Janze Poetry (12)

I
If freedom was the choice to give,
A rogue the chieftain’s cap;
And then, in time, repeat my lack
I would give my freedom back
II
If freedom was the chance to walk
The streets of my home town;
But always fearful of attack
I would give my freedom back
III
If freedom was to join the sect
And wear the robes of pious men;
And then like wolves, run in a pack
I would give my freedom back
IV
If freedom was to rid myself
Of all that makes a moral man;
And torture men on board and rack
I would give my freedom back
V
If freedom was to kill and destroy
The lives of those I did not know;
And then be knighted for whack and whack
I would give my freedom back
VI
If freedom was to know the truth;
But lie and lie, to keep the form
And then receive a hero's plaque
I would give my freedom back
VII
If freedom was to be immune
From the desparate cries of suffering men
And in those places never crack
I would give my freedom back
VIII
But God, the Almighty is Freedom’s source
And no people hold its exclusive rights
For where Freedom reigns, there is no fear
Each man is born as Freedom’s heir

I
Grace is the sustainer of all life on earth
Every impulse to breathe, since the moment of birth
All thought of goodness and the will to achieve
Grace is the Giver of all gifts we receive
II
Being on this journey, there is much to contend
The voice of the doubter, the life to expend
And when the shadows gather, around and behind
It is then I remember, I am in God’s mind.
III
There have been mountains that have hidden the sun
And all my grand efforts have never moved one
And in such turmoil, when there is not even a clue
It is then I remember God has made mountains too
IV
In the dark hours, not a spark to be seen
When there is no helper, not a single human being
And as the ground shakes, so my faith and my will
It is then I remember, Grace is my Hope still
V
I have been through the waters and fires that came
And in such life’s complex, weak is my frame
And sometimes I prayed but nothing has changed
It is then I remember, God’s Grace is arranged
VI
Death, that great enemy, knows where I live
It seized of my heart, those too precious to give
And when my doubts rise, and a question or two
It is then I remember, Grace has taken me through
VII
I do not have the answers to the storms and the cold
I do not know tomorrow and what tale may be told
And in that dark passage, many dangers may lurk
It is then I remember, Grace knows its own work
VIII
And when I am broken and the winds gust and gust
And all of my resources have crumbled to the dust
And this is the season of earth's pale demand
Even then I will remember; I am in God's hand.

I
What world is this that honours him whose trade it is to kill?
And makes that ancient shame the cause and the Maker’s Will?
From whence come strife and row and the pangs and grief of war?
If not from man’s ardent lust, that vile and rotten core
II
What world is this that sees peace as the goal of boorish fools?
But heaps the utmost praise on him who knows not God nor rules?
And in that world he takes the seat of highest worth and honour
But his purposed work, a work of blood, brings sorrow and disorder.
III
What world is this that fails to see the image of the Creator?
And thus divides man from man, this one against the other?
And as his gory numbers climb, so his fame and fortune rise
But in his cruel and deadly wake, the voice of children cries
IV
What world is this that reverenced greed and brands virtue a liar?
That makes vice its conduct code, with no thought for the other ?
This is a topsy-turvy world; what’s good is now made wrong
But to the Truth be ever true, for we'll sing the Victor’s song.

I
Grace is the sustainer of all life on earth
Every impulse to breathe, since the moment of birth
All thought of goodness and the will to achieve
Grace is the Giver of all gifts we receive
II
Being on this journey, there is much to contend
The voice of the doubter, the life to expend
And when the shadows gather, around and behind
It is then I remember, I am in God’s mind.
III
There have been mountains that have hidden the sun
And all my grand efforts have never moved one
And in such turmoil, when there is not even a clue
It is then I remember God has made mountains too
IV
In the dark hours, not a spark to be seen
When there is no helper, not a single human being
And as the ground shakes, so my faith and my will
It is then I remember, Grace is my Hope still
V
I have been through the waters and fires that came
And in such life’s complex, weak is my frame
And sometimes I prayed but nothing has changed
It is then I remember, God’s Grace is arranged
VI
Death, that great enemy, knows where I live
It seized of my heart, those too precious to give
And when my doubts rise, and a question or two
It is then I remember, Grace has taken me through
VII
I do not have the answers to the storms and the cold
I do not know tomorrow and what tale may be told
And in that dark passage, many dangers may lurk
It is then I remember, Grace knows its own work
VIII
And when I am broken and the winds gust and gust
And all of my resources have crumbled to the dust
And this is the season of earth's pale demand
Even then I will remember; I am in God's hand.

I
If I were to consider the world’s best offer
And examine the mounds, one after the other
The richest attire and the finest gold rings
All objects of envy of peasants and kings
Yet, in the darkness, away from the glitter
Fineries so often lose much of their luster
II
The mansion of splendor, staged, high on the hill
All eyes in the valley, gazed longingly still
But when the mind’s quiet, a thought may arise
These things are much better in two people’s eyes
For as the time passes, a late change will occur
Instead of a palace, mere walls and a blur
III
A body made for leisure, all flavours to sip
The sensual delights, not one to be skipped
All fanciful fare, each one to be tried
Whatever on offer, all whims satisfied
But here and hereafter, such taste fades away
Each earthly pleasure has a definable day
IV
There are better offers on this side of Bliss
Justice and Compassion, must top the list
Honesty and Respect and Truth is the goal
Kindness and Faithfulness may complete the whole
Yet, there is Love, Gratitude and Trust
Though the world functions on little but lust
V
These sterling values will endure beyond time
And with each generation the need will just climb
Yes, the world regards them as the talents of the fool
But, what would we be, without these teachers and rule?
There are many treasures, so greatly amassed
But Faith, Truth and Justice cannot be surpassed

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII

I
There is much beauty for all to see
With the eyes of faith and simplicity
For even the night flaunts its thrilling craft
With stars and scents and the breezy draught
II
The hills, the mountains and the gentle shower
The bowery green and the fragrant flower
In every space, around and beneath
The grandeur, resplendent, a legacy bequeath
III
And who could miss that most gentle art?
The innocent smile of the simply heart
And all around, subdued or just wild
The boundless mirth of a little child
IV
My heart takes flight when I would see
The impossible voyage of a honey bee
The soil knows how and when seeds should grow
The lightning, the thunder and the simple things we know
V
Yes, there is beauty in all we can see
Friendship and family and all we can be
There is sound and silence and music as well
Beauty is a language no words can compel
VI
Laughter is beautiful oh, what a sound
It raises the spirit, the soul is unbound
Happiness and love, the heart lingers near
Yes, there is beauty, most everywhere

I
In this dizzy age, on Gaia’s strand
True goodness raises barely a flutter
While the fluffy things of rattle and flare
Attract, but go not much further
II
But good is good and there’s a need
For kindness, true words and honour
For the earth is only a dreary sphere
With lies and doubt and doubter
III
Yet the golden art, in this vulgar day
Brings the cynics and the questions
And at every turn, with crooked smile
With thorny words, revile
IV
But goodness bears its own return
When the dross is long forgotten
So, be true to you and to all other men
For at the evening call, what then?

I
The world is oft' a curious fit
For those for whom the trappings break
And many hearts have failed that spring,
That childlike spark that lights within
II
But there’s a refuge in between
The practiced waste and the fretting stone
Where Adam’s aim remained pristine
And Eden’s hope is there and seen
III
And in that pause of rare occurrence
I met the bards, the lyric’s crew
And with one voice, it came right through
“Welcome, welcome, we welcome you”
IV
And so in words, my thoughts affirm
A favoured spot in this Para-realm
For all the poets, my friends all true
God's Peace and Joy I commend to you

I
Man, oh earthy man whose sight stays but below
The Stars were staged for your careful wonder,
The heavens are the province of your mindful soar
For man belongs to both beyond and before.
II
This dusty form is not the self, at all
A mere shadow of the self that is to be
And in former time and in time to come
Shadow and Substance unite as one.
III
This valley’s storm is the enemy’s dream,
The millionth knock is his futile plan
But all are subject to this temporal clime
For knowledge is knowledge and time is time
IV
This life is measured by mortal count
No more lasting than the fleeting flower
Why such noise and such high acclaim
For weak moments and fragile fame?
V
Life is not life whose end is framed down here.
So quickly formed, so quickly to the works return
Think now of this moment’s certain place,
For, time begins the journey that ends the race.
VI
This Truth and Promise are Glory’s Timeless Gifts
Offered before the mountains took their infant stand,
Before the oceans raged their primal song
Home is Home and death is there, unknown!

I
Death has no powers or state to rule
Life is all there is on this simple plane
No death, no darkness, only the Light
For in The Master’s plans, there’s no dread night
II
And when the gloom descends and settles here
And the heart makes quick journeys, from fear to fear
The shadows hurt only, in their misty guise
The storms and the fury are the enemy's lies
III
And then the morning breaks and the Light declares
That the shadows must flee, in haste and away
Now rest quietly from your fear-filled work
Shadows are not able or near you to lurk
IV
The Father’s Will has you in mind
A Restful port in a world declined
Fear holds no state in His Holy plan
Just Grace, and more Grace to every man

I
Oh barren field, oh field of arid slumber
Fate has deferred her promised strength;
The dawn has spent its vaunted power
And age now marks each hasty hour
II
But Grace has held its tender course
Through the noise and the quiet shores
And then from heaven, softly and true
Came rain, and Flower and a life made new
III
And in the midst of the lively fray
Divine intent came into view
And now, in splendor, new worlds appear
Joyous, more glorious, and fair
IV
And all the days of loss and longing
Were the misty breath of a past, afar
For kindred souls have found their centre
At home, at last, in God’s due order
V
And from sun to sun, the day’s unchanging
The moon shall hold no nightly phase
So perils swell, with threats to scare
But Mercy’s path finds no rivals here
VI
And when the droughts shall have dared to come
Raising dust and fostering fear
Field and Flower shall sing their song
With grateful voices, loud and long