EXCUSE ME…!

Since when was this holiday

A Christian jamboree…

And when was it about Christ’s birth

Exclusively?

–

According to those who should know,

It was Winter Solstice time…

The sun was at its lowest point

And then began to climb…!

–

Christians–former pagans most–

Denied their revelry…

Church leaders wanted evangelized

Pagans who would see…

Christ’s birth celebrated

In holiness and respect,

Become interested and

Come into the church direct.

–

When the church went political with Emperor Constantine,

Everyone had to join the thing…

It wasn’t necessarily by choice or belief–

You HAD TO HEAR THE ANGELS SING!

–

Nonbelievers too

Had their own “underground” pews…

The “old ways” by the faithful stays

But not in public view.

–

Are the roles reversed,

When Christians can be cursed…?

The church’s power can’t make them cower

Or defeat  a pagan purse.

–

Most do not see the fetters–

Getting worse before it’s better…

Christ is King but suffering

Is for those whose faith matters.

–

Keep then looking up,

Your redemption draweth nigh…

We will share the communion cup

Till anew with Christ, alive!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

CHRISTMASTIME–FOR MODEL TRAIN SHOWS!

See shining eyes

Oversee the worlds…

while trains run by

Taking straights and curves;

Daddy, can we buy

Just a little train…?

Yes, child, we’ll try

Santa may bring one then!

–

–J.E.C.

DYING TO HEAL

He felt in himself the dying flames

Coming out of his sin morass…

Readily feeling pain of renewal

Knowing “this too will pass.”

–

Like a phoenix flaring up

Plunged into cold and annealed…

He must go through the process sure

To find his prospects healed.

–

Burned by self-lust,

  Warming unto his soul…

Yet corrupting

Punching in him a hole.

–

Cleaning out Readers a part

Of reclaiming one’s heart….

Unto righteousness

From emptiness,

That deadly a la cart!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

THE BEST-LAID PLANS

Of mice, men and Caswells

Are frequently  shoved awry…

Tripping over unseen rocks

Unseen by tired eyes!

–

Some obstacles to life are

Just there, and some inflicted…

Hitching oneself up to a star

Might get one evicted.

–

Rather like deciding a plan

And then time marches on…

Adaption–now that’s human to do–

In case anything goes wrong!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

NOIR TALE OF INTRIGUE

Early in the morning, the cat,

Sauntered down her stairs…

Not really knowing that

The coyote would catch her being unawares!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

(Unfortunately…a true story…in our neighborhood!)

IN THE MORNING I REMEMBER**

(**using the tune of that hymn…ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER**)

–

In the morning I remember

That my Lord hath us-ed me,

In the byways of my living…

Even most recently!

–

CHORUS

He directs it all,

He directs it  all…

Many times when I was His servant

He directs it  all!

–

In the midst of tribulation

I  remember blessings broad,

When my life seemed  very tender

At His glory I was awed!

–

CHORUS

–

Each person I helped or needed

Came in His time into view,

And with feeble efforts turning

I did my job to do.

–

Many times I’d not see blessing

Til from there I was removed,

Gracious open understanding

Shows how God His servant used!

–

In the listing I’d be bragging

Of the Lord but not of me,

He’s the One who leads me forward

In His grace a tool to be!

–

He directs it all,

He directs it all,

Many times I am His servant…

He directs it all!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

BURYING MR. BONES

BURYING MR. BONES

–

The day-after-day-after Halloween

Mr. Bones is hanging there…

A woman passes by,

For Bones she does not care.

–

She talked me into helping her

Remove the ghastly gent…

Soon as I touched him started his spiel

And that’s the way it went!

–

His eyes glowed red, his torso wiggled

Along with a deep-voiced laugh…

I tried to lay him down on the bench,

He pronounced our epitaph!

–

My friend proclaimed he couldn’t stay there,

Mr. Bones gave her the willies…

The way she shivered as he spoke

She acted very chilly.

–

She search for a resting place for Mr. Bones,

Took him and quick as a wink…..

Mr. Bones had his last hurrah

Folded under the kitchenette sink!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

A BREATHER

A BREATHER

–

Coming up to the surface,

He takes a hurried breath….

Manages to tread water a while

Avoiding certain death.

–

He’s managed to free himself from his bonds

And slowly swims to shore…

As far as is possible with him,

He won’t swim here anymore!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

OBSERVING FELLOW TENANTS

OBSERVING FELLOW TENANTS

–

Seeing someone after weeks and months,

Leave impressions deep…

Seeing how folks settle in

When life is never cheap.

–

We older folks and me,too,

Go about daily lives…

Making our way thew best we can,

Favoring the one who drives.!

–

–Jonathan Caswell