Ode to a Scythe: A Pastoral By Timothy Berezhnoy Hand to handle—wooden stave— weighted with a gleaming blade. The wheat rises, ripe and swaying on this cold crisp morn ready to be mowed with uniform motion of the edge that glides guided by my hands. The work begins, the swaying side to side, again, again with fellow blades and men …
Hannah
Hannah You know the answer to my despair My anxious longing, my gasp for air Yet without son, without child I choose Your way undefiled. To worship You—the greatest joy— So to Your service I employ The gift that I adore— He, the son I asked You for. By Timothy Berezhnoy “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has …
Denial
Denial by George Herbert When my devotions could not pierce Thy silent ears; Then was my heart broken, as was my verse: My breast was full of fears And disorder: My bent thoughts, like a brittle bow, Did fly asunder: Each took his way; some would to pleasures go, Some to the wars and thunder Of alarms. As good go …
The Venture
The Venture I venture to some strange and foreign land that my deeds may escape and find themselves free of reprimand. But a Hand, though harsh at first, draws me back and revives a thirst, a thirst, for Living Water. By Timothy Berezhnoy. April 17, 2013
But, Lord, I Was Right!
Vidicate Me “Vindicate me, Lord!” I cried When, to my shame, I, the one to blame, Have His grace and goodness tried. “See yourself now,” He replied “How, much in sin, You yearned to win And with that heart My strength denied.” “Cleanse my heart, Lord, then abide. As now I see Your strength in me Is only shown when …
Vanity and Value Part III
She Was Chasing After Fashion She was chasing after fashion and she found it. It’s quite fantastic, as in fantasy fantastic, that a mind can think of things not yet made and turn them into objects in our hands; we touch and feel the incarnate thoughts we wear and share them with our friends; But her pursuit didn’t stagnate with …
Vanity and Value Part II
Gold I hope to be known to be shown to have grown to be known I wonder what is to come of me a piece of dust swirling in the wind wondering, wandering I envision a history marked by my books shifted by ideas I’ve patented I envision, it’s merely a vision I see I am smoke dissolving to nothing, …
Vanity and Value Part I
Meditations by the River [Sitting on a sandy bank of a river.] Grain by grain this sand—this life— falls through my fingers. the waters, calm, consistent in their motion, are impervious to changing times and trends of what seems is cosmic in proportion and significance. Yet here the magnificence is not found in what is new; it’s the unchanging, the …
Paper
Paper Take in my sorrow and my shame You, the knower of my deepest thoughts, Take in my failings name by name And share the burden of these blots. Paper, marry pen and make A solace for my heart to speak That in its sighing you can take Away what’s worn and weak; Yet can you keep my secrets, friend? …
Crying, Crying Little One
Crying, crying little one, crying due to all the things “they’ve” done to you in this cold cruel world Quiet down, O little one, else the gentleness of the breeze or the quiet, singing leaves you simply will not hear Learn to listen, O young one, or that elusive melody in which resounds reality will never become dear O my …