It takes no time at all to choose
But more to justify
The choice I made so I won’t lose–
Lose what, to whom and why?
I build a wall of righteousness
That only grace can smash
And let forgiveness air the mess.
Rejoice. Enjoy the crash.
Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Paul is hosting with the theme “grace”. I am also linking this with Debbie Roth’s Forgiving Fridays.
Photo: “Bottle in the Light” by the author. I am linking this to Trablogger’s Mundane Monday with the theme of “bottles”. I am also linking it to Frank Jansen’s Tuesday Photo Challenge with the theme “recycle” which is what I should do with this bottle since I no longer use it. Perhaps the idea of the light of grace shining through the bottle might link the photo to the poem?
Well Done! I love how you continue to choose these rhymes that work so well and carry your message so bravely.
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I am glad you liked the rhymes. Thank you, Toni!
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Love the last line especially and the photograph.
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Thank you! I hope I’ll be able to enjoy the crash. I am glad you liked the photo.
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I think the walls of righteousness is one to smash… lets dance on the shards and rejoice. Love your rhymes.
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Thank you, Bjorn! Some things should smash.
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I’m learning to “enjoy the crash.” Thanks for your contributions to DVerse.
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I hope I will also. Thank you!
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It is lucky Grace is there to facilitate such a crash…but there must be openness to the possibility. Nice work Frank.
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Yes, Grace is there. I am glad you liked this, Paul! Thanks for hosting!
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Love the “wall of righteousness that only grace can smash.” Let’s hope she is up for the task in 2018. I really love the way the light shines through the bottle in your photo.
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The light in the photo surprised me as well. I am glad you liked it. Thank you, Sherry!
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I really enjoyed this, it made me think of all those righteous comments…like pride comes before a fall..or perhaps it is whisky, or maybe both…
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That’s what I was thinking of. Whisky might help. 🙂 Thank you, Alison!
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I build a wall of righteousness
That only grace can smash…….I love the ideas behind your words. Self-made righteousness is fallible, afterall.
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Much of what we do is fallible. We wouldn’t get by without grace. Thank you, Vivian!
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My pleasure 😊
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“I build a wall of righteousness / That only grace can smash / And let forgiveness air the mess.” I have a friend named Calvin who deeply appreciates these lines, Frank. Well written, well thought out… well deep!
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Thank you, Charley! I am glad you liked this.
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Ahh, pride whether righteous or not sure does interfere with the work of grace.
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Yes, it does. Thank you!
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Great rhymes here with timely message too!
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Thank you, Lillian!
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Justifying is such a futile endeavor when it comes to Grace! You either get or you don’t! Well done Frank!!
Dwight
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Justifying doesn’t get us very far. Thank you, Dwight!
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Amen!
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I love your rhyme and the self-reflectiveness of this piece. Nice work.
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Thank you, Victoria!
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Your verse is always rhythmic and musical, Frank, cloaking nicely the serious message contained within.
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Thank you, Kim! I aim for sound first and hopefully some message to go with it.
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I wonder which wall of righteousness you were thinking of, Frank? I know what springs to my mind.
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There is that wall Trump wants to build which is what I think you might be thinking of. However, I am very apolitical. I do try to get out of the way of political forces if I can, but social mood seems to drive politics. The walls I was thinking of I build myself out of nothing but flimsy words and ideas that need grace to bring them down. Thanks, Jane!
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I know how you feel. Politics seems to attract scummy people. At least your walls are yours to deal with.
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Love this!
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Thank you!
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You really do write some amazing poems, Frank.
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I am glad you like them, Robbie!
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A wonderful poem and a wonderful photo!!
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I am glad you also liked the photo, Annell! It was something of an experiment to meet a different prompt.
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Another stand-out piece. I love the questioning line- Lose what, to whom, and why? Which, for me really brought it into focus.
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I liked that line also. It hopefully broke the repetitive sound which sometimes puts me to sleep. I am glad you enjoyed this!
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SMiLes mY FriEnd for as many repeats
that i have said the word Grace in the last
Few Years i for one rarely to ever think of
Grace as gift moreover
an everlasting
practice
to attain
the Grace that
is Balance mY FriEnd
From Center Point Head
that Flows the one atop more..
Unity of Mind and Body BaLanCinG
Force is the Grace i make more than the
Grace i get that way there are no expectations
or limits
but
doing
Free with work with
work with practice more
as Grace BaLanCinG FoRcE MoRE..:)
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That makes sense, Fred. Grace is a balancing that we live and do ourselves. We aren’t passive recipients.
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SMiLes..
Life Be
In iT..:)
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This demands contemplation.
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I am glad you enjoyed this, Petru!
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Very, very strong and contemplative poem. I had to read it over and over and it gets deeper.
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I am glad you liked this, Jane! Thank you!
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A wall of righteousness that only grace can smash….wow, I love that! Good poem!
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We can try smashing it, I suppose, but it takes grace to do it right. Thank you, Mary!
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Frank, this is magnificent. Love how you use such powerful words to illustrate how grace dissipates righteousness, e.g., “Enjoy the crash.” Also it’s interesting that the word you use for forgiveness is “airing” the mess…. seems gentler, lighter to me anyway. I really appreciate this work, as I’m currently exploring how righteousness plays inside of me and how grace and forgiveness can help me to surrender right and wrong if I so choose. (Or do we choose grace? ❤ )
Regarding tying in the bottle and the poem, YES grace may be a lovely connector. Or perhaps grace brings a message in the bottle of better times with letting go of the past.
Happy New Year Frank. I’m honored to share this post for Forgiving Fridays! And blessings,
Debbie
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I suspect grace gives us the opportunity to choose grace although I haven’t thought about the philosophy behind that. I like your message in the bottle idea tying the photo and the poem. That’s the problem of trying to combine two different prompts in the same post. I am glad you have Forgiving Fridays. It keeps me focused on looking for something to say about forgiveness throughout the week. Blessings!
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ps – so many levels to this poem. Grace as a gift….how we choose righteousness and what it is for us …..where does forgiveness fit in as a choice? As an invitation? As an opening to …. ? Thank you for helping me question and explore this, Frank.
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Thank you! Without your blog I would likely not be thinking about forgiveness at all. I suspect choices aren’t always conscious or rational and there is a lot of grace to help us get by.
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You said it Frank! So glad we connected. 🙂 Blessings for a wonderful 2018. Debbie
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I love the photo, and message the poem relates. Well said, Frank!
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Thank you, Sara! The photo was a bit of an experiment. I am glad you liked it.
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Wow! Oh, this last verse:
“I build a wall of righteousness
That only grace can smash
And let forgiveness air the mess.
Rejoice. Enjoy the crash.”
Excellent write, Frank!
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Thank you, Frank! I am glad you liked that verse.
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Happy New Year, Frank! A beautiful poem.
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Thank you, Ronnie! Happy New Year!
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What a great message. Grace does have a way of gobsmacking us. Thanks for a wonderful prompt.
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Thank you, Victoria!
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so true those first few lines…. as always, enjoy your rhyming
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I am glad you enjoyed the sound of this. Thank you, Vidyatiru!
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The light that spreads from the corner adds an interesting element to this bottle shot. Lovely poem too.
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Thank you!
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I love the flow of thoughts and the truth revealed. Well done, Frank.
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