Pilgrims & Strangers

Pilgrims & Strangers

As I wandered through this wicked world
And pondered life as it unfurled
As my eyes beheld the works of men
I wondered much, 'has it always been'?

That turmoil, strife, and glory vain
had always been a curse & bane?
In troubles many and conflicts much
I wondered 'was it always such'?

From a tender age 'til years mature
consdering all but never sure
Of why men struggle, war & fight
and lie, and cheat, and neighbors slight

Til one day there came a stranger
And told me of my soul's great danger
And that from above came One celestial
To save me from this world terrestrial




Of Him he spoke of His great Love
And how he watched me from above
How he took my evils and my sins
my polluted heart where it all begins

Soon his words were like a song
I felt surrounded by a throng
A sweet voice spoke and wooed me so
and made me wish to be made whole

I felt the tears come to my eyes
Soon my heart was full of sighs
I saw the horror of my soul
and my foolish, worldly goal

I knelt before this stranger there
And offered up a sinners prayer
And made my peace with my Creator
I dared not put it off 'til later




My heart seemed now so full of light
and He gave me there the Spirits sight
Now I knew of Adam's fall
This world's curse and problems all

That Jesus came to seek and save
Sinners lost whose peace doth crave
By His blood which shed was crimson
To those humble tis greatly winsome

Now He set me on that path
Which truly every pilgrim hath
He armed me with a sword & shield
And commanded me to never yield

To Satan's threats and howling roar
Or when your soul he tempts quite sore
At times your heart will stongly lure
Then rely upon the word quite pure



Along the way spread precious seed
made fit for those in greatest need
In fields-a-many spread not a few
When kingdom comes I'll take what's due

To those whom of thee speak some evil
And vex your soul like some dark weevil
Their sin you hate and lusts and lies
but not their souls, them not despise

When doubts arise and bring confusion
and your mind seems wrought by some contusion
Then seek my face and never waiver
time will bring what thy soul doth savor

These things spoke my Lord to me
And soon it was so plain to see
That all He said was very true
Though they who believe are very few



But now I know of this worlds trouble
And why men's rage doth boil and bubble
Of what my course is now in life
And how to face all toil and strife.

To honor God is the pilgrims light
To do what's right in Jesus sight
This earthly path we suffer may
but cometh a grand and glorious day

And in that day we hear those words
Sweeter than a thousand earthly birds
'Cause you've been true & ever fervent
Welcome home, my faithful servant!'

​

 

The Secret Chamber



Come hither to this seat of mine
& Ill tell thee of a tale so fine
So listen as we sit and dine
For my heart doth move and sing

One eve I lay asleep it seems
Under heavens moonlight beams,
I had some visions or some dreams,
Of the secret chamber of the King

Through the misty dark of night
Drawn from darkness into light
Through silver arches of great height
To the secret chamber of the King

Cross lowered drawbridge over a moat
Riding some mysterious boat
Through mirrored hallway did I float
To the secret chamber of the King

Passed knights in armour on floors that shine
& bright colored banners with many a sign
Embroidered carpets of fine twine,
To the secret chambers of the King




Why I’m brought here I cannot tell
I’m summoned near by some sweet bell
For all I have would I now sell
For the secret chamber of the King

You must wonder what I say
& why I’d give it all away
To be with Him each & every day
In the secret chamber of the King

Memory tells of that first time
Of spices sweet, licorice & lime
A table full of meat cut prime
Of milk & honey, parsley & thyme
In the secret chamber of the King

I stepped within & saw servants there
In gorgeous robes and flowing hair
Delightful was this sight to stare
It was all so quite completely fair
In the secret chamber of the King

With smiles & singing they did now toil
For Him for Whom they’re always loyal
Never their garments do they soil
Never their lamps are without oil
In the secret chamber of the King



At midnight hour the bell did ring
Much louder now these servants sing
And down some lovely steps did bring
From mist of heaven did He spring
To the secret chamber of the King

And dressed in blue & gold design
He poured forth liquid from the vine
He offered me a seat to dine
In velvet chairs so very fine
In this secret chamber of the King

With eyes that sparkled like the stars
And words that break the strongest bars
And the heart of man which sin so mars
He took away my pain & scars
In the secret chamber of the King

Each word of His it fit some rhyme
It washed away my sin & crime
And with it all my filth and grime
For this my soul not worth a dime
In the secret chamber of the King

Through tear stained cheeks I asked Him there
This place we sit, please tell me where?
To be here ever I’d pay any fare
And risk my life I’d even dare!
For the secret chamber of the King



And with smile sweet did He announce
Drink all my cup, leave not an ounce,
Hear all my words as I pronounce
We’re in your heart, that’s what amounts
To the secret chamber of the King
​

 

The White Feather

The White Feather

​

Once upon a morning pretty
And by a lake not near the city
Two friends walked & there they talked
In the misty dew afore rooster cocked

A time before buds come forth on trees
In early spring with still cool breeze
She spoke of him & he of her
Of feelings right, & good & pure

Not so often and really quite rarely
Could one ever feel such things so fairly
Moments become minutes & minutes, hours
Amidst the birds, & butterflies, & flowers

As they spoke of times, & tunes & things
A dove flew over flapping her wings
As if in slow motion above she hovered
They in a breathless moment she covered

With mouths open and full of wonder
They watched this dove they were under
Then from her wing she dropped a fine feather
Before they could think they caught it together

The two who had not yet shared a kiss
Nor what it’s like to share such bliss
Held in their hands a precious symbol
And heaven sounded a tinkling cymbal



And on that day they made a promise
That ‘neither time nor fate nor what it costs us
Nor occasion of perhaps great loss
Or even oceans we must cross

Will ever from us this moment keep
For better is this than any dream of sleep’
And so they made haste their promise to seal
The feather to send to remind & appeal

The fledgling lovers knew not was to come
For life’s twists and turns exacted its sum
That parted them for what lasted long years
And the memories they shared became only tears

Good things & bad things they saw in their seasons
But wondered of that time & its reasons
She cried thinking of what could have been
Likewise he thought, but remembered no sin

On many a stormy day come dreary
When her heart ached & her soul quite weary
She brought out that feather and upon it gazed
Remembering that moment & she it amazed



She knew of no place where to find him
Empty hope made her heart feel quite grim
He dreamed of her some & sometimes often
The look on her face made his heart soften

Home he went after many a year
And saw the place of the one he held dear
Long gone was she whom he once knew
And the white dove that above them once flew

But once upon this morning pretty
And by a lake not near the city
A stranger approached & to him speaks
Of a time long past & what she seeks

And in her hand a pure white feather
Nicely placed on velvet & leather
And she spoke to him of whom she lost
To find him her strength would she exhaust

With tears a plenty & her vision a blur
She begged the old man, ‘Please tell me, sir’
She asked if he knew of the one she had lost
If he could help her she’d pay any cost



He smiled then there when he saw her tears
Knowing she searched for him all these years
He took the feather & rubbed her cheek
And told her, ‘I’ am he, the one whom you seek’







​