It has been a little while since I posted some poetry here. I felt it particularly incumbent on me to share some of this work today as it seems our world is falling apart at the seams every time I go on the internet or watch the news at the gym. There is hope and we all can find it in little things each day.
The poems that follow have been entered in poetry contests, literary magazines, and also submitted to religious websites and newsletters. I hope this work resonates with you.
“Powerless”
Every day another bombing or attack
Another terror act, more brutality
It’s become our worlds’ new reality
Wishing our world would just go back
Before the attacks on New York City
And the months of sorrow and pity
We feel powerless to prevent these acts
Some horrible tragedy suddenly occurs
Everyone’s on edge and just reacts
The laws, sides, morality; it all blurs
However it’s the terrorists who’ll atone
For all of their evil and sinfulness
When they have to stand at God’s throne
Then they’ll be truly powerless
“Free Form”
My head hurts from the stress;
I try to stay the course.
This world is such a mess;
Many people show no remorse.
Abuse, neglect, disease, turmoil
War, murder, political corruption, instability.
People fighting over the same soil;
Leadership which lacks capability.
A banking system which is in shambles;
A fragile union in Europe on the edge.
Every politician just rambles;
“Not our problem” is the usual pledge.
Egypt has elected new leadership;
Syria has continued to spiral in chaos.
The Middle East is losing its grip;
The war in Afghanistan is a total loss.
A world torn apart by war and sin;
We know we need to find peace.
The Lord is the answer;
Prayer is the best communication.
I hope we find the humility
To find it within ourselves
To ask for help from the Lord.
“Another Night”
The end to another chaotic day
Yields to the calm of the night
My mind is somewhere out of sight
Where drugs and bullets fly when kids play
Where people struggle just to eat
Where violence occurs everyday
They don’t know any other way
Where people live on the street
Another night I spend comfortably
Another night they’ll spend in fear –
Of being stabbed, robbed, even killed
Another night they’ll spend hungry
There’s no solution that’s clear
Another night I’m left feeling so unfulfilled
“Curtain”
The Sun through the leaves
The trees around me, the smell –
Of the woods, reminds me of youth
The curtain of branches protecting –
Me from the powerful Sun rays
Cooling myself, the rabbits, and birds
I remember back to playing in a tree house
Or hiking in the park with my parents
The curtain has drawn on those days
My youth is long gone – family has changed
The curtain has gone up on a new stage
My life has evolved into a haze of work
And medical issues which control the action
Of my days and I don’t spend enough –
Time returning to the roots of nature
The roots of what God has provided
The curtain will go down on this stage
One day too – my days will change
My life will be less busy and priorities
Will shift – between the curtain
I look to take advantage of each day
To trust in God and take each day
As a gift and a blessing
Like walking today in the woods
Before the final curtain is drawn
“Origin”
Watching war and famine unfold –
The origin of my sorrow.
The struggle of the poor –
The origin of my frustration.
Seeing those I love live in pain –
The origin of my anger.
My inability to cope with it all –
The origin of my despair.
Thoughts of things I could have done –
The origin of my regret.
Missing out on life due to illness or injury
The origin of my melancholy.
The love of my wife and family –
The origin of my strength.
My dedication to writing –
The origin of my pride.
To serve my God above –
The origin of my life’s purpose.
Commitment to prayer –
My origin of inner peace.
The love of my God
The origin of my security.
To love and serve others
The origin of my life’s goals
“Divine Mercy”
His Divine Mercy is endless
I thought as I prayed today
As God is my witness
I’m sorry for pushing it away
With God at the center
Anything can be done
Allow His love to enter
Your battles will be won
It brings me some calm, peace
When I stop to pray
My worries all cease
He washes them away
“Without Warning”
You never know that it’s near;
It strikes from out of nowhere
Without warning to create fear
To reap a full measure of despair
You can try to be calm, be ready
Nothing can prepare for what’s ahead
It’ll rock you until you’re unsteady
It will bring you a sense of dread
Without warning whether fog or clear
Evil will strike in your life
The Lord will dry every tear
The Lord is shelter during chaos and strife
If you trust in Him and believe
He is there for you, all of us, always
Then victory over sin you’ll achieve
He is there for us today and all of our days
Without warning, He will return once more
To show us the Path that’s true;
Peace and love, He will soon restore.
Without warning, He’ll come to you.
So don’t be anxious or afraid.
Through Jesus our sin debt has been paid.
Thank you for reading my poetry and visiting my blog!
Copyright – 2014 – Frank J. Maduri – All rights reserved.
No copying or reproduction, or reuse of any kind without express written consent from the author.