ABERNATHY WENT FOR A WALK

More Christian Poetry:

THE EARLY YEARS

(1981 - 1991)

From Wayne o’Conner

KNIGHT’S POEM # 1

BALLAD OF THE KNIGHT’S

UNDER GOD

THERE ARE TWO ORDERS OF KNIGHTS

WHO RIDE UNDER THE BANNER OF GOD.
ALTHOUGH ONE ORDER MAY BOAST
OF COUNTLESS COATS OF ARMS,
THEY ARE BUT ONE ORDER.

KINGFISHER IS THE ORDER

WHOSE FOUNDING FATHERS
GAVE THEIR LIVES,
BUT WHOSE LIFESTYLES
OF SELFLESSLY LOVING THE LORD
AND OBEYING HIS SPIRIT,
HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE MISTS OF TIME
LIKE THE MYSTERIOUS MELCHIZEDEK.

EVEN THOUGH THEY FALL SHORT

OF WHAT THE LORD INTENDED,
HE LOVES THEM
AND BLESSES THEM
WHENEVER HE WILLS.

WHILE THE ORDER OF KINGFISHER KNIGHTS

DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO GOD,
THEY ARE GIVEN THEIR RANK BY MEN
AND LIVE ACCORDING
TO THEIR VARIOUS INTERPRETATIONS
OF THE CASTLES WHERE THEY SERVE.
MANY TIMES
THE LORD LOOKS DOWN
WITH TEARY EYES
AS THEY JOUST AMONG THEMSELVES
TO PROVE WHOSE DOCTRINE IS BETTER
OR TO TEST THE CASTLE PECKING ORDER.

WHEN THE CASTLES UNITE

TO WAGE A HOLY WAR
IS THEIR VICTORY DUE TO BLESSING?
OR THEIR BATTLE CRY,
“THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS.”

PROUDLY THEY SIT THEIR CHARGERS.

FEATHERY PLUMES GRACE THEIR HELMS.
COLORFUL LANCE PENNANTS
WAVE A SIGNAL VICTORY.
STURDY HERALDIC SHIELDS SIGNIFY THEIR
CASTLES.
CLOUDS OF MUSKY INCENSE
AND MARTIAL TRUMPET BLASTS
SURROUND THEM AS THE SUN
GLEAMS BRIGHTLY OFF THEIR ARMOR --
O’ THE VISTA OF THEIR PANOPLY.

AMID THE POMP AND CEREMONY

THE SIMPLE TRUTHS
OF THE WORD
ARE OFTEN OBSCURED.

ALL THE WHILE

BOLD DRAGONS
ROAM THE LANDS
CAPTURING AND DEVOURING
THE SIMPLE PEASANT
SAINTS OF GOD
AND THEIR BLOOD
CRIES OUT FROM THE SANDS!

GOD LOVES HIS CHILDREN.

BOTH THE SIMPLE AND THE WISE.
HE HEARS THEIR CRIES
OF PAIN AND DEATH
AS THEY SHATTER THE SILENT SKY.
HE SEES THEIR BLOOD
AS IT QUICKLY SPLATTERS
BUT SLOWLY SOAKS
INTO THE COLD EARTH.

FROM HIS THRONE HE REACHES DOWN

TO TAKE SOME HOME.
HE COVERS THE REST
WITH HIS HAND.

WHEN AT LAST GOD RETRACTS

HIS MIGHTY ARM
A SCATTERED BAND OF ARMORLESS KNIGHTS,
SLEEP DEEPLY
ON THE MOON-KISSED SANDS.

NOT OWNING THE METAL ARMOR OF MEN

THEY -- WHEN THEY AWAKE --
FROM THEIR SWEET AND GUARDED REST,
WILL DON THE ARMOR OR GOD.
THEY WILL GROW IN HIS WAYS,
FORSAKING THE TRADITIONS OF MEN,
AND LEARN TO WALK THE NARROW,
SELFLESS PATH OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON.

HUMBLED AND SUBMITTED TO GOD,

CLIMBING MOUNTAINS
AND TRAVERSING ARDUOUS deserts,
WHILE EATING THE MANNA OF HEAVEN,
THEY DEVELOP CHARACTER
AND A SERVANT’S HEART.

WEAK IN THE BEGINNING,

STILL THE DRAGONS NEVER
FULLY WIN.
EVEN WHEN THEY FALL
FROM EXHAUSTION
DEATH IS NOT ALLOWED
TO OVERTAKE THEM
AT A TIME NOT SET BY GOD.

MUCH TO GOD’S DESPAIR,

THE MOST DIFFICULT BATTLES
ARE NOT WITH THE ENEMY,
BUT WITH THEIR BROTHERS IN CHRIST,
THE KINGFISHER KNIGHTS.

KNIGHTS KINGFISHER OFTEN RALLY TO THE

CHASE.
WHILE THE DRAGONS AND IMPS ARE IGNORED,
THEY STOP TO HUNT
THE ONES THEY CALL “GHOST RIDERS,”
“REBELS AGAINST THE CITADELS,”
OR “KNIGHTS OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP.”

SCATTER, WOUND OR MOCK

IS THE BATTLE CRY AGAINST THOSE
WHO’S CHRIST-LIKE EXAMPLE
IS DANGEROUS
TO THE KINGFISHER CREED
OF FLESH, INTELLECT, CEREMONY AND CONTROL
FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

11/26/87 COPYRIGHT 1989 WAYNE O’CONNER

DEDICATED FIRST TO THE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT

AND SECOND TO THE TWO ORDERS OF KNIGHTS :
MELCHIZEDEK (AKA THE KNIGHTS OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP)
AND KINGFISHER
KNIGHT’S POEM #2

THERE WAS ONCE A KNIGHT

OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
LIKE EVERY KNIGHT
OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP,
HE WAS CHOSEN BY GOD
AND TRAINED BY THE SPIRIT
IN THE WAY OF THE LORD.

YOUNG IN YEARS
BUT ADVANCED IN THE WAY
HE WAS SENT ON HUNTS
IN THE NAME OF HIS LORD
JESUS CHRIST.

HE WAS A “GHOST RIDER”

A “REBELLIOUS RANGER,”
WHO FOLLOWED THE SPIRIT OF GOD
RATHER THAN THE KINGFISHER’S CREED.

HE’D SLAIN DRAGONS, BANISHED EVIL SPIRITS,

AND DESTROYED STRONGHOLDS
WITH THE SWORD OF THE LORD.

HE’D TRAVELED FROM

CITY TO CITY
AND FARM TO FARM
AS WELL AS HIDDEN CAVES
AND PINEY GROVES,
TELLING TRUTHS OF THE WORD
AND BEING USED OF THE SPIRIT
TO SPEAK WHATEVER NEEDED HEARD.

HIS TASKS AND TRAINING

WERE MORE DIFFICULT
THAN MANY A “GHOST RIDER”
HAD EVER PASSED THROUGH.
SO GREAT WAS THE STRAIN
THAT IT WAS MORE THAN HE COULD BARE
WHEN HIS LORD GAVE THE DAY
TO THE MINIONS OF HELL-HADES.

THE KNIGHT FELT BETRAYED

WHEN HIS SWORD FINALLY SHATTERED.
HIS GREATEST LOSS WAS THE SIGHT
OF HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
HEWN DOWN WITHOUT MERCY
BY ENEMIES WHO HAD LOST AT THE CROSS.

BATTERED, BRUISED
AND BLINDED BY PAIN
HE’D BEEN LEFT FOR DEAD.
SHATTERED IN SPIRIT
AND TORMENTED IN MIND,
HE CRAWLED AWAY.
THE KNIGHT HAD NOT REALIZED
THAT HIS VALIANT PROTECTOR
HAD NOT LEFT HIM.
HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND
THAT BATTLES MAY BE LOST,
EVEN THOUGH THE WAR
HAD ALREADY BEEN WON
BY JESUS CHRIST.

THE ONLY RULE

IS TO STAND
WITH THE LORD
FOR HE NEVER
MAKES MISTAKES.

HE RAN FROM PLACE TO PLACE

TO ESCAPE THE PAIN.
NO MATTER HOW FAR
OR HOW FAST HE RAN,
THE DRAGONS WERE ALWAYS THERE
TO TORMENT HIM
UNTIL THEY TIRED OF THE SPORT.

THE SWORD THAT HAD ONCE SLICED

THE THICKEST OF SCALES
AND HAD ONCE DARTED
SO QUICKLY THAT IT HUMMED,
WAS BROKEN --AND THEY KNEW IT.
HE COULD RUN, BUT NOT FOREVER.
SLEEP WAS NO LONGER
A LUXURY TO BE HOARDED OR TREASURED,
BUT A SERIES OF LOSING BATTLES.

CONFIDENCE GAINED
FROM CONSTANT VICTORY
AS A KNIGHT OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
WAS REPLACED BY THE DESPAIR OF DEFEAT.

EVEN THOUGH THE HAND OF GOD

OFFERED A REFORGED SWORD
FROM TIME TO TIME,
A MIND NUMBED
BY BETRAYAL AND GRIEF,
REFUSED TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN.
GOD’S PROTECTION
HAD NEVER LEFT,
ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNSEEN.

HUMILIATION REPLACED
FEAR AND SORROW,
AS KINGFISHERS FOUND THE FALLEN KNIGHT
AND COMMENCED TO CELEBRATE
“THE JUSTICE OF GOD”
AGAINST THIS “MISGUIDED GHOST RIDER.”

PITY AND GOD’S WILL

KEPT THEM FROM LANCING HIM,
BUT THEIR APPETITE FOR CONQUEST
WAS WETTED
AS THEY STABBED HIM
WITH MOCKING WORDS.

OCCASIONALLY THEY OFFERED

EMPTY SOLACE
THAT NEVER SEEMED
TO HEAL THE WOUNDS.
AT OTHER TIMES
THEY TOSSED STALE SALT.
THEY TALKED ABOUT GOD
AS THEY KNEW HIM
AND DEMANDED THEIR POINT
ON THE FALL OF ONE KNIGHT --
ONE NIGHT OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP.

THEY NEVER TIRED OF ASKING QUESTIONS

DESIGNED TO DENY
THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT
OR BELITTLE KNIGHTS
OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
WHO BELIEVED THAT GOD LEADS,
BY HIS SPIRIT -- NOT JUST BY HIS BOOK.

THEY SAID IT WAS SIN

AND REBELLION
TO THINK
THAT THE KNIGHTS
OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
COULD SUBMIT TO GOD AND HIS SPIRIT,
WHILE IGNORING THE RULING CLASS
OF THE ORDER KINGFISHER,
WHO WERE APPOINTED BY ERUDITE MEN.

GOD MOST HIGH HAD NOT FORGOTTEN

HIS PALADIN WITH THE BROKEN SWORD.
‘TWAS TRAINING AS USUAL
COME TO AN END --
A COURSE COMPLETED
ON THIS PLATEAU
OF NEVER ENDING SAND.

JEHOVAH-NISSI SENT SEVERAL

KNIGHTS OF THE SWORD AND THE CUP
TO PROVE THAT GHOST RIDERS
FOR JESUS STILL RODE
AS CHOSEN CUPS
FILLED WITH HIS HOLY GHOST
AND WIELDING THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

11/27/87 c. 1989
The promise of mothers and rainbows

Before god sculpted the rainbow,

A promise signed in several colors,
He designed the loving mother.

Like the rainbow,

She dispels sadness, pain and tears,
With the loving care
And the promise
Of many bright tomorrows.

Just as god’s rainbows promise

That brooding cloudbursts
Must give way
To the shining of the sun,
The warmth
Of a mother’s smile
Pierces any gloom
And radiates happiness
To her loved ones.

Through answered prayers

And sacred covenants
God gives an abundance
Of love, grace, joy, and faith
To gladly sharing mothers.

Thank you lord

For creating
Mothers!

Written by request of for The chetek advent christian church’s

1988 mother’s day service.
THE FINAL LOG ENTRY OF THE H.M.S. NATURAL MAN

A FAR AWAY ISLAND BECKONS

AS I SCAN THE HORIZON.
MY FEELINGS RISE AND FALL
WITH THE PITCH AND YAW OF THE SHIP.

AS I AM FLECKED AND SPLATTERED

BY WORRISOME WAVES OF SEA FOAM
I KNOW THAT THE LUSH,
GREEN AND INVITING ISLAND,
IS BUT MY EXCESSIVE THIRST
AND FERAL HUNGER
FEEDING THE FIRES
OF MY ILLUSIONS.

FIRST I SHALL WEEP WITH JOY

AND LATER IN SORROW
WHEN I FIND NOTHING THERE
BUT AN EVER DISTANT MIRAGE.

IN THE FUTURE
I WILL SEE
OTHER ISLANDS
THAT ARE BUT DREAMS.

A TIME WILL COME

WHEN I SHALL WISH
EVEN BUT A DESERT ISLAND
THAT I MAY LEAVE
THIS EMPTY SHIP.

PUBLISHED IN NOTA IN THE AUTUMN OF 1984.

SEARCH OF THE GREAT SWAIN

AMONG THE TWISTED SCRUB

AND TILTED ROCK
HE STOOPS,
FINGERS FEATHERING BACK
ACIDIC SILT.

HE MEDITATES
WHILE SCANNING
FOR SPOOR.
WHICH WAY?

FAR TO THE NORTH

TEETHY
ICE-RUNNELED LAVENDAR MOUNTAINS
CLOAKED IN GOSSAMER MISTS
PIERCE THE AMBER SKY.

WESTWARD
DEATH’S HEAD VALLEY
BELCHES ALKALI BREATHS
FROM ITS PARCHED MAW.

ALONG THE EASTERN HORISZON

EVER CHANGING DUNES
SHIFT TO THE TUNE
OF A DRY-BONES CABARET.

***

Jesus rises fluidly,

Grasps his sturdy staff
And whispers,
“Where are you
My child?”

Winter 1987
JEREMY MARANATHA

WHY AM I BECALMED
OH, LORD,
UPON THIS FLOATING ISLE,
WHILE THE RIPPLELESS SEA
WITH ITS MIRROR SHEEN
MOCKS MY DOUBTS
AND MIMICS ME?

LORD, I’M NOT UNGRATEFUL.

I RELISH THE SUCCULENT FRUITS
YOU’VE STOCKED
AND TREASURE YOUR CACHED GIFTS.
THE SECRET SPRING
YOU’VE QUICKENED WITHIN
IS SO CLEAR AND SWEET
I’LL NEVER FIND ITS PEER.

YOU’VE MOLDED YOUR GRACE

AND PATIENCE IM ME.
DIM-SIGHTED SAILORS
WHO LAND ON MY ISLAND
LAUGH AT YOUR SPRING
AND DERIDE MY MEEKNESS
WHILE I ABIDE
WHERE YOUR OWN HAND
HAS PLACED ME.

YOUR DISCERNMENT
IS MY NIGHT VISION.

PRIVATEER KINGSMEN
IN MEETING HOUSE FRIGATES
COME UNDER COVER OF NIGHT
TO RAZE MY FIEF
AND CHAIN ME.

THE LIGHT OF MORNING

SENDS THEM AWAY.
LEFT BEHIND ARE SHARDS
AND DEBRIS
IN THE FORM
OF DOUBT SEED MISSIVES,
WRIT IN ROCKS
AND TACKED ON TREES
THAT LABEL ME LAZY,
MISGUIDED,
AN ONUS.

LORD,
THEIR RETURN IS IMMINENT,
BUT YOU ARE MY PROTECTOR:
WHY SHOULD I FEAR?

I’M GLAD THAT I’M HIDDEN

BY YOUR VERY HAND,
FOR TONIGHT
THEY’LL BRING WORD WITCHES
TO SCRY MY LOCATION.

EVENING HAS COME

AND THEY’VE RETURNED.
BUT YOU ARE MY JEHOVAH-JIREH:
WHOM SHALL I FEAR?

WHAT DO THEY SHOUT

AS THEY SEARCH FOR ME?
“YOU ARE LOST
BUT WE WILL FIND YOU!”

“GO!
COMMUNE WITH OUR GOD.
SEE WHAT HE SAYS,
THEN WE WILL AYE-SAY OR NAY-SAY,
FOR WE ARE THE ELDERS OF BETHEL,
APPOINTED BY MEN
BECAUSE OF OUR WISDOM OF YEARS.”

“LISTEN TO US!” THEY CRY IN FRUSTRATION.

“YOU MISLEAD YOUTH!
YOU SELF-PROCLAIMED VESSEL OF GOD!
YOU ONLY IMAGINE ANOINTING!”
WHEN OH LORD
WILL THEY LEARN
THAT I WON’T RECANT
YOUR WORDS
OR LEAVE THE PROPHERT’S DESERT
BEFORE YOU BID ME GO?

OR THAT WHEN
YOU BID ME LEAVE,
THEY’LL LIKE YOUR WORDS
EVEN LESS
AND TROUBLE ME
EVEN MORE.

BUT WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT?

WHY SHOULD I LAMENT,
WHEN I MAY PRAISE
YOUR NAME?

BUT EVEN SO LORD,

I PRAY,
“RENEW ME,
BLESS ME,
BREATHE ON MY FLOATING ISLE,
THAT I MAY TRAVEL WHERE YOU LEAD.”

12/86
PEACEFUL GENTLE MORNING (ALSO A SONG)

PEACEFUL GENTLE MORNING

RIDING SOFTLY ON MY SOUL--
THE LORD AND I COMMUNING
IN THE CALM WHEN I’M ALONE.

MY SPIRIT SINGS WITHIN ME

SWEET PRAISES TO THE KING.
MY NATURAL EARS CAN’T HEAR
THE HOSANAS THAT I SING.

WAVES OF PEACE SURROUND ME

AND HIS WELL-SPRING BREAKS WITHIN.
PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING
FLOODS MY SPIRIT AND MY SOUL.

EXPECTANTLY I WAIT
ON MY LORD AND GOD AND KING.
JESUS MY PRECIOUS SAVIOR--
I WAIT FOR WORD FROM HIM.
I’VE LEARNED TO SEEK HIS PRESENCE,
NOT VOICES AND MIRACLES.

PEACEFUL GENTLE MORNING

RIDING SOFTLY ON MY SOUL--
THE LORD AND I COMMUNING
IN THE CALM WHEN I’M ALONE.

SPRING 1991
SUCCESS

SUCCESS IN GOD’S EYES

IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME
AS SUCCESS IN MAN’S EYES.

TO SUCCEED IN GOD’S EYES

YOU MUST IMMERSE YOURSELF
IN HIS WORD.

WHEN YOU THINK,

USE HIS WISDOM,
NOT YOURS.
DO ONLY WHAT YOU THINK
THE LORD WOULD HAVE YOU DO.

TO SUCCEED IN GOD’S EYES

YOU MUST TRUST
AND OBEY HIM
EVERY DAY.

NOT JUST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK

ABIDE IN HIM
AND IN ALL WAYS
LET CHRIST BE SEEN
THROUGH YOU.

5/25/88