passed them by

One of them was cursing

Others cried out in pain

Then I saw his eyes on me

I thought to turn and run

A gentle smile he gave to me

Silent words he spoke

The hurt had left my injured knee

The gash no longer there

I had seen this man sometime before

He had sat me on his knee

I could not understand just why

They had nailed him to that tree

The Miner

Sweat is dripping from my weary brow
I’ll make it through this day somehow
My ears are filled with the hammers ring
My spirit’s high and my heart does sing

Chisels glistening in the flickering light
No way to tell if it’s day or night
Half a mile from the air above
Half a mile from the ones I love

Fifteen years on toe and heel
Hammers singing on cold hard steel
Drilling holes for the dynamite
Loosening coal to last the night

The mountain rumbles from far below
Choking dust, so far to go
Brandy, Brandy, my dearest one
To hold you near in the early sun

Shovels scraping an awful sound
Groaning and straining from all around
Filling cars on a two rail track
Silently praying that I’ll make it back

Time is gone, there is no hope
Too much gas, too much smoke
My dearest one remember me
In Heaven we’ll meet for eternity

It Was Lost

It was lost

And I called

But it was lost

I searched here

I searched there

And I called

But it was lost

Then I saw it

Very close by

It heard me call

But it was lost

I called again

And still again

Not looking at me

But it was lost

Then it turned

And looked at me

It felt so sad

Because it was lost

I called again

Held out my hand

One small step

It was home again

It was about me. Yes. About me.

I was lost and Jesus was looking for me. Yes. Looking for me.

I did not know who was calling me. No I did not.

It was Jesus. Yes. It was Jesus.

He searches for those who are lost. Yes. Searches for those who are lost.

The Door of My Heart

Satan has brought his world

To the doorstep of my heart

Pleasant and cheerful is he

Wise to those who follow him

To those who heed his words

But within seeths the darkness of sin

My Lord stands at the door of my heart

And evil can never pass

Satan stands without, tempting with riches

With lust of the flesh and lies

Promising pleasures and fame

Asking that I kneel before him

To serve and give glory and praise

But my Lord only smiles at me

Knowing I will not depart

Satan deceives many and sends them to me

To cast shadows and fill my mind with doubt

With the empty questions of fools

With the falseness of deceit

With the hollowness of hatred

But my Lord is my Master

Only Him do I hear

Satan roars at me in his anger

And those with him stand in awe

But he is like a squeeking mouse

Having no power over me

Having no possible victory

For my Lord is my protector

To Him I’ll cling forever

I Only Need

I don’t need the riches of the land

I don’t need the fate of others in my hand