Seasoned Scene Sonnet

Isa.45:5-6&12 

(click link to read the whole powerful chapter)

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you,

though you have not acknowledged me,

so that from the rising of the sun

to the place of its setting

people may know there is none besides me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other...

It is I who made the earth

and created mankind on it.

My own hands stretched out the heavens;

I marshaled their starry hosts.

The morning melts the dark, the heavens spawn 

Dawn’s ever-ebbing shadows from the air 

Unrolling, like a bolt of blush chiffon 

Gilt gossamer that tumbles through our stare 

Unveiling labour, love and longing’s stage 

Where scenes change with each season’s ordered rite 

While overhead the heavens never age 

But mark the night and day with dark and light 

To leave its imprint not in stars, but hearts 

A script composed of constant no return

As ways and means of circumstance imparts 

An ever-startling scope of more-to-learn 

Hope, like a bud that still withholds the rose 

Keeps us caught between knees and tippy-toes 

© Janet Martin

Forever-Chris Tomlin

Free Fortune

 PAD Challenge day 17: For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Free (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

A fissure in yon vault

Expands, ruby and gold

Like music, flows into a waltz

That heaven cannot hold

A whisper shatters deeps

Renewal gathers sway

And draws from dust and ashen heaps

Hope’s phoenix of new day

The friendships we released

As darkness set its seal

Arranges a fantastic feast 

Of mercies to reveal

© Janet Martin

Jeremiah's (and our) hope...

 Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, 

for His compassions never fail.

 They are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness.

Lam.3:22-23

His Ways...

Futile to try with script of men

To pry God’s language from His pen

But let the wonder of His ways

Anoint our blund’ring prose with praise

His ways, so much higher than we

Who are transfixed by what we see

Can, like no other mastermind

Waken the worship of mankind

Then, woe to we who dare to rave

While disregarding He who gave

For what is man of lowly limb

That God is yet mindful of him

And who are we to question He

Who IS, WAS and always WILL BE

The earth and its fullness thereof

Belongs to He who authored love

Behold, the beauty of the Lord

His ways too wonder-full for word

Where the author of Awesome art

Looks to the language of the heart

© Janet Martin

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

Without speech or language,

without a sound to be heard,

their voice has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

Outer Fringes

Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways;

how faint is the whisper we hear of Him!

 Job 26:14

Both sunset last night...

...and sunrise this morning

...were of exceptional caliber and colour!
Like an ethereal orchestra!

(it inspired a personal 'psalm' of sorts)

Psalm 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

Without speech or language,

without a sound to be heard,

their voice a has gone out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun

like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and runs its circuit to the other;

nothing is deprived of its warmth. 

Master of Creation

Maestro of the sea

Author of salvation

For humanity

Dark and light are driven

Beneath Thy command

Artist of the heavens

Sculptor of the land

Comforter of sorrow

Keeper of Time’s toll

Father to the sparrow

And man’s deathless soul

Hope in doubt’s confusion

Shepherd to the flock

Peace amidst the doom in

Human-natured talk

Both Taker and Giver

Goodness, mercy, love

Guides the rippling river

To the ocean’s trove

Ruler of each season

There is none like Thee

Who else defies reason

Without Reason’s plea

Who else grants seed’s ration

Or saves us by grace

Taking kind compassion

On this human race

Who Thy might can fathom

None else can compare

Invisible awesome

Lamplighter of air

© Janet Martin

 There is none like You, O LORD; 

You are great, and great is Your name in might.

Jer.10:6

Psalm 86:8
O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours.
Psalm 86:10
For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.

Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? 

who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Psalm 89:5-8

 The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD—

Your faithfulness as well—

in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies can compare with the LORD?

Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?

In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared,

and awesome above all who surround Him.

O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You?

O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You. 

Job 38:12
(click link to read the following four chapters of awesome declarations of God's might)

 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,

Perfect Point Of View

 This was one of those mornings that had earthlings oh-mying and wowing to high heaven!

I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;

Psalm 59:16

Dawn’s frameless sweeps

Of pastel pink

And molten gold

And silver-blue

Turns everywhere

We turn to look

Into a perfect

Point of view

© Janet Martin