The arrival of spring and April being National Poetry Month became the impetus for this selection of poetry and lyrics that I chose to share with you on my blog. However, April is a busy month for me and I got sidetracked while trying to finish this collection. So I present it to you today.
I think of spring and I think of renewal and that brought about the idea for the poem at the center of this short selection. I hope you enjoy this collection of my poetry and that it is inspiring to you as we enter spring and as each of us seeks renewal.
The selection starts with a poem called “Spinning Wheel” which reminds me that life can become very difficult and we can all get lost and mired in the muck. We need the hope that comes from renewal, from a second chance, from a new day. The selection continues with poems about hope and solace during the frenetic pace of daily life. I hope you all enjoy this work and these words for I am proud to share them with you.
“Spinning Wheel”
My mind is torrid, on a frenetic pace
My body feels like it’s mounted on a wheel.
I have to summon up the courage to face –
It all, but oh, how awful I feel.
Spinning, feeling like I’ve lost the center –
Of gravity and it can all just tumble down;
I have to relax and let calm enter.
These feelings I have to drown.
Though it stems from places out of my control;
The source is hard to quantify.
It’s buried deep inside my heart and soul;
I can’t wait ‘til this feeling passes me by.
I feel it in my head down to my toes;
I don’t know whether to sit or stand.
It slows down and then suddenly it grows;
Spinning frantically wish I could use my hand –
And swat it away like a pesky fly.
It’s gone on for hours, been here for days;
I can’t concentrate although I try.
I have to come up with some new ways –
To cope with this cumbersome distraction
Before it consumes what’s left of me.
Have to devise a whole different reaction;
So from this spinning wheel I’ll be set free.
“Grace Abides”
I look back now and can see
All the ways Your grace saved me
I retrace my steps to find
That Your grace is gentle and kind
Through all of my worry and fear
Your grace abides to hold me near
I’ve been lost and in despair
And Your grace has always been there
To lift me out of the darkness
To show me there’s more with less
You took everything away
I couldn’t live for one day –
Without Your grace in my heart
I never want to be apart
In the silence I hear Your Voice
Through free will I’m given a choice
I choose You, Lord, choose Your side
So that, through me, Your grace can abide
A light for those living in isolation
A hope for those burdened by sin
Let me be Your hands and feet
So, through me, Your grace can complete
And change others so they come to know –
And Your grace abides in their hearts to grow.
“Evening Swim”
A day’s worth of work is done
Today’s battles are both lost and won
As the evening draws the sunlight dim
I head to the gym for a good swim
The water is lukewarm, neither hot or cold
The smell of chemicals, so very bold
I begin my laps slowly at first –
And then gradually my stroke adds burst
Until my arms and legs are in unison
And I lose count of the laps again
The evening sun rays fade in the background
As the time moves along and gray clouds surround –
To drown out the light like a dying candle.
As I keep swimming, my lungs full –
With air, precious air, God has given;
So that I can accomplish His mission.
I think of all the people I met that day;
And how our lives crossed in a special way.
I promise God that I’ll do the same –
Tomorrow, if I’m that lucky to make that claim.
I swim faster and push hard off the wall
Blessed to have this life, to respond to His call.
I’ll exit the pool feeling rejuvenated and free
Ready for wherever God will next send me.
“Renewal”
Spring showers feed the ground
So the beauty of nature can abound
The wind blows gently in the trees
The hopeful noise from birds, crickets, bees –
Joined by longer days of warm sunlight
Gazing up at the stars on a mild, clear night
The renewal of Earth, renewal of the soul
Seems to rectify the loss of control –
Which can be daunting during winter’s wrath
Spring brings with it a clear path
So we can see things in ways brand new
The renewal of hope, the renewal of promise
Days filled with progress, days filled with bliss
The butterflies glide gracefully in a field
Feeling all of your tension begin to yield
The trees and flowers bloom and grow
Summer will arrive before we know
The renewal of joy, renewal of long days
The renewal of life in so many ways
The renewal of promises coming true
The renewal of both me and you
I have shared some of my song lyrics in the past here on “Frank’s Forum” and the lyrics and verse from this particular piece I wrote, which is copyright protected by the U.S. Copyright Office, really resonated with me as I was putting together ideas for this selection of poetry. I share it with you in the hope that it inspires you:
“Celebrate Your Sacrifice”
We celebrate Your sacrifice Lord God Almighty
You came to save us all from sin and evil
You cured the sick, walked on the Sea of Galilee
For our salvation Your Precious Blood did spill
Lord You are the spotless Lamb
Lord You are the sinless victim
Lord You are the Father’s perfect plan
Let all nations bow and give You praise
You lift us up when we have fallen
You guide us to the path that’s true
Your compassion forgives us again and again
Your Death and Rising made all things new
We celebrate Your sacrifice, Our God and King
We praise Your Holy Name across the land
Oh Lord Jesus You created every living thing
Your love for us is too great to understand
Jesus You called us all to love one another
Jesus You taught us to serve the poor and ill
Jesus You are meek and humble of heart
Jesus You gave us each a mission to fulfill
We celebrate Your sacrifice, Our God and King
We praise Your Holy Name across the land
Oh Lord Jesus You created every living thing
Your love for us is too great to understand
You spread Your Good News through twelve men
They preached it to the world and died for it
You said You will return one day again
Until then You gave us The Holy Spirit
Be our compass and guide when we’re weak
Lord help us to remain strong in the rising tide
It is Your love and forgiveness we seek
Lord, in You, all our hopes we will confide
We celebrate Your sacrifice, Our God and King
We praise Your Holy Name across the land
Oh Lord Jesus You created every living thing
Your love for us is too great to understand
You called all Christians to protect the world
You called all Christians to protect all people
Give us the courage Lord to heed the call
Give us the strength Lord to overcome our fear
Give us a sign of hope Oh Lord
Like when You were Transfigured on the Mountain
Let us not all perish by the sword
Help us to overcome the snares of sin
We celebrate Your sacrifice, Our God and King
We praise Your Holy Name across the land
Oh Lord Jesus You created every living thing
Your love for us is too great to understand
U.S. Copyright Protected – Frank J. Maduri – All rights reserved no duplication without consent.
“Solace”
The frenetic pace, sirens, the lights
Chimes from cell phones, pungent smells, the sights
My senses are pushed to total overload
My emotions are moving quickly to panic mode
I get plowed into by some guy on an iPhone
I have to listen to others whine and groan
The crowds of people packing the street
Made the anxiety I felt totally complete
I needed to escape this chaotic nest
So my wife took me to Central Park West
The sunlight reflected gently on the pond
I felt each of my senses quickly respond
With a calming peace, a wash of tranquility –
Came over and surrounded all that I could see
From the birds in the air, the ducks in the water
The chaos I felt earlier was now a total blur
The air was still and the sky a clear blue
I could finish this day feeling totally new
The laughter of children filled the afternoon air
Then it was silent, as if nobody else was there –
Except my thoughts and my lovely wife
A feeling of solace I’ll remember all of my life
“Bread of Life”
You made for us the ultimate sacrifice
Nothing I’ll do could ever suffice
Nailed to a Cross tortured and denigrated
You rose on the third day, we celebrated
What some thought was Your ultimate defeat
You reign forever on Heaven’s Mercy Seat
Your Death gives us life again anew
Lord Jesus, how can we ever repay You
Bread of Life, You restore our soul
Bread of Life, sin and death have no control –
Over us, because of Your profound love
I know You watch us from Heaven above
Your Precious Blood washes the Earth clean
You understand when we are angry, sad, or mean
You left us Your Mother, as Mother to us all
You forgive us when we stumble and fall
You know our every flaw, every goal, every list
You are there with us always in the Eucharist
Bread of Life, our hope and our strength
Bread of Life, Your love has no bounds or length –
It is infinite, majestic, awesome, and kind
Lord Jesus, Your love really blows my mind
In my darkest hours please hear my prayer:
Bread of Life, please shelter me
Bread of Life, please set me free
(Frank J. Maduri is a freelance writer and journalist with numerous publishing credits across a variety of websites and news organizations. His news articles have been published and distributed in over 40 countries and territories around the world. His creative work has received critical acclaim from award winning poets and writers. Frank believes in using the gift of writing to raise awareness, lift people with hope, shine a light on social injustice, and impact spirituality to bring people closer to God.)
2016 – Copyright – All rights reserved – Frank J. Maduri – All poems and song lyrics are the intellectual property of the author. No copying, altering, or redistribution of this content without express written consent of the author.