River sunset

The green and gray

give way to gold,

a golden canvas

of stone, reaching

high to its crown

of blue, enlightened

by sun. The stone layers,

cracks and fractures

into prominence, no flaw

hidden or disguised,

open to glory,

conceived in glory,

by the hand of glory.

The photograph was taken on Feb. 28, 2013, about 6 p.m., from the balcony at Laity Lodge, near Kerrville, Texas. 

Hearing the voice ahead

Hearing the voice ahead,

we dance among the trees,

we dance among the trees,

moving forward, hearing

the voice ahead, dancing

on the leaves, touching

hands, hearing

the voice ahead,

always ahead, carried

on the wind, carrying

the wind, being

the wind.

This poem was composed in the Great Hall at Laity Lodge in the Hill Country of Texas, after hearing Marlon Hall speak. I was there for a Leadership Initiatives retreat hosted by the Foundations for Laity Renewal.

This poem is submitted for Open Link Night at dVersePoets. The links will be live at 2 p.m. Central time today.

Photograph taken from the balcony of Laity Lodge, looking across the Frio River to the hill beyond. This is the view when you’re seated in the Great Hall for a worship service.

The silence is deeper here

The silence is deeper

here, encased in canyon

walls, air filtered

dry of remaining

vestiges of noise, enclosing

the life moving within.

The silence is deeper

here, embroidered by sacred

songs rising, words distilled

pure of extraneous and

unnecessary matter, encircling

the silence pulsating within.

The silence is deeper

here.

Photograph: View from the balcony, Laity Lodge, looking down the Frio River.