Poetry

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord. He is trampling down the mansions where the wealth of men is stored. He has heard each cry of widow, orphan, refugee–ignored! The Lord is marching on! Refrain: Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! The Lord is marching on. I have seen Him in the eyes of migrants in a holding cell. I have heard Him in the songs of slaves whose joy could not be quelled. Though His throne is found in heaven, He has walked with them through Hell! The Lord is marching on! ...

Re-dedication? Cease exploitation! Dedicate yourselves To defend the low-stationed. Rededicate? I hate your “fasts.” Won’t hear your supplication Over the cries of those you’ve chained To stop illegal immigration. Oh, you’d like a Christian country? Then try this rededication: Sell all you have And give it to the poor across the nation. Take every gun And melt it to a plow to fight starvation. Make every congregation Known for love, not condemnation. Rededicate? Until widows, orphans, refugees Are cared for, there’s no point. Unless you turn in dust and ash, I will never anoint All you’ve dared to claim My Name for I won’t spare your greedy land I won’t bless your “Christian” country Til you open up your hands To feed the hungry, House the homeless, Clothe the naked, Serve the Lord, Bless the migrant, Love you neighbor, Or else, what’s a nation for? So, if you dare, rededicate Your nation to the Cross, But, take care, before you do Repent! And count the cost.

What Shall We Do With a Would-Be Tyrant? (to the tune of “What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?”) Verse 1: What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, What shall we do with a would-be tyrant, Early in the morning! Answer: Put him in the court and read the charges, Put him in the court and read the charges, Put him in the court and read the charges, Early in the morning! ...

🇺🇸 ROLL THE OLD REPUBLIC ALONG A Sea Shanty for Democracy (Traditional tune: “Roll the Old Chariot”) Here’s the original, in case you don’t know it: Verse 1 Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — Oh, we’d be alright if the people stood as one — And we won’t be ruled by kings! ...

(to the tune of “The Fate of Ophelia” by Taylor Swift) [Verse 1] I heard you whisper on the megaphone You said the shots were all a hoax As legend has it, you were nearly gone But here you are, back in the throat [Pre-Chorus] And if the doctors quit on me We’ll see a nineteenth-century repeat I swore my loyalty to facts (Facts), the vax (The vax), and I (I) Right before the truth got quiet ...

No kings, save One, the King of Kings, whose kingdom peace and justice brings. No kings, but He who blessed the poor, and binds their wounds forevermore. No kings, except the Crucified, who, on a tyrant’s cross, died – No kings! – to save the last, the least, and bring them to His wedding feast. No kings, save One, who wore a crown of bitter thorns upon His brow. No kings, but He who rose to save, to lift the outcasts from their grave. ...

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” has long been one of my favorite hymns. This Advent, I’ve decided to write some additional verses. They emphasize God’s heart for the poor and the powerless. If you read the Bible looking for these themes, they show up almost everywhere. However, in particular, I’ve drawn from Leviticus 25, Psalm 113, Isaiah 58, Amos 5, Luke 1, and Luke 14. O come, Defender of the weak, Teach us their welfare first to seek. May widow, orphan, refugee Find rest within Thy jubilee! ...

The Traditional Wedding Vows In case you didn’t know, the “traditional” wedding vows – in English, at least – are found in the Book of Common Prayer. In the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the marriage vows read as follows: I M. take thee N. to my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worſe, for richer for poorer, in ſickneſs and in health, to love and to cheriſh, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth. ...

My Valedictorian Address, a Poem The following is my valedictorian speech, delivered at my high school graduation in 2009. As you’ll see below, the majority of the speech was an original poem. Sure, I’m tempted to be a bit embarrassed by the poem today, but I’m also proud that I went for it. Let me know what you think! GRADUATION! Such a mix of emotions comes with this simple word… ...

ℹ️ Note The following is an original Mother’s Day poem of mine, that I wrote for my mom (the best mom ever, of course) back in 2009. It’s called “From a Grateful Son,” and I hope that you enjoy it. From a Grateful Son – A Poem for My Mother Thank you, Mom, for having me that day so long ago. Thank you, then, for holding me and now for letting go. Thank you, Mom, for giving me your patience, time, and care. And thank you, Mom, for loving me for always being there – ...