Poems from Proverbs (part 2)

What man can claim the Lord’s delight,

Or revel in His grace?

The man entrusted with the right

Companion all his days! – 18:22

 

“Feed me! Feed me!” Cries the mouth,

Who yearns more food to taste.

Hungry, hungry goes the mouth,

Who laziness embraced. – 19:24

 

Seen by God in deepest dark,

Torch of knowledge – life’s first spark.

Soul of man and breath divine,

Take our hearts, and us refine. –20:27

 

Ever listen, never lie,

‘Ere the chance might pass you by,

To speak up and have a voice,

And influence someone’s choice. – 21:28

 

Out the door lies danger plenty.

Lazy fools embrace their fear.

How can children learn to live free?

Discipline will make it clear. – 22:13, 15

  

Planting stones and tilling sand,

Yield more fruit within the land,

Than speaking fair and wise and true,

Can make the fool consider you. – 23:9

 

The wisest man is stronger far,

Than Hercules and Samson are.

For to his wisdom others bend,

And rise to vict’ry in the end. – 24:5-6

 

Foundational to life’s success,

‘Ere you start to build your nest,

Is to plan, prepare, and grow

A steady income you can show. – 24:27

 

“Don’t be hasty,” said the tree that grew upon the hill.

“Choices made too rashly will bring consequences ill!”

Angry passion fans the flame that your imprudence set.

Humiliation is the only outcome you will get. – 25:8-10

 

Spreading chaos, spewing flame,

Lies as humor: all the same!

As a psycho throwing death,

Is a man of sense bereft. – 26:18-19

 

Behind false smiles and forked tongues,

The one who hates you hides.

Through open words from honest lungs

Your faithful friend abides. – 27:5-6

 

“Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Who’s the wisest of them all?”

Asks the rich man, filled with pride.

Though from the poor, the truth can’t hide. – 28:11

 

“What is truth?” The ruler asked,

Thinking of the crowd.

“We are truth!” The Maji basked,

And before him bowed. – 29:12

 

Uncovering the worst in men

Does not require the worst of men.

From young to old, from rich to poor,

Many hide what most abhor. – 30:12

~R. Samuel Braden (November-2022) 

7 Minutes to Eternity

 

Driving down the highway on a cool October day,

Hills are rolling gently as you speed along your way.

Minutes in the mirror fade away as on you go,

Thoughts are flowing, without knowing, 7 more to go.

 

Driving down the highway on a cool October day,

Music playing My Way makes you smile as they play.

Minutes add together to make up the life you know,

Thoughts are dancing, quite entrancing, only 6 to go.

 

Driving down the highway on a cool October day,

Memories are teasing of your youth so far away.

Minutes float before you as you think, where did they go?

Thoughts are twisting, reminiscing, now just 5 to go.

 

Driving down the highway on a cool October day,

Thoughts arise unbidden of a future judgement day.

Minutes prick your conscience that you’ve squandered them below,

Thoughts are grated, agitated, merely 4 to go.

 

Driving down the highway on a cruel October day,

Phone starts ringing loudly, and you answer in dismay.

Minutes on the cell phone, let the conversation flow,

Thoughts are sharing, tempers flaring, just 3 more to go.

 

Driving down the highway on a cruel October day,

Traffic’s getting heavy, and you think of words to say.

Minutes lost in transit, let the rage within you grow,

Fingers waving, misbehaving, just 2 more to go.

 

Swerving down the highway on a cruel October day,

Chaos is erupting, in your lane you cannot stay.

Minutes crash together as your life clock stops its flow.

Horns are blaring, seatbelt tearing, just 1 more to go.

 

Lying on the highway on a cruel October day,

Distant sound of sirens as the darkness comes to play.

Minutes all behind you as you’ve nowhere left to go.

Shadows growing, thoughts are slowing, 0 more to go.

The Memory of Love

 

Long ago… it seems so very long ago,

Six grandparents had I, to watch me learn and grow.

They were the family I’d been given, spread across this land.

And though I had no siblings, my heart could understand:

 

There was love… from God above.

There was peace and joy and laughter.

There was hope from heaven’s Dove.

And in spite of what came after,

There was always… a memory… of love.

 

Years went by… they seemed to go so very fast.

Five grandparents had I, because it couldn’t last.

The ceaseless march of time was knocking on my family’s door.

And though I felt immortal, my heart would soon lose more.

 

But there was love… from God above.

There was joy and peace remaining.

Hope was all we could think of.

Though death seemed like it was gaining,

There was always… the memory… of love.

 

Time marched on… and Grandpa Bob was next to go.

Four grandparents had I remaining here below.

We cared for Tiny and for Nancy as best as we could.

For they were both my grandmas, and both would be for good.

 

And there was love… from God above.

There was peace for the beholder.

There was hope to be proud of.

Though we each were growing older,

There was always… the memory… of love.

Then one year… I woke to find three more were gone.

One grandparent had I who had not yet moved on.

The passing of my mother’s parents, grandma Tiny too,

Signified a shift in generations would ensue.

 

But was there love… from God above?

Was there peace and joy to lead us?

Was there hope to take hold of?

As they all went home to Jesus,

Was there still… a memory… of love?

 

Since that year… the Lord has blessed me with my own.

Two little boys, but wow how they’ve already grown!

And Grandma Nancy got to see them, starting life anew.

I thank the Lord in heaven that they got to meet her too.

 

For there is love… from God above.

There is peace and joy and laughter.

There is hope to teach them of.

As time ever marches after,

There is always… the memory… of love.

 

Here today… we come together one last time,

To honor Nancy Braden, the last one left in line.

She was the final member of that generation great.

Now she joins the rest in heaven with rejoicing at the gate!

 

And there is love… with God above.

There is peace beyond all measure.

There is hope worth dreaming of.

As new children are our treasure,

There is always… the memory… of love.

 

~ R. Samuel Braden (October-2022)

Poems from Proverbs (part 1)

Timeless virtue, born of old,
Held of God, its worth untold.
Heed the warning given bold,
And seek for wisdom more than gold!
- 8:10, 22, 23

You will bear the credit or the shame
Of all you are alone.
Whether wise or scoffing vane
You'll live with what you've sown.
- 9:12

Hold your peace
Or reap the cost.
When words don't cease
Then wisdom's lost.
- 10:19

Grace and honor,
Beauty and sense,
A lady of glamour
Should give no offense.
- 11:16, 22

Compassion shown
To lesser life
Shows one who's known
Apart from strife.
- 12:10

Words as weapons falsely used
Displease the Lord above.
But truthful tongues who hate refused
Delight the Lord of love.
- 12:18, 19, 20, 22

Where life springs forth like waters clear
And understanding shines,
There wisdom spreads to those who hear
And death no longer binds.
- 13:14-15

Hidden pain that mars the heart
An outward smile veils.
When laughter never dares depart
An inward pain regales.
- 14:10, 13

Contentment for the things you have
With reverence for the Lord
Is to greed a healing salve,
And peace is your reward.
- 15:16

Honest business, truthful tongues,
Find delight as God's own sons.
In the end the road of life
Takes the wise away from strife.
- 16:2, 7, 8, 11, 13, 17

How sweet the words of one who knows
The cares of all his friends and foes!
His heart with wisdom gives him voice
To guide with prudence every choice.
- 16:21, 23, 24

Far beyond the circle's end
Lies the treasure fools would seek.
But if he would deign to bend,
He'd find true wisdom at his feet.
- 17:24

(All poems original works by R. Samuel Braden)

Lamentations of Edacity

Efficiency! Yes that’s the need. Efficiency!

The erring nation seeks in greed more energy.

The eager miners drill indeed more earnestly.

The ever-growing human seed gives eulogy

To Earth, entombed by their decreed edacity.

Efficiency! That was the need. Efficiency!

The empty nation failed to heed the entropy.

The ego-driven claimed a creed of equity.

The erstwhile saviors tried to plead equivocally

But avarice did yet exceed their empathy.

Efficiency! Will you take heed? Efficiency!

-R. Samuel Braden (21-April-2018)