Battle Cry

Once more the morning-light breathes on the night and Time expands

Once more we touch the floor toward the door of its demands

And though we do not know what may unfold within its call

Once more we trust the One who goes before us through it all

The poppies blow in Flander’s Field and none can drag Death’s deep

To resurrect what Heaven seals within its sacred keep

Then we should give more earnest heed where hours bleed their vaunt

To He who knows our utter need in spite of what we want

That You should hear our prayers at all oh God, is hard to grasp

We fall then call and oh, it seems we should not dare to ask

Yet God, so rich in patience does not bar his mercy-door

But fills the night with morning light and grace to fight once more

Ephemeral unfolding, moments mold from present, Past

And soon if Time persists the mists of morn form shadows cast

Upon the field where need and yield insists on our return

Where morning light breathes on the night new life-lessons to learn

…once, on a hill at Calvary the God which we fight for

Sent His One Son to set us free forever-evermore

Love is His single weapon; come and lift its banner high

For now once more He fills the night with morning’s battle-cry

© Janet Martin

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Eph. 6:10-18

Another Fall Comes Falling Down

Can you see the colors of another fall come falling down?

Can you feel the steel undoing of autumn’s blush arabesque?

Can you hear those fingers linger boreal against the crown

Of her stately woodland effigy that once was flushed with jest?

Can you see the stark, dark stature of nature in cold repose?

Can you taste upon the stiffness of the gale Time’s o-o-o-h-s and a-a-a-h-s?

Oh, and can you hear the weeping of the stilly-sleeping rose

Like a dirge among the fragment-splurge of everything that was

Can you smell upon the afternoon the blue of early dusk?

Wood-smoke prelude to appointments of unfeigned reality

Tell me, were you with the maidens that would swoon at him, bold, brusque

While his whispers caroused and stripped summer from every tree?

Can you hear among the quietness a sort of interlude?

Heaven’s hush before the rush of white plush rivers fills the air

Can you feel the reel of moments seal into nature subdued

Quickened colors of another fall come falling down Time’s stair

© Janet Martin  

Mom Bartering with her Boy

A penny for your thought, my dear

A penny for your thought

Because to share our thoughts, my dear

Is really all we’ve got

A dime to share your thought, my boy

A dime to keep or spend

But if you share your thoughts, my boy

This dime will buy a friend

A quarter for your thought, my son

A quarter just for you

And if you share your thoughts, my son

Then I might make it two

A dollar to keep quiet, mum

I’ll send it in the mail

These thoughts are all I have, sweet mum

And they are not for sale

© Janet Martin

Heart Trouble

 PAD Challenge day 10:For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) Trouble,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and write the poem.

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Ps. 4:4

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Ps.119:11

The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip. Ps.37:31

I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart."  Ps.40:8

The terrible terror of sin

That seeks to lord within

 Oh where can we begin

To break its hold apart

Your Word, your word oh God

Is like a mighty rod

Where weakness can be shod

With armies in the heart

The lion of the deep

Roams to and fro to seek

The struggling one, the weak

To deceive and devour

Your Word, your Word, oh Lord

Is like a two-edged sword

It slays dark demon-hoards

With sacred, sovereign power

The spirit is willing but oh

The flesh is feeble, so

To God’s word we must go

To battle fiends of hell

Your Word, your Word, Jesus

Kindly, gently frees us

Where vice trembles, teases

You whisper ‘it is well’

© Janet Martin

Faith-trouble

To hope in One we cannot see

To know while circumstance deceives

Takes more than this mortality

Can muster; Lord, help us believe

To trust in God’s infinite grace

To rest in peace amidst life’s storm

Takes more than fingers can embrace  

Or fathom in this flesh-blood form

To reach without tangible touch

To love beyond regard for cost

To give without knowing how much

To make God our sole soul-boast…

…takes more than we can prove with might

This ‘hope that maketh not ashamed’

Where ‘we live by faith, not by sight’

Tests every Promise we have claimed

© Janet Martin

Living Hope

 ...who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;…1 Pet. 1:5-7