Some of My Poetry
Special thanks to my cousin Daniel Keeney
who inspired me (to get my
poetry onto this page) by creating a similar page for
all of us at Keeney.com.
A friend once shared with me that there are 31 chapters in the book of
Proverbs
and--at
most--31 days in a month. By reading one chapter a day, one can read
the entire book in a month (in addition to one's other Bible
reading,
of course!). Why not every month?
The purpose of the book Proverbs is stated in what has been called its
preamble (chapter 1, verses 1-7):
"These are the proverbs of King Solomon
of Israel, David's son. He wrote them to teach his people how to
live--how to act in every circumstance; for he wanted them to be understanding,
just, and fair in everything they did. 'I want to make the
simple-minded wise!' he said. 'I want to warn young men about some
problems they will face. I want those already wise to become the
wiser and become leaders by studying the depths of meaning in these nuggets
of truth.'"(The Living Bible)
May the testimony of this preamble and the following sonnet serve
to challenge their readers to get into the Word of God--and especially
Proverbs--on
a daily basis!
The
Twenty-fourth Book
A Love Sonnet
I give you Proverbs. Here for you await
A feast of thirty-one delightful meals
Of which to be partaken in a state
Of humble spirit, daily, as one kneels.
No simple sayings, these. They be instead
Collected from the wisest of the wise,
For generations kept. One shakes his head:
Exhaust their depths? Not even if one tries.
By meditating oft therein, one knows
More clearly where the path of Truth does lead,
And where the dangers lie, and who the foes,
And where to pause--or turn--and then proceed.
This month of good devotions is for him
Who wants to know the One Who authored them!
---John M. Gwin, Fall 1995
Las Cruces, New
Mexico
Some Favorite Haiku
Houtu Haiku
Three lines' syllables
Number five, seven, and five;
Nature is mentioned.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
True Power
Lies, like styrofoam
Cups on the hot coals of
truth,
Shrivel, disappear.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Doubting
I saw You clearly
Yesterday, but now it's dark--
Are...are You still there?
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Las Cruces Mountain Music
Organs'
symphonies
Play
in brief majestic
hue
Reflecting sunsets.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Desert Journeys
Ghostly images
Bouncing through
our
highbeams'gaze:
Night winds' tumbleweeds.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Tucson Native
Thin, bewhiskered, he
Stands straight & tall, waves goodbye:
Ancieny
saguaro.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Roses
Lovely aroma
Fills the air near their beauty
But thorns say, "Don't touch!"
--John M. Gwin, WSMS, 17 October 2005
20,000 Varieties
Nowhere does nature
Seem suspended in silence
As under the sea.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Supergrabber
Faster than vision
The small insect
becomes a
Praying mantis'
lunch.
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
Chicken Gang Scratch?
Illegible white
Writing on window ledges:
Pigeon graffiti...*.§¶ïªºú*.¥ìë*°*.**ç
--John M. Gwin, Spring 1995
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