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@wild rose: beautiful. So often, when I tell God, "I don't know what to do," this Charles Billingsley song pops into my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoQ2romdbjM

I've written three more sonnets for my "This Blood" series in the past week. Check out a new one below. All seven are here.

Joshua: The Cord
To see Canaan, land of milk and honey,
Joshua told spies, “Go to Jericho.”
They told a harlot they had no money.
Yet Rahab hid them from the king, their foe.
“The terror of you has fallen on us.
Your God is God, in heaven and on earth.
Now spare our lives from death. Show me kindness,”
Rahab cried, “for I have faith in your worth.”
“If we see the scarlet cord, then you’ll be
Saved with your household, your blood on our head.
If the cord is missing, then we’ll be free
Of this our pledge.” “So be it,” Rahab said.
The scarlet cord of salvation is here.
The blood of Jesus Christ lets us draw near.

Since it's National Poetry Month, here's a new sonnet on one of the oldest men in the world. It's also on FictionPress and Readwave.

Job: The Redeemer
Misery came to faithful Job one day,
He lost his home, livestock, children, and health.
So Job said, “The Lord gave and took away.
Blessed be his name, for faith is my wealth.”
Some friends tried to mourn with and comfort Job.
They told him to trust in God and repent.
But Job wrapped around him purity’s robe
And fiercely prayed for help from heaven sent.
He cried, “I know that my Redeemer lives,
And he shall stand at last upon the earth.
The fruit of everlasting life he gives,
For, after death, I’ll learn what faith is worth.
I know that once this earthly tent is gone,
In my flesh I will see God – my race done.”

I've written three more poems: one sonnet and some haiku...

Blessed Trinity
Pacing, waving his
Golden mane, the Lion roars.
Strength and might are his.

Woolly white, silent,
The Lamb is led to slaughter.
Precious is his blood.

Downy, fluttering,
The Dove whispers words of peace.
His comfort abides.

Jekyll and Hyde
Words sweet as water
Gentle as the morning dew
Care like pillowed clouds

Words like stinging hail
Falling from an angry sky
A voice like thunder

The Romans Road
The faith of ancient Romans once proclaimed
Our saving liberty in Jesus Christ.
Believing Jews and Greeks were not ashamed.
They trusted in his perfect sacrifice....

Go to Readwave.com/Pevensies to keep reading the Romans sonnet!

I really like the "Blessed Trinity" haiku, 220chrisTian! Very nice imagery and symbolism.

Thanks, Rose-Tree! I wanted to make these biblical symbols live in real time, if you know what I mean. I imagined movie Aslan while writing the Lion stanza. I also added a 4th stanza to my published poem, to give it a conclusion.

Lion, Lamb, and Dove:
Jehovah in Three Persons,
Blessed Trinity.

Here's the complete Romans sonnet, on Readwave.

The faith of ancient Romans once proclaimed
Our saving liberty in Jesus Christ.
Believing Jews and Greeks were not ashamed.
They trusted in his perfect sacrifice.
Set free from sin, made slaves of righteousness,
Elected, justified, as Yahweh’s seed,
Adopted sons of God his name did bless
And learned to seek the Holy Spirit’s lead.
This gospel is the saving pow’r of God.
It gives us faith to walk in liberty.
When we see Jesus’ face on sacred sod,
We’ll bless the Romans road and bend a knee.
The righteousness of God is now revealed:
The just shall live by faith and then be healed.

All I knew about haiku before visiting an online poetry forum yesterday was the 5-7-5 syllable pattern, but this is Japanese. In English, the emphasis is on accents, not syllables, so a haiku should have a 2-3-2 pattern. It should also have a single break in meaning and rhythm, created by a dash or semicolon. Finally, content should reflect a season of the year and focus one moment in time = present tense, strong images. Read my Trinity revision below. Go here to download a 7-page PDF file on how to write traditional haiku in English.

Blessed Trinity
Pacing, golden,
The Lion roars and runs –
Mighty strength

Silent, alone,
The Lamb goes to slaughter –
Precious blood

Drawing near,
The Dove whispers peace –
Warm comfort

Autumn leaves,
Bare trees – my
Soul abides

I joined a poetry forum on Friday and posted "Jekyll and Hyde" for feedback. I don't like it (stiff rules, unkind mods), so I'm leaving. However, one member did give me constructive criticism = good weather contrast to heighten the sudden change in mood, but the metaphors are clichéd and have no life. So, what do you think? I'm trying to get serious about my poetry.

Words
liquid jewels
adorn golden blades:
autumn court

crunch, snap:
crinkled leaves crumble
in twilight

I feel particularly blessed to have a job that means working in a deeply spiritual and Christian atmosphere with others who share the same faith — I'm a Christian Science nurse, which means I give practical care and support to people who are turning to God for healing through prayer. (I don't want to drag this thread off topic, but am happy to talk more about it if anyone's interested.)

Anyway, it's a wonderful ministry to be part of and I work at a dedicated care facility where we have a new manager who's just taken up her position. I mention this here because today at the start of the shift I was working on, she shared this poem with us that I thought others here might like to read as well. It certainly gives one something to think about...

The Gospel According to You
(author unknown)

If none but you in the world today
Had tried to live the Christlike way,
Could the rest of the world look close at you
And find the path that is strait and true?

If none but you in the world so wide
Had found the Christ for his daily guide,
Would the things you do and the things you say
Lead others to live in His blessed way?

Ah, friends of the Christ, in the world today
Are many who watch you upon your way,
And look to the things you say and do
To measure the Christian standard true:

Men read and admire the Gospel of Christ
With its love so unfailing and true,
But what do they say and what do they think
Of the gospel according to you?

You are writing each day a letter to men
Take care that the writing is true;
'Tis the only gospel that some men will read,
That gospel according to you.