Poems for the Spirit, 2nd Edition

8/14/2019 Poems for the Spirit, 2nd Edition

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POEMS

for the

SPIRIT2nd Edition

Original poems by Raymond J. GerathsEdited by Nolan A. Geraths


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INTRODUCTIONMy father was a poet. I discovered his writings in the last six years ofhis life. He started his poetry in 1949 and then wrote poemsthroughout his long life.

All of these poems are original, written by my father.

In addition to these poems we found 3 epic poems. We plan topublish these poems in the near future.

I edited his poems because he is no longer around. He died in winterof 2004. I did not know of all his poems, and I believe it was his spiritthat guided me to have these poems published.

I hope you enjoy reading his poems as much I do.

Nolan Geraths

2009, by Nolan A. Geraths. All rights reserved.Distributed by Steven Schwindt Publishing


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TABLE of CONTENTS

TRUTHTRINITYMARRIAGE

PARADISETHE GOOD SOILWHOTHE LORD WILL PROVIDEA SMILE SPREADS GLADNESSTRUTH IS BEAUTYA LIFE WITHIN A LIFESMILING THROUGH THE YEARSFOR THE LOVE OF MY LIFEREDEMPTIONSANCTIFICATION

THE GLORIOUS EFFECTS OF PRAYERFOR GAYLE
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TRUTH*

Stradivarius chose a treeSturdy as an oakAnd before chopping it down you see

Thus to it he spoke:Oh, violin material dont you cryYouve reason to rejoiceLike the sorrowful Savior you must dieBefore the world will hear your voiceAnd through time it will come aboutYou will gain in qualityUntil all the world will seek you outAnd listen attentively

_________*This poem, Truth, is the first poem inA Celebration of Poets, The InternationalLibrary of Poetry, 1998.
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TRINITYOur spiritual strengthIn breadth and lengthWe proudly boastIn Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

In Faith, Hope, and CharityThey are defined in clarityPower, wisdom, and LoveShowered down from above

Three in oneDividednoneOne in ThreeUnited completely


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MARRIAGE*Youve heard the adage daringOf the sage wise and bold?Sorrow in halved by sharingWhile joy is make two-fold

But have you heard the one aboutTrue love as pure as gold?When shared with God, without a doubtBears fruit a hundredfold

________*This poem, Marriage, appears inAmerica at the Millennium: The Best Poemsand Poets of the 20

thCentury, by The International of Library of Poetry, 2000


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PARADISE

Heaven is---a place where there is:No unruly prideNo lust can abide

No gluttony or greedNo envy can breedNo covetous or jealousyNo sloth to make time a fallacyNo angry outburst or fearNo cowering slave, far not nearNo body or soulNo impurity to stain our goalNo illness, stress or painNo worries about the brainNo misfortune, loss, or tears

No good thing wanting through the yearsNo harmful deeds or woesNo hateful thoughts, as joy growsNo malicious sin or deathNo worries with every breathNo gloom harm can bringNo darkness---AND everything


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THE GOOD SOIL

Oh, Lord, Creator of all things goodTeach us to live the way we shouldMake of us the good soil

In humility and patience to toilWithin us, let you take a good rootAnd blossom into glorious fruit


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WHO*

Who started questions?Who started suggestions?Who said Let their be light?

Who fought with all His might?

Who created heaven and earth?Who gave all life its births?Who searched for the lost sheep?Who comforted those that weep?

Who made the proud humble?Who quieted those that grumble?Who wiped the tears away?Who make the sad gay?

Who will remove all the pain?And restore comfort again?Filled our hearts with loveGrace and blessing from above

Who will make things right?Fill the darkness with lightFill the skies with brilliant starsCreate planets like Jupiter and Mars

Who made the solar system?All the planets and list them?As His own to rule and guideNothing good did He hide

When all was said and doneEverything did smoothly runThen friction did set inWho called it grievous sin?

Run your course dont delayI have planned a happier dayWhen all things will be made anewAll skies will be bright and blue

Do your harm but dont forgetIn the end you will regretAll your kingdom will fallAll your plans that shall stall


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________*This poem, Who, appears in Waves of Wonder, The International Library ofPoetry, 2002


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THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

When grass is dry and we need rainThe Lord will provideThe showers to bloom the flowers again

The Lord will provide

Oh yes, the Lord will provideThe Lord will provideHe always has, He will againThe Lord will provide

When mothers pray for daily breadThe Lord will provideBecause the multitude He fedThe Lord will provide


When sorrow drowns out all our joyThe Lord will provideThe grace our troubles to destroyThe Lord will provide


When enemies press on every sideThe Lord will provideThe strength to stem the wicked tideThe Lord will provide



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A SMILE PROVIDES GLADNESS

To smile is to spread gladnessTo laugh is to make it growTo frown is pure madness

To cry brings us low

To resent makes a lonely heartTo envy, drains our cupTo hate, tears us apartTo anger, burns us up

To thirst and duty quaffTo wear a wedding ringTo live, to smile, to laughTo love: two of everything


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TRUTH IS BEAUTY

Truth is beauty, beauty is truthWrote a poet long agoTwas proven in Mary, proven in Ruth

The Lord willed it soBut in this modern age where youthMakes mockery the goWhere can we find this hidden truthThat makes true beauty glow?We found the answer this very dayBy altars candle lightIn gown and veil you knelt to prayRadiant beauty, truth, and might


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A LIFE WITHIN A LIFE

The glorious effects of prayer have shownThat but to ask is to receiveTo adore, petition, thank, and to atone

Shows that in Him we do believe

God also had prayers for usThat we might fill the billAnd carry on without a fussDoing His holy will

First was His paternal prayerThat His likeness in us might shineWe bear His image everywhereA touch of the divine

Then His maternal prayer of loveTo sanctify man and wifeWith constant guidance from aboveA life within a life

Finally, His fraternal prayerThat we might be His brotherFree of worry and all careAnd have a heavenly mother

Now, these prayers we heedOut destiny fulfillWith every thought and word and deedDoing our Fathers will


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SMILING THROUGH THE YEARS

Your smile, badge of strengthKeep renewing day by daySpreading cheer to every length

Breadth and every which waySmiling through the beersSmiling through the cheersSmiling through the fearsSmiling through the jeersSmiling through the leersSmiling through the tearsEver smiling though the years


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FOR THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

Heart of my heart, dont you cryThe storm will pass by and byWind and rain, sun and dew

Life and flowers do renew

Trouble brews a bitter stewSorrow adds some bitters tooTime ferments the bitter to sweetPlacing honey at our feet

Floating clouds and passing rainBring the sunshine againBrighter than you ever seenShining on the fields so clean

See your rainbow in the skyIt cries in Gods eyeHe sent the gentle rain belowNow Hes watching the green things grow

As from the earth His glory risesIn natures gay and green surprisesTo give us hope in the life to HeWhere will share His cool eternally

In the names of the Father, Son and Holy GhostWe give credit for each victory we boastIn this worldly strifeFor by Him, with Him, and in Him, we love life


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REDEMPTION

I love the way your love you showAnd how your dark eyes shineAnd how your face is all glows

When you make yourself a clinging vine

Love is truly the strangest thingWe take in food to go on livingBut love is brought to its true ringBy giving, giving, and giving

I dare not ask you for your loveIt old spoils in the takingIn silent admiration Im sure ofWhat words might turn to faking

The depth of silence has no endAnd love can reach as farThe way water reflections bendAnd beams reach us from a star

We say the word eternityBut said, it has an end.We say I love you, with amityAnd forever two souls blend

Smile after smile brings unending joyAs rain after rain sustains riversDay after day makes time a toyAs trees are made of slivers

Darkness holds many shadesAnd the light has rainbowsIn the light darkness fadesIn the dark clouds color glows

So love mingles joy and sorrowLike the sunshine and the rainToday tears will blossom tomorrowInto joy again

As rain sinks into the earthTo refresh and liven it, soTears fall to end the dearthOf parched hopes and woe


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Water has a cleansing effectFor body and for soulBathing the body does reflectA souls cleansing as tears roll

Oh, Gods generous gift of rainAn endless cleansing gameFor joy and life to sustainAnd the wild clouds to tame

Just over the hill and through the valeOur house in a meadow sitsRight at the mouth of another daleWhere a cool streams flits

Weve planted berry vinesThat grow up from either sideIn the center each entwinesUnder which we hide

These extend down the hillLike a long high tunnelReaching nearly to the rillWith an outlet like a funnel

Here we enter and go out

And close a viny doorNear the source of our daily troutWhere we can always go back for more

The lives give us shelter at nightFind food throughout the dayNow the berries are just rightAnd fruit is on the way

Well dine with trout and berry juiceWith dandelions for a saladNature really has turned looseWith a fruitful spring ballad

Across the stream and up the hillFather built us a hutCool and comfy and as stillAs quiet as a seed in a nut


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There well spend our marriage riseAnd start our life togetherRoam the valley day and nightThrough the clover and the heather

Swimming, fishing, gaffingCatching food at playSinging, calling, laughingWilling our time away

Gay as a bee all day longGathering in the honeyIn the meadow with a songEvery moment gay and sunny


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SANCTIFICATION

Shallow rivers rollDeep lakes are stillFlowers worth the stole

Are found high on a hill

Fragrance is hiddenDeep in the valleyFruit that is forbiddenIs scattered nilly, nally

Truth too is presentIn the beauty of a roseWhere everything pleasantGrows and grows, and grows

This wisdom and beautyIs protected by the thornsThat faithfully fulfills their dutyMaking obnoxious the vine it adorns

Precious is as precious doesHigh grade crude is buried deepCoal fields lie where bees did buzzAnd abundant foliage did creep


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THE GLORIOUS EFFECTS OF PRAYER

The glorious effects of prayer have shownThat but to ask is to receiveTo adore, petition, thank, atone

Shows that in Him we do believe

God also had prayers for usThat we might fill the billCarry on without a fussDoing His holy will

First was His paternal prayerThat His likeness in us might shineWed bear His image everywhereA touch of the divine

Then His maternal prayer of loveTo sanctity man and wifeWith His constant guidance from aboveA life with a life

Finally His fraternal prayerThat we might be His brotherFree of worry and of careAnd have a heavenly mother

Now these prayers we heedOur destiny fulfillWith every thought, and word, and deedDoing our Fathers will


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FOR GAYLE

I plucked a flower, it faded awayI felt so sad and blueI planted a rose and day by day

It grew, and grew, and grew

It blossomed beautiful and redAll fragments, sweet, and brightNo longer sad and blue, insteadI felt high as a kite

My son said Im leaving youIt tore my soul apartThen I heard you say, I doIt set up a Gayle in my heart

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