By James Joseph Snyder
in the distance
I see you, in the distance there is no light, to be seen. Your presence is past, and future where dark is bright, and hopeful me, you see.
Late Day, Late Summer
calm a breeze barely blowing tree branches fairly waving leaves undulating as if floating on rippling water quiet little sound from leaves no squirrel chatter in trees softly bird calls now and then as a distant saintly plea content canopy of leaves green-deep in sun shadows still keep bright grass and dark spruce as shifting shades of peace
like a train (life moves on)
smoke drifting across the roof top, ragged puff after ragged puff, moving slowly but constantly, on tracks of air like a train at a railroad crossing, moving slowly but constantly, rail car after rail car, immovable in its moving
the body has many tongues 1
the Psalms have songs of ascents2 worshipping up to the temple the temple which was in Jerusalem which now is Christ himself which now is the body of Christ the body has many peoples and tongues worshipping in songs of accents tongues of flame over every one
1 paraphrased comments from Paul in Romans 12:4 and 1 Corinthians 12:12
2 songs of ascents: Psalms 120–134
Two Doors
there are two doors between us my heart and your words your words call to my heart or harsh words slam shut my heart caresses your words or hurt heart shuts out will your words draw out my heart will my heart draw forth your words there are two doors between us
James Joseph Snyder is a retired engineer who worked in product development of medical devices. He was born and lives in Minnesota. He has written poetry from a young age, published at age six in a book of children’s poems; with a recent poem published in Lucky Jefferson.
Academy of the Heart And Mind 