“The Opposition of Light” A poem, by Joe Thomas

The sun is rising in the east
With expectation none the least

For prospects far too great to know
Except by God His wisdom sew

The sun will touch the sky again
The earth’s embrace cannot remain

It soon will reach the lofty height
And let the earth uncloak the night

A curious romance the earth does share
Both darkness . . . light; strange love affair

The darkness brings rest by somber respite
And patient the light, praying darkness take flight

And daily is seen this romantic reprise
Dominion is wrestled over coveted skies

And those in its witness see tumult and rage
When conflict erupts and in battle engage

The thunder, the lightning, by violence produce
What darkness would want of the light to let loose

Contented, the darkness is not with its night
It seeks to possess what is held by the light

The coveted skies in their patience do bear
The grievous afflictions of jealous despair

Yet always it happens, and proved never fails
The strife, it soon passes, and earth’s sigh exhales

Dispelling the clouds and the rain of the fears
The light beams victorious and dries up the tears

The sun then will meet in the west soon enough
Soft embrace of earth’s bosom, and daytime rebuff

Whatever the clouds, whatever the sky
If darkness should stricken, bring fear to your eye

Know this, and have hope, that the darkness will flee
It must yield to the light that a new day will be.

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Friends of Feeling-by me

Finding a love so dear as mine
Is rarer than rare in the span of all time

Unknown, strangest fortune that brought me to bliss
Coincidence or providence, was neither amiss

Unmitigated circumstance did cause this greatest feat
Undying firm devotion we do now both share, entreat

And seemed it all more vital when the friendship came to life
Both shared a common destiny, companions midst the strife

To each came pledged allegiance, understood, in silence dwelt
Codified as those preserving of their own self, dearest felt

And if perchance one friend had pain that was in fact most real
An equal hurt the pain he girt, the other friend did feel

And just as much when glee was felt and one rejoiced most high
The other friend found blessing, letting joy and rapture fly

When wind cut bold in weather cold, did not one single bite
Without a beat, so does repeat, the other, his freezing fight

So lifelong lived their days as one, though two in flesh they were
Sufficed to say, in tenderest way, sacrificed for other prefer

So lived they did, the best they hid, the bond that kept them tied
They could not run from what was done, resolved until one died

And death it came, one life to claim, and torn apart they were
The heart divided, what love confided, in loss found no succor

But soon she felt his presence dwelt again within her heart
She knew he’d gone, not far along, ahead to do his part

And still in death, as her own breath, she felt his as before
She did he feel, his joy reveal, her heart was filled once more

When precious a friend, no matter the end, even death can not steal love
Two hearts set free, pledged in love they be, are set by a seal from above

-by Joe Thomas, copyright 2017

The older I get
The more I regret
The losses I’ve squandered
While ponder beset

The time can’t return
Like a candlewick burned
And all is but ashes
Lost lessons not learned

And what have I missed?
Lost love, lips not kissed?
In my mind if I gave thought
Would comprise a great list

But to ease my heart’s ache
I’m resigned in grief’s wake
Not to let remorse hold me
Giving more time to take

I embrace the present now
To wisely use, for future vow
Time to treasure, by my pleasure
Past fields left, new rows to plow

Friendship dearest
Worthy venture, none more clearest
Held most tightly; held not lightly
Cherished greatly, drawn most nearest

One friend most certain
By grace, fairest curtain
Has blanketed me so
Calm secure, no fear hurtin’

Now brighter the time
This friendship sublime
Owing nothing but love
Reaching heights, to summit climb

“The gods of Time” by Joe Thomas

Since ancient times, there have been rhymes
‘Bout years and months and weeks

The gods, it’s said, did rest in bed,
While dawn—its coming seeks

And gods gave names, to each their day
In honor of their deeds,

The sun, the moon, and all their host
In fear, the gods, man heeds.

But man was wise, he cursed the skies
And squandered time, ‘twould seem

Each day, a day, no less, no more
Self-gratitude, his dream

“What time there is, it is my own,
I serve no other host”

“Save to my own, and glories known
It’s I and mine to boast”

With fists of rage, they did engage
And man he was assailed

Without delay, defeat gave way,
The gods of time prevailed

As seasons pass, and youth crevassed
When age has taken toll

When days are treasured, and sternly measured
As life, the time had stole

Each day like gold, reflects the old
How precious are they to him,

The gods of time, now bathed in rhyme,
Hear sonnet, lyric, and hymn.

But Friend, a day, is not a day,
With One so tried and true

One single gift, I wholly lift
The time that’s spent with You!