HOPE
man’s
commonality
yet pauper
still
without
substance
til wed to
FAITH.
commoner and
king
whose
firstfruit,
LOVE
begat
LIFE,
the blossom of
creation.
jfrancis©
february 16,
2003
Witness
(two kings of Salem)
History’s Man
of Sin will
rule the
world,
for twelve
sixty.
Not so
Jerusalem.
Power and
Might
by G-d’s Word
fill the
streets
and hearts of
two
who witness of
majesty
and G-d’s
Kingdom
denying
antichrist
rule
where G-d
placed his name.
Armed with miracles
and fire
His two,
witness
and prophesy
the closing
age
where Grace
and Redemption
offer Freedom
and Life
as hatred
awaits
the appointed
time
and permission
to slay
judgment
unaware of
disaster
for the risen
Son of
Destruction
comes
with holy ones
to visit His
enemies.
jfrancis©
february 23,
2003
S*N*O*W
(and the Mayor of
Jerusalem)
Joy comes
with angel flakes
from Heaven’s
storehouse
of unexpected
gifts
to smother
anxiety
and lift the
heart.
His Honor
Lupoliansky
mused with
reflection
‘it is good for
children
and snow birds
to enjoy the
G-dly gift
of frozen
blessing
with parents’
Such words of
Wisdom
fitly spoken
is lovelier than
fine wine
in the silver
chalice.
jfrancis and
etgar
lefkovits(paraphrase)
february 27, 2003
THE TRUMP
(before us)
Six: not the
perfect number
of dice or
wars
but
no worse will
this earth
endure.
China
Asia/India
the Arab
lands
all fuel the
firestorm.
Two billion
souls
stand at the
precipice.
The L-rd
giveth
The L-rd
taketh away,
blessed be
His name.
Revelation
9:13-16
jfrancis©
march 2, 2003
The Pale Horse
(through prophecy)
His normal gait:
a slow walk,
save the startling
periods of harvest
when his gallop
through history
leaves plague,
holocaust
and nuclear light
in our world.
Now poised for flight
to the four corners
of our earth
taking
the third part of man
into
judgment’s storehouse.
jfrancis©
march 9, 2003
The Last Sup
My heart breathes
the fragrance
of your spirit’s
blossom
and the light
of His nurturing
power,
the husbandman
of Eden
from creation
to Calvary
to Armageddon’s
final benediction
the L-rd sups
only
with all who
hunger.
jfrancis©
march 9, 2003
Patriotism
(in full dress)
She wore the
uniform well.
Marine, Sailor,
Soldier
or Wings of Flight?
Her spirit high
was light
shining from the
center
of a soul
bright with life
and patriot fire.
jfrancis©
november 24, 2002
Heart of War
A wrenching oxymoron
opposing:
quality of compassion
(human need for
goodness)
against
brutality laid bare.
The former:
rising from man’s
connection
with G-d.
The latter:
man’s baser nature
always on parade
in the human street.
Victory is not always
the beating heart.
jfrancis©
march 21, 2003
WAR
is death and life.
Death comes with
a bullet of chance.
Life carries the memory
of death’s choice.
SHALOM.
JFRANCIS©
MARCH 26, 2003
SHACKLED
Beneath our
veil of color
or blue of
blood
lies the
image of G-d
wrapped in
humanness
and free
will,
a divine
creation
built on
personal knowledge
and G-d’s
eternal
unchanging
character
stamped
on
Calvary’s rugged face.
jfrancis©
april 3,
2003
Day Eight
Liberty is not immune
to misfortune
and American lives
become sacrifice
to friendly fire’s
fog of war.
The Day’s dawn
holds Egypt
to gathering defeat
and grievous pride,
not unknown
to Arab worlds.
And but for the Golan,
Israel’s Six Day War
may have ended four
as darkness finds
the final front
held hostage
to Soviet intimidation
and war room ambivalence.
(to be continued)
Day Nine
The shadows of Mercy
fall over Golan;
so too
blood of IDF bravery,
soaking the high soil
with Jewish lives.
Syria fought well
and Israel paid deeply
for Quietness under the Golans.
(to be continued)
Day Ten
(to the brink)
of brinksmanship
by postage stamp Israel:
author, publisher, printer.
David before Goliath.
Mighty is His name
and greatly to be feared.
The world ranted
and rattled their sword
taken by David
to slay the giant
of Golan’s Height.
(to be continued)
Fallout
(of hatred)
Never
in the time of man
has man witnessed
so great a blessing
so great a curse
in six
risings and settings
of this Heaven’s
sun.
jfrancis
june 12, 2003
in real time
Poetry is life
in
full dress
with
fragrance
and
flowers.
Color
of endless hue.
Passions of silk
in
finest fashion.
A
garment we wear
with
unconscious emotion
exposing our past
to
the future,
casting Love
on
the waters
of
Reason and Hope.
jfrancis©
april
24, 2003
Guiding the Light
(and Jerusalem)
Remember Lincoln?
Many times
a failed politician,
not yet seasoned
as the rail for splitting.
Driven by G-d
through wilderness
and defeat,
his final leadership
led a nation
to the threshold
of power
where
not the metal of man
rather
the pressure of the day
and crucible Jerusalem
alloy each for greatness
and a journey
up the high road.
jfrancishill©
april 20, 2003
Forewarned
(of sweetness and light)
Life is not always kind
to the fallen of time
and comes with warning
of brevity,
levity,
chaos and pain.
Beauty is sweet
and we drink
of this vaporous mirage
####### kisses
of a siren song
piped with guile
by the prince
of our world.
jfrancis©
april 6, 2003
Fog of
War
Death’s hurried rush
rolls in on dusty tracks
and sleepless minds
with unparalleled speed
to Victory and Creed.
jfrancis©
april 10, 2003
Inspiration:
the father of success.
God:
the father of inspiration.
do you know him?
intimately?
personally?
he is closer than
the whispered prayer
of a humble spirit,
our roadmap to Peace.
jfrancis©
april15, 2003
(where)Does G-d Exist?
G-d is Spirit and Power,
even Majesty
in a momentary flower,
rules with rhythm
in a fragile world
driven by cadence
and the way
of cosmic care.
He takes notice
of the dying day
and wraps it’s form
in history
and the mind’s eye.
His breath of life
fuels our spirit
and delivers this body
to the appointed time
at death’s
judgment door.
©jfrancis
may 11, 2003
The Harvest
(of Litle)
G-d’s power:
beyond imagination;
taking a fragile flower
gathered while radiant
of beauty and fresh,
scattering seed
to the fertile
Jewish
heartland
soil.
The harvest will come
as mourners were drawn
by this Haifa bloom
watered with grief
in gardens of unbelief
jfrancis©
flinttexas usa
may 15, 2003
This
G-d/Man
He came to us
walking on water
turning it to wine
dining with sinners
dying with sinners
reaching to all humanity
himself human.
He
who being the exact image
and likeness
of his Father,
chose to walk among
the sons of earth
revealing
the Son of heaven.
jfrancis©
flinttexas usa
june 27, 2003
Life and the Dead Sea
Creation anomaly:
death and treasure
buried in the cradle
of ancient theology.
Life flowed a desert place
in to the plain of Sin.
Recompense,
where death at Sodom
and
a newborn sea
mark the dead
for the living.
jfrancis©
june 29, 2003
Gazaland
Long
a Philistine stronghold
of trouble and punishment
for the Hebrew,
a rod of direction
for the nation’s vacillation
between little gods
and the G-d who is
“I AM”.
And still
a people of grief
for Israel’s wandering.
Yet
from this ancient land
came Messiah
in the fashion of Samson
to save his people.
jfrancis©
july 4, 2003
Anything but Death
Love,
a many splintered emotion
pushing the envelope
of human attachment
to spontaneous
intoxication
of the heart,
leading us
beyond hope,
beyond reason
even
to poetic expression
of a bond forged
between strangers
alloyed by Spirit
into the lineage
of our Lord.
Boaz begat Obed
Obed begat Jesse
Jesse begat David
and David, the Christ.
All
from a lowly
Moabite widow,
whose Love for Naomi
endures
beyond death.
jfrancis©
july 6, 2003
Portrait of a Day
Words of Wisdom
and Kindness
paint your portrait
on the face
of each new day
creating loveliness
for the way.
Steel has much strength
from the forged fire
but warmth and tenderness
will break the heart
of stone
and return favors
among thorns.
jfrancis©
flinttexas
usa
july 9, 2003
Silver and Liquid Gold
The music of life
played well
on the silver fiddle
of Harmony and Grace
sounds sweetest
through a veil of tears
shed by the multitude
of friend and foe.
jfrancis©
flinttexas
usa
july 11, 2003
Shalom to Noam
in the #######
of assassin’s fire
her transport,
from
earth’s fallen face,
to Heaven’s
lush perfection,
complete.
Seven was her time
Noam Leibowitz,
a wandering butterfly
passing through
redemption’s portal
to kingdom citizen.
The tragedies of death
in tender years
break the heart
of G-d and man.
While
tears of separation
flow vacant wadis
of hope,
one day soon
the valley Kidron
overflows with Grace
and the fruit
of G-d’s sacrificial
Lamb.
jfrancis©
july 13, 2003
Statement of Accountability
(disclaimer for preceding poem)
From conception to age of personal
accountability
each child is covered by the redemptive
act
of Jesus Christ on the cross,
then each must accept or reject him
at the exercise of their free will
to enter the Kingdom of G-d, or
not.
jfrancishill
july 13,2003
For Bethlehem
(Jewish Humor)
All are welcome
to the nature
of nativity,
penitent and Priest
shepherd or star.
So gunmen yet?
Pressed of battle
to salve the fury?
This is perhaps normal-----
just this once
but surely-----nevermore,
still the Spirit’s touch
of hearts in stone?
Who knows,
maybe these Arab boys
understand
why they are safe
in this nice
Jewish church.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 3, 2002
Love’s Price
They have bombers
who have not
moral absolutes
and do
what is right
in their eyes.
We have death
with no penance
for the price paid
by our young Rachels,
slain at life’s door.
And the loss
of Israel’s fathers,
cannot be valued
with human prose.
For one
the dance of death
ends
life as we know it
for six left to mourn,
forever:
father
husband
son
Hero,
whose life chiseled
Torah word
on the face of terror:
"No greater Love------."
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
Parallel Creation
Angel of the morning;
a star fallen
among the hearts of men.
This tinderbox
sparked of evil
ignites passion
of brother
against a thread
of righteous rule
through the weaver’s
garments.
Woven many colors
of purple royalty
and rahab red
to the bright star
garments
sacrificed for
nationhood.
And today
the robe of
shed blood crimson
wraps this nation
in grief and loyalty
awaiting
the arrival
of Messiah-King,
Warrior-G-d
of expectation.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
April 30, 2002
Finality
Confession and forgiveness,
an edifice of redemption,
built on the
bedrock of salvation.
A mural painted
with broad strokes
by Messiah
at the end of Age
as his presence
divides Mt. of Olives
opening the holiness
of sacrifice
and awareness
for profound grief,
greater than Josiah’s,
even to the separation
and weeping of Jews
worldwide
for sorrow
and personal redemption.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 12, 2002
Jeru35salem
years of sweet
to bitterness of joy
for Israel’s children
in their maturing
have sprinkled the land
with blossoms of hope
as a rich savor to life,
and a reaping of sadness
in the fields of grief,
a lament for loss
as we lay memories
to rest in the soil
of sacrifice.
Yet our joys multiply,
as sons and daughters
of righteous passion,
while the sadness fade
as nights depart
to rejoice the day.
For the great
victories of battle
history creates heroes
among the living
and fallen
to glorify
Israel.
Now for the present toil
of loss amidst life,
we count danger
the duty,
remembering a lad
of Goliath days
who raised the land
to his shoulders
and slay
our eternal enemy
sin.
To G-d
be the glory.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 12, 2002
Wall of G-d Present
Two thousand years
of Roman silence
has not weakened
the very heart
of all creation
beating
in the stone and script
of this Holy Wall
where Jewish existence
is written
with stylus
and blood
spilling down
through centuries
into weathered wrinkles
on this battle scarred face
that fathered time.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 6, 2002
Zion Heart
The zeal of his passion,
for Zion’s Mount
and redemption of all
G-d’s creation,
is his signature,
written in battle
and blood
for endtime Israel.
With heart planted
in holy soil,
his feet and breath
give lift and life
to the dust
of Adam’s perfection
and fall
till G-d
wraps this earth
in regeneration
for the reign
of Messiah
and his redeemed
at the center
of worship
and praise,
Jerusalem.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 12, 2002
Footprints
Never before
G-dly Josiah
has one leader
poured his heart
on the altar prostrate
before Heaven’s throne
in total submission
to G-d’s guidance
and never since
a King of Israel
the measure of Josiah.
G-d waits.
Follow the footprints.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 14, 2002
Final Order
All prose and poets
of earthly language
fail to justly express
sorrow of collective loss
for world Jewry
this deadliest of centuries
and the danger
of this day.
The enemies of Zion:
legion among earth
and friend-
few and blessed.
Now hatred,
the white hot iron
of blindness,
leaves a world struck
and staggering in disbelief
at Israel;
postage stamp nation
in a driven sea
unmoved Rock of Zion
around which revolves
the sun
moon.
stars
and all planets
of Heaven and Earth.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 24, 2002
Who is Your Mama, Rabinowitz?
(Jewish Wisdom)
When men rule the world
and women take their name,
why should Jewishness
flow from the blood of Maidenhood?
Wisdom’s answer
from the ages—
men come and go
leaving their mark
on the land;
women stay
rooting man
giving certainty
to the blood
of birthing pain.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 25, 2002
Torah Given
They came as spokes
to the hub
from all the land
to Jerusalem
and even now they come
with no temple
they bring gifts
for the poor
as to G-d
painting this city
with Torah love
as a mural
of worthy conduct
for observant Jew
and all Israeli
foreign and secular.
Love of Torah:
a heart phenomenon
rising to level
of national treasure
shared with
Jerusalem,
Temple Mount
and Jewish People.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 31 2002
Torah Crime
Smuggling
deceit
near extortion
haggling(real extortion)
cover-up
beatings
and payoffs.
Torah crime
to be sure
and all in a days work
for Rabbis of Rescue.
Not often does the end
justify the means
but Torah scrolls—
held hostage in Iraq,
whose to say "crime."
The hostages were freed,
some in poor health
and some, alas
required burial.
All in all
the rescue was daring
and maybe clandestine
requiring help in high places.
The lesson learned?
For love of Torah
all Israel is Rabbi.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
may 26, 2002
Jeru2002salem
A wild and solid beauty
of reckless flirtations
splendidly robed
in festive garments
whose love eternal
fills the heart Almighty.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 2, 2002
Conscripted Hearts
He shared a burden
no other could,
on the day
man's sacrifice
failed our load of sin,
and gave his back
to bear the cross
up Golgotha's climb.
Chosen by chance
to immortal history,
Simon the Cyrene
served as we
when called
to bear the cross.
(c)2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 9, 2002
Footprints in Time
No city the equal
of Jerusalem’s footprints.
Not Rome
with hellish emperors,
nor London
and crusader kings.
Perhaps Paris
with conquering hero?
What city can boast
such famous prints
of Prince and pauper…
in one day?
An entire city
paved with G-dly impressions
bearing the message
of salvation
from Adam
to breaking light.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 8, 2002
Megiddo Seventeen
Unbelievable,
again the nation’s heart
bleeds profusely
and youthful wealth
pours out
on holy sand
of Megiddo,
all for a paltry sum
of $hatred:
a taught emotion,
without logic,
destroying
heart and soul
of caregiver.
He who gives care
to hatred
will reap
it’s fruits
eternally.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 5, 2002
Mindgame
We walk our way
in confidence
of the day
where focus of breath
reaches only to death
and seldom beyond
where length of forever
extends
beyond ancient of days
to the end of eternity.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 8, 2002
Pray the Spirit
Remember the hand of David.
From a stream
five smooth stones.
In his hand
the sling of shepherd life
and a heart for G-d;
an awesome arsenal
defeating the Philistine nation
not by power
nor by might
but by my Spirit
said the Creator
of all we see
and much we do not,
all in a still, small voice.
Pray the Spirit.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 6, 2002
Righteous Gentile
Soponova
Ordinary Russian
uncommon heart
touching the breadth
of human emotion
and Israeli compassion.
Her body battered
her spirit soaring
she defines courage,
written in homeland soil.
A gentile grafted
into the root of righteousness,
set apart
from the world’s foundation
for this good work,
that G-d might be
glorified.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 22, 2002
MIA
(From the Heart)
The sinews of life bind tightly
but not so well
as those of hope
and a mother
for her lost child.
The dead are buried,
the missing are grieved
forever.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 23, 2002
Shawn Greenberg
Jew extraordinaire.
A statement
reserved for all
who live
to the consciousness
of their faith.
His exploits,
though of diamond quality,
rise only to humanness.
His stature of spirit
stands him among
the Jew of his day.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 10,2002
Slaughter of Innocents
Inspired by Paul Ruben’s masterpiece
"The Massacre of the Innocents" 1609-1611
The day of Herod broke
to the billow of hooves
through Bethlehem dust
and the wail of Rachel
for helplessness
as the innocents
of slaughter
became blood sacrifice
to vanity’s pride
poured out in streets
where a gentle donkey
once trod
bearing Lamb of G-d
who became
slain
for the sins
of Herod.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 30, 2002
Healing the Place of Pain
Pain of loss springs from life
and covers the land
from Aviva to Zehava.
Shalom to these Mothers.
Grief.
A smoldering fire
consumes the anger
of loss
and must burn
to purify the heart
for regeneration
as it comes on light
following darkest night.
Language can never
express loss
of a mother’s daughter
and grief must linger
as purifying
clears the spirit
of bitterness and anger.
Mend the broken heart?
A task for creation light
as light divides darkness
from broken hearts
revealing fractures
to be sealed
with loving nature
of mother compassion
flowing from
G-d’s creation power.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 13, 2002
Jerusalem Light
A beacon flame
guarding truth
while others
are cast
on the reef
of unbelief.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
june 28, 2002
G-d with U.S.
The greatness of this land
is wrapped in power
and majesty grand
for the purpose of his hand.
We are the eagle wings
of whom the scriptures sing
to watch o’re his land
and protect
as the time of the end
is here
where labor by man
in a vineyard dear
is measured
by the word of G-d
setting the heart ablaze.
World History
Lives of Israel
sewn daily
to the land
produce
a spiritual harvest
of determination
and strength of value
echoing the message
of Exodus
"affliction
multiplied the host
of Israel."
So once again
the enemies of G-d
stumble
falling on their own
sword of persecution
and there remains
Israel 101
©2002 jfrancishhill
flinttexas usa
july 3, 2002
The Spin of Sin
Truth of Scripture
written for man
by the G-d of Abraham
was given life
and breath
by the hand
of Arab land.
"Blessed are those
who care for Israel,
cursed are those
who rage their hand
against my land."
For those who serve
little gods,
the force of scripture
is lost
in the blindness of sin
as they stagger
in wander
with the wealth
of ages
and failure of time
to prove their way,
so the Potter
spins-------
one for honor
another
for destruction.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 17, 2002
Jewish History a Holocaust
The sweep of Jewish history
first began
with creator G-d,
Adam
and man.
The first holocaust
reared it’s viper head
as Satan
fathered death and sin,
destroying
man’s perfect state
and infecting world history
with rebellion’s virus
replicating in man
down the ages
from Noah
through wilderness wandering
to the promised
with struggle
across the silence
of old to new
where but a few
embraced perfection
sent to me and you.
The page of history
detailing Diaspora
lengthened to millennia
punctuating grief
of twentieth century
disgrace,
to the endtime
of our age.
Holocaust,
never in G-d’s plan,
the work of rebel man
by Satan’s hand
to take the throne
most high.
This, the story of man,
without G-d
without Grace.
©2002 jfrancishill
flinttexas usa
july 21, 2002
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