Poetry – Page 6 – Laurel Luehmann

Poetry

master of disguise

April 29, 2021by Laurel Luehmann8 Comments

Happy Thursday, all!

May I present to you… a poem.

a master of disguise is

staring down

the tearful, trembling girl who whimpers

in the mirror.

“behave yourself…

go out and show the world that

you’re just fine.”

a smile plastered for so long and with

such skill

oh, they can’t see

the knot

that’s weighing heavy deep inside

tangible weight

that pulls at propped up corners of her lips

oh, they can’t feel

the sobs

that rip her lungs as

tears

are pouring down her swollen face

and they can’t read

the thoughts

she can’t untangle in her mind or know

the agony

that’s swelling in her chest

oh, they can’t see

and they can’t feel

and they can’t read

and so she cries

and wonders why

and plasters on the mask

Photo by Elisa Ph. on Unsplash

Poetry

The Day You Died for Me

April 15, 2021by Laurel Luehmann8 Comments

Another poem for you today!

The spikes they drive into Your hands
Are pinning down the base demands
My flesh makes of this life.
Poured onto You is all the wrath
I’ve pent up for myself – this bath
Of pain was meant for me.
Whippings
Stabbings
Piercings
Shame –
Hatred
Malice
Awful stains
Of sin were bringing these on me
But You stepped in, said, “Let her free –
I love her – punish Me.”

I weep here as I hear You groan
In agony I have not known
Because of what I’ve done.
How could I bring such awful pain
On You – the One Who speaks my name
With love and songs of joy?
The sky is black – Your voice is loud
“It is finished!” hears the crowd
Before You bow Your head.
Rumblings
Crumblings
Quakings
Dead
Are stirring –
Now lift up their heads
As sin’s dark curse forever breaks –
The broken heart inside me shakes
In awe of what You’ve done.

This matchless love – like crashing waves –
Has swept this haughty white-washed grave
And washed it of its rights.
I see this life’s not truly mine –
You gave me Yours for all of time
The day You died for me.
Such love deserves all I can give –
All that I want now is to live
To hear You say, “Well done.”
Friendships
Free time
Choices –
They
Are Yours –
I pray, Lord, day by day
To live this life to make You proud
And unashamed to be my God.
I love you, Lord – I’m Yours.

Poetry

Three-Year-Old Poem

April 8, 2021by Laurel Luehmann4 Comments

First of all, the photo has absolutely nothing to do with this poem. But who doesn’t like knotholes on old doors?:)

As the title says, I wrote this poem three years ago this spring. At the time, it was my pride and joy. While I can now see many of its flaws, it still holds a special place in my heart. One of the reasons I love it is because it points me back to simple truth. I hope it can be a blessing to you, as well.

I don’t understand.

I don’t.

There are times, Lord,

When I,

The pen in Your hand,

Long to

Spring from Your mighty

All-knowing

Grasp, with a cry of,

“No, no!

That isn’t the way!

Here!

Let me show You how!”

But that

Is as silly as a toddler

Grasping

The brush of a masterful artist.

A clock

Does no good without clockwork

And so

I do no good without You.

With no

Master I lie here, my ink pouring

Out

A miserable, meaningless

Blot.

But in Your loving hand

My life

Is a song – a beautiful witness

To You.

So here – take my tears, though many

There be

And do what You will with them.

And here –

Take my years, though few they may

And use them to glorify

You.

Poetry

Love Song – A Poem

March 8, 2021by Laurel Luehmann6 Comments

Happy Monday, all!

(It really is a happy Monday… the weather is amazing here right now.)

So… I procrastinated this past weekend. Imagine that. So today scampers around and fills up with a few time-consuming surprises. Thus, we ditch all plans for a thought-provoking article (because it remains half-written at present) and default to…

A poem.

I wrote this one last month, I think, and I really love it. I hope you do, too.:)

can’t remember

a time

I didn’t know

You loved me.

always

each day

You sang a song of love

to me

so freely

it didn’t matter how

I’d hurt You with

the words I’d said

the thoughts I’d

cherished

You

were always there

chasing

my heart

You were

relentless

in Your love

still are

I wonder what I did

with these dirty hands

to earn

Your faithfulness

how could I be so

vile

and yet so

loved

by the God of

holiness?

blood

drips

down

love

gave

all

for me

I’m free

free to love You

delight in You

serve You

give all for You

some call it

mad –

is it

mad

to give all

for the

One

you

love?

who gave

all

for

you?

friend, meet love.

Personal, Poetry

They’re Watching – A Poem

February 22, 2021by Laurel Luehmann9 Comments

It’s poetry time again, friends! Don’t tell me you aren’t excited.:)

Most of my poems are just the overflow of my emotions and reflections. However, on rare occasion I’ll be inspired to write a poem based on something I’ve seen or experienced. This piece is the product of just such a rare occasion.

A few nights ago I was with my youngest sisters, telling them a bedtime story. I noticed that when I would pause for dramatic effect (and let’s admit it, a few extra seconds to come up with my next words:) ), they were leaning over me, eyes big, hands grabbing my arm, every part of their being poured into waiting and watching for what I would say next. It got me thinking…

their eyes are wide

gaze into mine

as I twist the words into

stories.

I’ve captured their minds

and the rhythm of time

grinds now to a stop as they

listen.

little eyes

little ears

always there

always here

on my words

on my deeds

every act

is a seed

falling soft on the

ground of their

hearts –

fertile ground –

precious hearts

of the leaders

to come.

little words

little deeds

I will watch you –

no weeds

can survive

in this life of mine

rest in the dust of times

hated, you beasts

may you never find feasts

in my heart to fulfil

the base lusts of your will

for

their eyes and

their ears are upon me

I need

to remember

remember

I’m leading

the leaders

the world-shaking leaders

to come.

Poetry

In Love – a Poem

January 4, 2021by Laurel Luehmann3 Comments

Happy Monday, all!

Please know that this story – this incredible love – is absolutely real, and extended to you. God loves you more than you can fathom.:)

How He can think

I’m

Lovely

Is a

Mystery to me.

That He would

Choose

This

Wobbly soul

To fight for

Him and

His

Seems like an act of…

What?

He knows I’m not

Enough.

He knows that I’m not

Strong.

He knows the

Winds

That pound this

Heart

Near steal its beat

Some days

And yet

He chooses me.

Seems like an act of…

What?

He feels each

Hurt

More deeply than

My own heart

Ever will.

He weeps

When

Self-love

Steals

My heart

And yet…

He wants me still.

Clothes catching on the

Brambles

That are tearing at His

Skin

He fights

For me

And takes me as

His own.

He stays.

This is an act of…

Love.

It leaves me

Breathless

Tearful and

Completely forever

In love.

Poetry

The Pen in Your Hand – a Poem

November 16, 2020by Laurel Luehmann1 Comment

I know… poetry ranked lowest on the poll I posted a couple of weeks ago (a huge thank you to everyone who answered that!). But my mind has felt like Jell-O recently, so I’m drawing from the reserves today.:) Hopefully my brains will be back soon, and I’ll have a little more to offer you guys!

Anyway…

This is a poem written by my fifteen-year-old self. It came into being one night when I was really struggling to accept what God was doing with a situation in my life. Now, in volatile 2020, it’s a blessing to come back to this poem again and be reminded of where God wants my heart to be.

This is one of the first freestyle poems I wrote… and though it’s not quite as fantastic as I used to think it was :), I hope it’s a blessing to you today.

I don’t understand.

I don’t.

There are times, Lord,

When I,

The pen in Your hand,

Long to

Spring from Your mighty

All-knowing

Grasp, with a cry of

“No, no!

That isn’t the way!

Here!

Let me show You how!”

But that

Is as silly as a ditch-digger

Grasping

The brush of a masterful artist.

A clock

Does no good without clockwork

And so

I do no good without You.

With no

Master I lie here, my ink pouring

Out

A miserable, meaningless

Blot.

But in Your loving hand

My life

Is a song – a beautiful witness

To You.

So here – take my tears, though many

There be

And do what you will with them.

And here –

Take my years, though few they may

And use them to glorify

You.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

life, Poetry

Generations – A Poem

October 19, 2020by Laurel Luehmann9 Comments

My latest poem… tell me what you think of it!

A torrent of green

They burst on the scene-

Ready to take on the world.

Confident – oh, so

Confident

They

Could change the world with

Their song.

So they did.

What once was a forest of

Bleak

Monochrome

Soon became an explosion of

Verdure.

They gladdened the hearts of

The weak and the strong

The fearful and brave

The old and the young.

As the days turned to

Weeks

And the weeks turned to

Months

Their glory was ripening to

Rust

And they knew that their

Sweet days were

Short.

Yet they glowed

And they sang

In the grasp of the wind

That was stealing them

Far, far away on its

Breath

And they fell to their

Death

At the foot of the trees

That were helpless

To bring them to life.

A waste of a season?

They knew that they’d

Lived

The fullness of days

Appointed

To them.

So they sank into time –

Having burst upon

For a moment –

And broke into

Sod

For successors.

Photo by John Silliman on Unsplash

Poetry

The Great Exchange – A Poem

October 5, 2020by Laurel Luehmann1 Comment

I wrote this little poem as a prayer to the Lord nearly two and a half years ago. It’s so wonderful to know that God can redeem each broken piece I surrender to Him… and that He won’t tire of giving me His grace. He is incredibly good!

I come

Torn

Broken

With no words to be

Spoken

Just to pour

My life –

My all –

Into Your hands.

I come

Weak

Helpless

With no power against

The darkness

Just to pour

Your love –

Your strength –

Into my soul.

Poetry

Once Again – A Poem

September 1, 2020by Laurel Luehmann6 Comments

Two natures fight within me

Clawing for complete control

And the evil one is winning –

Its dark reign I can’t o’erthrow.

For its grasp about my mind

Has left an imprint stiff as stone

And its chains about my heart

Into my flesh o’er time have grown.

And I can’t break from these shackles

That hold all my habits tight

For the rust of time has locked them

And I cry into the night

As I see the one You crafted

To be swift and strong for You

Melted to the mess I am –

How could my heart be so untrue?

Yet the dawn is breaking now

And in the early morning rays

I see the promise of the future

And new mercies with new days

And I see the power of Calvary

Making chains and shackles null

As Your faithfulness transforms me

And my shell falls, dead and dull

As new life is pulsing through me –

Though I’ve stumbled and I’ve failed,

Still You tell me that renewal

Is one humble step away.

Photo by Federico Respini on Unsplash