Xapa to the World

Category: Poetry

  • Poem: October Dawn

    October 25, 2016

    A chill in the air and the earth, still warm from the long summer, exhales –

    steam coming up from the dirt, pavement, and fields

    forms a blanket of fog along the ground,

    spilling into the roadways and wrapping itself around the trees.

    As the sun begins to rise, the trees grasp at the earthen clouds,

    trying to snuggle in to their beds  for a little longer before having to rise up themselves

    with the morning.

    Awake!  It’s an October dawn!

    Time to shake off the slumber and crawl out of bed.

    The air nips at your ears and nose and the fog slowly escapes the grip of the branches –

    the branches which are also in movement

    from green to burning red and the varying colors within.

    The invisible Someone in the sky blows the trees as if they were giant dandelion puffs –

    the leaves tremble for a moment and some release,

    tumbling to the earth.

     – Sarah ><>

  • Poem: Cold Winter 8

    8
    January 24th, 2014

    How did they know? Those farmers…
    How did they know of the frigid and bluster
    Of this year’s winter?
    The proof is in the pudding
    And the pudding is cold as stone
    And hard as ice.
    Cold.
    Doesn’t even seem the right word for this feeling.
    And the perpetual snow drifts across the roads,
    Like snakes of white powder
    Side-swiping between the tires and biting at them,
    Turning them to ice in an instant.
    And the cats eyes of taillights
    Glaring behind as if angry of the cold as well.
    I’m tired of it too, but my car is warm,
    Mostly, and I’m willing to go around in it.
    But don’t ask me to get out and brave the frozen wasteland.
    My only consolation remains that
    The days do grow longer,
    And soon will come the crocuses.

     – Sarah ><>

  • “Flame of God” by Amy Carmichael

    I first read this poem when I was in college and thought it amazing. Amy Carmichael is my own personal hero and I delight in her many writings. She was a gifted woman who sought to serve God with what she had and where she was. Her own perplexity at why He made her a certain way encourages me beyond what I can say. God has a purpose for us and He reveals that to us in His due time. We might not understand what purpose something has for our lives and our future, but God does not waste a gift. Only we do. Are you grateful for the gifts that may not even seem like a gift?

    Anyway, I love this poem. She’s asking God to not let her shy away from the challenge that she may face – to stand bold for Him and to even pursue the hard tasks. She even asks to be spent completely in His glory. I can only attempt the same.

    ———————

    From prayer that asks that I may be
    Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
    From fearing when I should aspire,
    From faltering when I should climb higher
    From silken self, O Captain, free
    Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

    From subtle love of softening things,
    From easy choices, weakenings,
    (Not thus are spirits fortified,
    Not this way went the Crucified)
    From all that dims Thy Calvary
    O Lamb of God, deliver me.

    Give me the love that leads the way,
    The faith that nothing can dismay
    The hope no disappointments tire,
    The passion that will burn like fire;
    Let me not sink to be a clod;
    Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God