Poetry Series Daniel Partlow - poems - Publication Date: 2009 Publisher: Poemhunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive Daniel Partlow(1969) Forward to the Sunrise On the Mount Series: When I was a young boy, learning about God, I knew that some day, He would give me an important mission. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew in my heart that I had a significant role to play. I set out, at the age of seven to write a book comparing the theology and doctrines of different faiths. It turned out to be a bigger task than I had imagined. Perhaps my parents wanted me to be a little more grounded first, because when I asked them to buy me the canonical literature of every faith, I ended up with one little paperback with some conversion stories. I prayed for His guidance, and although I never heard and audible voice, I received in my heart an affirmation that in His time, he would reveal my ministry. Almost three decades have transpired since then. I have been exposed to many of life’s issues. I have made many friends of all faiths (and lack thereof) and cultures. Though I had moments of difficulty as I struggled with different philosophies, temptations, and competing influences, God has always stood beside me and affirmed me as His own. About five years ago, after the dot com bust, I was “forced” to move from my home town of St. Louis, back to the NY metropolitan area, where I had been 10 years earlier at the beginning of my career. I ended up with a long train & subway commute from Fairfield County, CT to NYC. Soon thereafter it got longer as I accepted a job on Wall Street (4.5 to 5.5 hours per day) . I was not fond of the commute and before long, my morale had dropped. But God has quite a knack for turning curses into blessings in unexpected ways. Although I had prayed for a new job closer to home, nothing suitable had arisen. That is when He chose to reveal my ministry. In the spring of 2005, I had been assigned to read 1st Cor.13 at my sister’s wedding. I goofed and read a different passage, before realizing the mistake, and switching to the right verse. Although it went off fine, I wanted to ‘make up for it’ and set out to poeticize this verse and give it as a gift to my sister and brother in law. My commute turned out to be the only time I had to devote to this task, but I found that it was a perfect time to sit quietly, reflect, and puzzle through it, until www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 1 I had a good working rendition. I was so pleased and amazed at the glorious work God had wrought through my hands, that I decided to do it again, moving on to my favorite verses: the beatitudes. That was the turning point at which I realized what God had in store for me. He had taken what I thought was a curse, and turned it into the greatest blessing I could imagine. And in fact, this is not a gift only to me, but to everyone. I pray that this series of books blesses you as much as it has blessed me. Please keep in mind that this work, and His love in general, is not just for people who are already Christians. He is the shepherd sent to all the lost sheep, and encourages us all to share the light and blessings He has bestowed on us. Jesus taught that if we really love our neighbor, we are compelled by that love, to share His truth. In some of the pieces comparing doctrines and policies of the non-Christian and secular worlds, are meant to evangelize and correct, and for this I cannot apologize, because it is an act of love. Doubtless, not everyone will agree. If you are such, so be it, but I would encourage you to pray to the Lord for revelation and guidance. www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 2 A Chanuka And Christmas Carol Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Grace of God Eternal dispels the dark of night. Daniel had prophesied the Desolation False idols in the temple: 'twas the Desecration Little lamp oil remained for the altar dedication So God provided the light to this and every earthly nation. Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Grace of the Father dispels the dark of night. NesGadolHayahSham – A Great Miracle Happened there The star of Bethlehem lit the way to a little manger where The miracle of Jesus birth in the creche of a mare. Hosanna, Alleluia, the Angel Chorus does declare. Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Light of the Messiah dispels the dark of night. At the time of Chanukah on the porch of Solomon The Messiah was revealed, Jesus is the Father's son. Sheep follow the shepherd and unto him ye run, And recognize the works which show that He and God are one. Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Light of the Good Shepherd dispels the dark of night. The rededication lacked the glory of the Ark But when Immanuel came, He dispelled the dark. So worship not in a building cold and stark. But in Spirit and in Truth – Jesus the eternal bulwark. Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Light of the Holy Spirit dispels the dark of night. The eternal sacrifice, His body: temple stones and bricks. Like the shammus which lights all menorrah wicks. Jesus, the servant-king, lights our spirit-candle sticks That we may be His beacons, His light our hearts affix. www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 3 Chanukah and Christmas – Let's celebrate the light The Light of the World dispels the dark of night. Based on Daniel 8: 11 9: 27 11: 31 12: 11 and John 10: 23 Copyright 2007 (c) Daniel Partlow Daniel Partlow www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 4 A Christ-Chrysalis Butterfly, Before you fly There is a palace It's the Christ-Chrysalis You're born again From end to end And now you wear His winged dress Of faith and hol-i-ness You're crawling on the ground Eating only what you've found. Predators would like to steal Your soul and body for their meal Caterpillar of the World Let His Banner-wings unfurl Over You The Turk may call you 'kelebek' When you bear his cross upon your back It's time to bear it up daily And Be His Shona Shavi-Shavi Every Danish 'summerfugl' Fly To the tune of His bugel The little Polish 'motyl' Like an alpine echo-yodel: In Romansch the 'Tgiralla' In Rome all 'Farfalla' Ohh 'Pappillon', and 'Shmetterling'' How peaceful are your wings www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 5 Butterfly, Before you fly There is a palace It's the Christ-Chrysalis You're born again From end to end And now you wear His winged dress Of faith and hol-i-ness Come all you Scottish Dealande and Korean Nabi-Nabi All Hungarian pillangó and Tagalog paruparó Indonesian kupu-kupu And Cornish Tykky-dew All Hawaiian pua-pua And Welsh Pili-pala Share His Gospel truth yeah You Chinese Hu-dyeh In Croat you're a stil-u- plivanju In Kongo a Lumpungu ... mpungu In Swahili kipepeo In Hungary Pillango In Asturian pumarina In Basque tximeleta Cebuano alibangbang Zulu ijubajubane Greece Petalouda Brazilian Borboleta www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 6 A Macedonian Peperuga A Bemban icipelebesha Urdu you're a titly In Hindi a thithily Little Russian Bа bо chkа And Spanish Mariposa God cares for every butterfly and filfaloo. How much more will He care for you? Butterfly, Before you fly There is a palace It's the Christ-Chrysalis You're born again From end to end And now you wear His winged dress Of faith and hol-i-ness Copyright (c) 2008 D. Partlow Daniel Partlow www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 7 A Day Is A Thousand Years (From 1st/2nd Peter) God has commanded the present heavens and earth to remain until the day of judgment. Then they will be set on fire, and ungodly people to destruction sent. For to God, one day is as a thousand years – a key to what the prophets meant. The Lord is not slow to keep his promises, he wants all to be saved and repent. The day of the Lord’s return will surprise like a thief – immediate and terse. The heavens will disappear with a great noise of heresy, heat melting the whole universe. Every debt of the earth will be revealed – foreclosed – and debtors taken in the hearse. To be burned as chaff in the fires of the furnace – the earned and un-repented curse. So you should serve and honor God: live your life not as the dead but in Christ alive. Look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and try to make it arrive. For the heavens will be destroyed and into the hot depths of Hell all the earth will dive. But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth where justice will always thrive. Daniel Partlow www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 8 A Fatal Spore For The Fecund Lady (Abortion & Breast Cancer) A – B – C – D… or BC – AD How many Lilly’s of Fecund Lady, Have been trodden down to make her path? 1,2,3,4 … such an unpleasant math By stamping out the earliest flowers And prancing on for many hours What has sown this carefree dancer? There is a true but chilling answer.