Soul and Sea

Sands slip into the torrent sea
Washed, claimed by crashing wave
That beat the shore, itself to save
Rushing fire swells, salt curled
‘Round my soul, tangled on the shore
Mingling with shattered rocks and scattered hearts
Turning melody into broken parts
To all this splendor there is more—
Moon high hung in deepest sky
Diamonds clinging to the black turn by
With great mystery the world
Burns of twilight, moonlight, starlight
Holding nothing to the light
Of sight, majesty, and my
Consuming, waking passion felt
By the sudden seconds nature dealt
To the broad universe and lonely me.

The Girl in Sunday School

Stacy kept looking at me,
When our eyes caught
She swept her glance away
But blue windows stray
And though they ought not
Sought my face—what did she see?

The lesson droned on
The moments quickly gone
Returned many times again
What could it have been
That captured her eye
And her smiles so sly?

Twenty to and then ten
The lesson would not end
My puzzling only grew
How I wished I knew
What thoughts claimed her mind
And what treasures I might find.

With amen’s dismissed, I stood
As I knew that she would
She again caught my eye
And with a slight sigh,
Glanced at her ring
That a wedding should bring.

She half smiled at him
Then glanced back at me
A longing good-bye
With a look in her eye
Only I could see
My chances are better than slim…