Ganesh and Me

The smells of urine and incense
fill the air
mixing into something
all it's own
the road is blocked
by people demonstrating
what? taha chaina

buses and taxis
are at a standstill
as the crowd sings
and chants
for a better tomorrow
I take to the sidewalk
dodging half dressed children
and crippled old men
pedaling past a shrine
I notice the smell of
incense is stronger
but the drunk sprawled at the entrance
clues me in to
the power of his god

if that's what it
can be called

nothing more than a
rock housed in a
building ridiculously large
while its adherence
struggle to make ends meet
what power is this?

is it the same that
constructed cathedrals
while parishioners
starved?

is it the same that
constructs mega-churches
while its neighbors
go hungry?

without pointing fingers
i know where the problem lies

it lies in me

one more shrine
one more crowd
one more street kid
and i know
that the only respite
comes from above

They Should Have Listened to Benjamin

The story begins
with a king deposed
by a few unsavory foes
who spin tales
of a better way
and lead the masses
to obey
every word to achieve
a shallow freedom
and to believe
that they
the people
have it all under control
but in the end
the pigs
and
the humans
look the same

Man Overboard

Oh Holy Lord Most High
I have come to realize
that I have spent my entire life
with a millstone around my neck

It's become a part of me
as I wade this terrible sea
I grasp the air in search of Thee
only yot have water fill my lungs

Oh I know there's a better way
that Your mighty hand holds sway
over the powers of night and day
but land is far from sight

The salt has dried skin and bones
many moons I've spent alone
dreaming of home sweet home
where my soul was at rest

Oh Son of David, I once knew
that Your words where true
yet I still crucified You
I can nver wash these hands

Is there anything but this
a child's game gone amiss
I bretrayed you with a kiss
now I am where I belong

Twenty fathoms was the sounding
all I see is the waves crowning
I've done all I can to keep from drowning
Lord, save me

I Rejected Jesus

the image still haunts me
he mumbled in nepali
feeling his way across
the bus park
his skinny frame
scarcely held his clothes
scarcely held his life
his eyes lacked pupils
just bloddy buldging orbs

they mocked him
abused him
he just cried
no
he weeped
in a language i didn't need
to understand
he weeped in his pain
in his suffering

and i just stared

my bus came
i boarded
content to leave
him behind
but then
the bus stopped
and a familiar voice
filled my ears
my heart sank
as the skeleton boarded
felling his way to passengers
mumbling
reaching
begging

he touched my leg
i cringed
the smell of blood
sweat, urine, alcohol
filled my nostrils
i cringed

''nai''
(how could such a word cross my lips?)
i pushed his hands off of me
as i tried to avoid
looking into his face
''nai''
(blessed father forgive me)
i pushed again
he moved on
his pathetic body
moved on
mumbling
begging
weeping
i cringed
(oh God, what have i done)

Call Me Cephas (Call Me Beavis)

The heavens declare
Your glory
as the Hunter
chases the Bear
across the night sky

Your creation screams of
Your infinite goodness
as solar rays are processed
with water and air
to grow the grass of the field

A horse is a vain hope for safety
yet in its power
it bears the mark
of a skilled craftsman
layering marrow and bone
muscle and tissue
skin and hair
to form such a
magnificent beast

The sparrow
takes flight
without a care
mutts roam
city streets
without regard
rocks orbit
nuclear reaction
without effort

why then should i worry?
why should i concern myself with tomorrow?

knowing that tomorrow will come
I plot and plan
contend and conspire
to control it's fate

lo, what vanity of vanities
to strive against
the One
who can set a snare for behemoth
and hook leviathan through the nostril

I move that arguing
against such power
is folly
(but i do it all the same)
can the created
say to the Creator
"Why have You
made me?"
(no more than a picture
can leave its frame)

Where does this
leave You and I?
am I to ignore
the darkness as
i'm dazzled by the light?
or should I rise
like the moon
reflecting the light
of the Son?

the answer is clear

so in fear
i place my hand
over my mouth
lest my foot
finds its way in

how can I contend
with the One
who holds
reality together

Maschil ( A Contemplation)

I don't understand
my senses are overloaded
there is simply too much
to process
my head is swimming
my body is weak
sleep comes whenever
it desires
i am feeling pressure
like Augustus in the pipe
the suspense
is killing me

Lord, i don't want to
spoil Your chocolate river
to make bitter
Your fountain of blessing
but i can't make sense
of what You are showing me
i long to hear Your voice
direct my steps

To the Creator

I view the world
through a viewfinder
i interpret my thoughts
and observations
into poetic verse
random thoughts
give life to doodles
frustration into
works of art
pain pours out
through sonic woes

I was created to create
so i will forever reciprocate
the blessings bestowed by the Creator
the God of my fathers
the God of Abraham
of Isaac
of Jacob
the God of the living
the God who lives
the God who still uses
Bezalels and Davids
and fills them
with the Spirit
to compose
and construct
beauty
where there was none
in order to give
glory and honor
to the One
who formed
and fashioned
life
where there was none