Fleecy Things

I've had a lot of things on my mind, but as I've been thinking about redemption, I've wanted to revisit some of the thoughts that were going through my head when I wrote my sonnet, "Lamb Child." This is a paired sonnet to accompany the first. I'm not quite content with the start or the end yet, but in any case, you can decide what its all supposed to mean...

FLEECY THINGS
And now a solemn lay to thee rehearsed
Of stripèd beasts and shade-shorn fleecy things.
"Dear lamb, knowst thou who made thee in the first?"
And hearest thou that lark forlorn that sings
the night'ngale song? Learn from the blessed day
How heaven beckoned back the dayspring star
With closèd mouth in silent kyrie.
Behold the Tyger mute, stripes made to bear;
His regal pelt unparted stand and see!
Oh thou that grazed Elysian pastures fair,
Did he who made that slouching beast make thee?
     Lamb child, forsake desire, rebuke thy art
     And open now the pyx box of thy heart.

Sonnet: Psalm 5

Psalm 5

O my Lord, hear the words of my pond’ring.

To thee, my Heav’nly King, I ever pray

For thy heart is not in evil wand’ring

Nor shall thy holiness let evil stay.

For the lab’rers of delusion and vice

Cannot withstand the power of thy gaze,

For their faithlessness earns no paradise

Only just death for their rebellious ways.

But I, O Lord, that way of life reject,

And in thy hallowed temple seek thee out.

Guide me, Lord:  Thy path I’ll never reject

As thou leadest me away from all doubt.

Peace and joy shall thy guidance ever bring

Thanks to thee, Savior, Defender, and King.

Sonnet: Psalms 46

Sonnet: Psalms 46

Our living God, protecting us with strength
Despite our fleeting fear, and earth's unease.
His glor'ious mount, a refuge without length,
Tho' earthly quakes and roarings of the seas.

Through holy city, streams the river glad,
Where God resides as one eternal round.
Though kingdoms fall, as wrought by heathens mad,
The Lord of Hosts, King Jacob's God stands ground.

Destructions brought and fates of wars reversed
Behold the awe-some works of God, whose might
Burnt the chariot, split the spear and bloodied bow.
Exalt our Heav'nly King above our plight.
        The Lord of Hosts chastises with His Rod
        Be still, my child, and know that I am God.

Psalm 11

                                                                                           Impending Justice

The people trusting God are wise beyond measure,

For time will come that sin consumes men's hearts

And stand against what Righteous do treasure.

Sin destroys right pathways and then departs.

"God has the most Justice"
ibrahimabutouq

The Lord looks down and sees: all things he knows.

For the Lord sits on His heavenly throne,

Upon His Righteous Ones His love bestowed

But wrath He saves for the wicked alone.

A storm will come in God's might and power.

The violent shall receive their just reward

As coal, fire, sulfur, descend—devour.

Things become darker than the night before.

Yet Justice appears arrayed wholly white

And fighting for the righteous—God's delight.

Frustrated Ball of Sonnet Rage

The Sonnet of Nephi

We can't leave out Nephi's Psalm! It's such a personal and moving piece of scripture that it demands a Sonnet of its own! 2 Nephi 4:16-35.

Though wretched man is all that I can see

Encircled with temptation, O weak flesh!

Your love still finds me, so I plead with thee

Invigorate and make my soul afresh

Saved oft from enemy and hell alike

Raised up on wings of Spirit I can't deny

My weeping heart, your boundless grace will strike

And free me from these woes with piercing eye

Awake, my soul! Taste freedom through the Lord

Cry unto him, and know that He will hear

He'll visit me with mercy, not ignored

I'll trust in him, whose love is always clear

    My flesh is weak, but He won't leave me poor

    And so I'll praise him, ever, evermore.

Psalm 100

Sonnet
From Far and Wide with joyful revelry
Praise and serve the Lord and come and sing
With gladness in your hearts before his chivalry.
O search your hearts and know that He is King!
Our Lord with kindly touch our souls hath made
And to Him great obeisance shall we show
For we are His and His we shall remain,
As tender sheep in watchful care to grow.
O come! Come in to Him with grateful heart
Let court and gate reverberate with praise.
For thankful people with Him will not part
And always bless His name with all our days.
The Lord is Good and is forever kind.
His truth it will endure through earth's unwind.





Psalm
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Lamb Child

Remembrest thou that silent, starry floor,
Or thrones of ember, song, and silver light?
Recallest thou that bright empyrean shore,
And sphere-song that reproves the blackest night?
How art thou fallen from this sorr'wing sky
O Lucifer,           thou morning star and son
Of that bright glory forfeited, to fly
In proud rebellion earliest begun.
For thou in fatal flight didst fall to earth--
As Icharus, his waxy wings diswed--
No child of life, no son of mortal birth
But ashen babe of feral fires fed.
    Lamb child, far from thy long forgotten home
    How long in solemn darkness needst thou roam?

This sonnet is based loosely on Isaiah 14:12. One of the things that I am most excited about this semester in terms of literary content is trying to understand Lucifer better through Paradise Lost. Does God love him? Do we love him, and should we? On my mission, I cringed a little when an old man prayed for Satan, but I wonder if he was not so far from truth: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matt 5:44). 

Psalm 23

Sonnet
As a small sheep, I am prone to wander
But follow my shepherd when he does appear
In green pastures and still waters yonder.
I shall not want, for he is ever near.
Evil has no claim over me,
Even in the valley of the shadow of death;
I look around me and clearly see
Your rod and staff--they ease my breath.
Oil-touched head and cup over-flowed,
My enemies sit at the prepared table watching.
Goodness and mercy shall never erode
When I accept this anointing.
            If within the Lord's house I make my address,
            Forever will I stay, to never regress.