April 1, 2002

Note on the “Found in My Basement” poems: We were going through boxes in preparation for moving to a home with less storage. In a box of my Bible College notes I found the poems below which I had all but forgotten about. Somehow they found their way into the recycling box without my knowledge and I tore the house apart to find again what mere days ago I never knew I had. My best guess to their age is that they date from the middle to late eighties. I have grouped them here for no other reason than that it is now that they have returned to my life.

Found in My Basement: #1

First Draft

standing on the shores of forever

I gaze

at countless stars about me spread

and hear

the gentle laugh of silent bells

that in the stillness chime

far away, eternity

yet within my grasp

Found in My Basement: #1

Second Draft

standing on the shores of forever

I gaze

at countless stars about me spread

and hear

the gentle laugh of silent bells

that in the stillness chime

time stands awhile

as do I

awestruck

confronted by

the mystery of life

the glory of the skies

the perfection of creation

standing here

beneath eternity

symphonies of sight

Found in My Basement: #1

Third and Final Draft

standing on the shores of time

I gaze

at countless stars about me spread

and hear

the gentle laugh of silent bells

a puzzling child

am I

confronted by

the mysteries of life

in all its glory

the time that holds

mem’ries and hopes

now expands to take it all

questions often

answers seldom

this child wonders

why do icicles sound that way

when their tears on water fall

why does the stream then laugh

can stars still shine

when the sun is bright

misty windows seldom clear

but a glimpse is often enough

to set the soul to flight

to give the heart a song

this soul flies

this heart sings

Found in My Basement: #1

Fourth Draft (June 25, 2020)

standing on the shores of time

I gaze

at countless stars about me spread

and hear

the gentle laugh of silent bells

time stands awhile

as do I

awestruck

confronted by

the mystery of life

the glory of the skies

the perfection of creation

a puzzling child

am I

explorer of life

in all its glory

the time that holds

mem’ries and hopes

expands to take it all

questions often

answers seldom

this child wonders

why do icicles sound that way

when their tears on water fall

why does the stream then laugh

can stars still shine

when the sun is bright

misty windows seldom clear

but a glimpse is often enough

to set the soul to flight

to give the heart a song

this soul flies

this heart sings

Found in My Basement: #1

Fifth Draft (January 20, 2021)

standing on the shores of forever

I gaze

at countless stars about me spread

and hear

the gentle laugh of silent bells

time stands awhile

as do I

awestruck

confronted by

the mystery of life

the glory of the skies

the perfection of creation

a puzzling child

am I

explorer of life

in all its glory

the time that holds

mem’ries and hopes

expands to take it all

questions often

answers seldom

this child wonders

why do icicles sound that way

when their tears on water fall

why does the stream then laugh

can stars still shine

when the sun is bright

misty windows seldom clear

but a glimpse is often enough

to set the soul to flight

to give the heart a song

this soul flies

this heart sings

Found in My Basement: #2

the morning sings for joy

sheer bliss at being alive

the sun springs joyfully into its course

Found in My Basement: #3

how I am able to envy you

the people of the day

He walked among you

healing your sick

raising your dead

turning your water into wine

what joy it must have been

to see Him

to touch Him

and hear Him speak

how I am able to envy you

the seventy He sent out

His divine commission

upon your head

the power of His name

fire in your blood

you performed miracles!

in His name

what a feeling it must have been

to be His hands

and His feet

on that long ago road

and how I am able to envy you

the twelve He called His own

walking, talking, being with Him

for years on end

how I long to learn those words

the way that you learned them

you loved Him as a man

as I never can

Found in My Basement: #4

quiet moments

briefly snatched

from the hurdy-gurdy pace of life

enjoyment shortened minutes fleet by

Found in My Basement: #5

for a brief moment

angels sang

while tears crept to my eyes

Found in My Basement: #6

I tread the light fantastic

the only way to go

no more the gloom cloaked trail-way

or vile, misleading road

onward and upward

the way I walk

Found in My Basement: #7

sounds like

THUNDER!

rambling on the winds

slow come trumpeter

Found in My Basement: #8

alive! I am

I feel, I breath

I live

and yet I feel

I’m going rogue

Found in My Basement: #9

Sing Alleluia to the Lord!

for He is all we are

Lift your heart to God!

for He is lord of all

Found in My Basement: #10

we interrupt this show

to bring to you

a news flash

events on

the lower east side

are happening

Johnny’s on the spot

to bring it to

your lives

hornet’s nest activity

besets this

seldom heard from quarter

tonight

Tennant’s Block goes out

in a blaze of glory

flames

livid against the night

(so silent and deep)

writhe in the agony

surely felt by all

emergency crews

battle rubber necks

to see who gets there first

silence retreats

as the battle rages

um-m-m-m, could you get more personal please, Johnny?)

huddled

in the shadow of doom

devoid of all

(possessions

dignity

hope)

stand … the victims

a few hurriedly grabbed garments

upon their shivering bodies

(My God!

How could this be?

Where are they?

Oh my God! Where are they?)

okay Johnny, that’s it

we’ve got to get back

to regular programming

sorry, ladies and gentlemen,

for this intrusion,

we now return you

to your show,

thank you,

good evening

Found in My Basement: #11

today I woke up

happy?

I’ll tell the world

I was happy

I could have leapt the moon

Found in My Basement: #12

I live

breath, work, and sleep

that’s all that is required

in life

even though I feel

I’m going rogue

the mind I have

is not my own

a demon took it

and calls it home

so  now I live

in the curtain of dark

light all around

except where I walk