The Voice of the Israelites

God heard the voice of the Israelites
And this is what they sang
They sang “Bring us back to the mother land
Away from this mud, straw and clay.”

I saw the daughter of pharaoh be a businesswoman 
She went down to the bank
Well she drew out a little prophet and
Delegated Miriam as her maid

I saw Moses grow up a conqueror 
He lead armies to victory 
But deep down inside never satisfied 
His true people weren’t even free

When he watched an Israeli get beaten 
He took matters into his his own hands 
When he killed with bare hands the Egyptian
He knew there’d be no turning back

He ran far away to Midian 
Forty years in hiding
God appeared in a burning bush
To remind him of his true calling

God had heard the song of the Israelites
And this is what they sang
They sang “Bring us back to the mother land
Away from this mud, straw and clay.”

God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh’s place
They bargained to free the slaves
But Pharaoh refused, he’d gotten used to
The monuments they made

Moses gave Pharaoh ten reasons
And said “let my people go.”
Pharaoh finally agreed but upon their release
Hardened his heart and said “no.”

He sent an army to chase them down 
With chariots and horses we’re told 
But God parted the sea for His people to flee
Then crashed the waves on the army who rode

After forty long years of wond’ring 
They crossed into the promised land
God had answered their song like He’s done all along

So sing to Him one and all
I hear the voice of the risen Israelites
With angels in great harmony
They sing “We’re no longer bound, God turned sin around,
Through Jesus: eternity!”

By Royce Waxenfelter 
5/11/24
To the tune of Saint James’ Infirmary

Reckless Breakfast

Extremely viral

Downward spiral

Cautionary tale

Glutton dairy fail

Very reckless

Bed and breakfast

Unheeded review

Slurped “surprise” stew

Hostess lacks her

Saltine crackers

Extended vacation

Unknown duration

Firsthand witness

Spreading sickness

This endeavor

Wish I never

 

By Royce Waxenfelter

3/21/24

Maui With You

Mahi Mahi with an ocean view

I get a smile when I look at you

We love the ocean and turtles too

I like to be in Maui… with you. 

Stroll down to the beach to when the tide is low

Can’t escape the pull of the undertow

We watch surfers and a whale or two

I like to be in Maui… with you. 

And next time… yes next time…

We’re gonna do things different again

New adventures, where should we begin?

Maybe take trip south down Kehei way?

Will the water be as blue as Honolua Bay?

Miso Phat sushi on the balcony

Steady show of rainbows for you and me

Purple pancake breakfast and papaya too

I like to be in Maui… with you.

Do a little shopping at the ABC store

Kukui lotion and a whole lot more

The weather’s nearly perfect and the view is too

I like to be in Maui… with you.

And next time… yes next time…

We’re gonna do things different again

New adventures, where should we begin?

Take a snorkel tour to Molokini?

Or lay along the beach in Ka’anapali?

Best banana bread in the whole wide world

Freckles surfacing, your hair is curled

Just like the waves out in the ocean blue

I like to be in Maui… with you.

Duck into a lava cave at black sand beach

So far away right now, seems out of reach

But we’re going back again, you know it’s true

I like to be in Maui… with you.

By Royce Waxenfelter

1.02.24

Simple Plan For Livin'

Love mercy
Do justly
Walk humbly with your God
That’s what the Lord requires of you
 
Love mercy
Do justly
Walk humbly with your God
The key to livin’, you know it’s true
 
Love others
Be honest
Walk humbly with your God
That’s the best thing you could ever to do
 
Love others
Be honest
Walk humbly with your God
Blessings gonna come to you
 
Forgive wrongs
Give freely
Walk humbly with your God
You know this ain’t nothin’ new
 
Forgive wrongs
Give freely
Walk humbly with your God
Believe God’s Word, you know it’s true
 
by Royce Waxenfelter
12.11.23
Inspired by Micah 6:8 “He has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

The Moss Gatherer

Oh, Great Oak, how thick is your bark?
Do you hum like a lyre, do you sing like a lark?
Is your goal to be wealthy or mighty in power?
Or purify the air hour after hour?

Reaching up, you guard from wind and rain
Perhaps that’s your mission, your clever game?
Or is it to paint the hillside with color?
To bring life to the helpless like a nurturing mother?

        The Great Oak stands still, doesn’t give a response
        The Great Oak exists among creatures and fronds
        The Great Oak is all you expect it to be
        The Great Oak gathers moss, the Great Oak you see

Oh, Great Oak, how dense is your core?
Do you hope to improve, strive to do more?
Is your mission to serve or be catered to?
To have news spread abroad of all that you do?

Rooted and grounded, sturdy and sound
Do you yearn to disrupt, to bore holes in the ground?
A hardened shell covers your fortified fruit 
Splendor measured in height, a bark robe your suit

        The Great Oak stands still, doesn’t give a response
        The Great Oak exists among creatures and fronds
        The Great Oak is nothing you expect it to be
        The Great Oak gathers moss, the Great Oak you see

By Royce Waxenfelter
12.08.23

Note: The Great Oak in the poem is an analogy for God. We can wonder all we want about God, or we can observe and study God. We can even deny God. No matter how we see God, God exists with or without our notions of God. God is everything we could possibly dream and nothing we can fully fathom this side of Heaven.

Caution (She's Gone)

Eyes be warned
You’re going to watch her go
Out of the warm, into the storm
Time to shade the sight away
 
Tears be warned
You’re going to slowly fall
Out of the glands, into empty hands
Time to issue a big box of tissue
 
Feet be warned
You’re going to take a hike
Out of her life, into strife
Time to reinforce your soul
 
Heart be warned
You’re going to explode
Catching the flak from the attack
Time to schedule surgery
 
Brain be warned
You’re going to disbelieve
Out of your mind, into the grind
Time to address what you repress
 
Bed be warned
You’re going to feel empty
Out of together into forever
Time to stay, never be made
 
Gut be warned
You’re going to get wrenched
No more satisfaction, wretch reaction
Time to regret and get upset
 
Hands be warned
You’re going to be wringing
Clenched in a ball, into the wall
Time to cling, oh wretched ring
 
Arms be warmed
You’re going to be lonely
Out of embracing, now just a-wasting
Time to let go of all you know
 
Lips be warned
You’re going to be drying
What was the finest is merely a minus
Time to be missing what you’ve been kissing
 
Ears be warned
You’re going to sound hollow
Out of sweet harmony into an enemy
Time to tune into an echo
 
By Royce Waxenfelter
11.28.23

Insert Apology

Stout walls surround me, to advice I’m not adhering
I’m still right here where you found me, but you long to forge ahead to greater things
 
I won’t grow or move or heed to any wisdom
That’s not who I am, not part of my kingdom
Now you won’t ever see me eye to eye
Because the walls of my heart are solidified
 
As stubborn as a mule, I’m not listening
As sure as the gloss on your lips is still glistening
It’d take all the king’s men and horses to budge me
So if you want it baby, here, insert apology
 
Stout walls surround me, to advice I’m not adhering
I’m still right here where you found me, but you long to forge ahead to greater things
 
A donkey makes a choice to stand his ground
I stomp and scream and get so mad my fists will pound
There’s a glorious prize waiting just beyond the hill
But I’d have to relinquish my pride, give up my persistent will

As broken as the vase I threw down on the floor
But I won’t cry when you decide you’re out the door
It won’t take long to get to know my depths, consider me
And if you want to baby, here, insert apology
 
It’s not part of my mindset or biology
So if you expect it baby, here, insert apology
 
By Royce Waxenfelter
11.28.23

Heaven Bound

My eyes have seen your face
Your face reveals the glory 

Your hands are full of grace
Your arms reach out to me

My sins have been erased 
My heart no longer mourns

I’m going to leave this place 
I can’t run fast enough

Beyond all time and space 
I’m coming home to you

By Royce Waxenfelter 
11/21/23