Spiritual Warfare
*I have a bunch of these old poems. I’m glad I found them!
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare all around,
We pick up our crosses
And walk by faith,
But what about the losses?
Left and right,
Left, right our comrades fall—
Bombshell blasts and cannon fodder,
Satan’s minions come to maul.
Yet, a dove of peace descends
And Christ rides the fiery shrouds,
Again our brethren rise
To flank the Father of Lies’ crowds.
We can do all things through Christ,
For He strengthens us
While the warfare rages on,
As the Lamb begins to bless!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Suit of Armor
*Another new (old) poem from back in college. I love thinking about the suit of armor He gives us to combat the powers of darkness! Prayer’s always effective!
Suit of Armor (Eph. 6:13-24)
Shed your clothes of filth,Burn the evil away,For Jesus needs youTo reach the lost today.Allow God to cleanse you,Refine you in His firesTo streamline your very soul,To excavate your heinous desires.Born again in Spirit—Made new in the image of ChristA suit of armor for you to wear,To stop Satan’s epidemic heist.First, the sturdy belt of Truth,Then, body armor of RighteousnessWith waterproof boots of PeaceAnd shield of Faithfulness.Grab your helmet of Salvation,Unsheathe your sword—Sword of the Spirit,God’s Divine Word.Go forth Warrior of God!SHOUT out for the One,Fly down to the slopes of deathFor His battles need to be won.~By: A.J. Wagoner
Torn Asunder
*Another oldie but goody, or well this one reveals just how far I have come from the place from which I wrote it. It was pretty hectic moments! Enjoy.
Torn Asunder
A mind torn asunder.
Confused.
Disembodied.
I’ve got no clue of what to do.
I wrestle with God—
With His voice,
His being,
His purpose for my life.
Jacob wrestled with Him, so do I.
Jonah ran from His call, so have I.
Jeremiah and Job questioned Him, so have I.
Yet, they all glorified Him—
And so do I.
Opposites, all opposites—
black, white,
day, night,
dark, light.
My mind torn asunder.
Tormented.
Conflicted.
Thoughts swirl, no hope of an answer.
And so they’ll stay
Undecided—
For now.
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Little Star
*Another poem from my college days! What do you think?
Little Star
Little Star, why so blue to exist alone?
Why do you hide your smile from the world below?
Do not recoil at the half-drawn axe—
Rise from the ashes and let your fire glow!
No, you’re not in Orion,
Nor in Gemini, not even the Bear,
So, why does that matter?
Why do you even care?
I created you for a unique purpose,
Perfect on every facade—
Placed in the premiere spot
To benefit the Kingdom of God.
Of course, you’re flanked
By black seas of space,
Nothing all around—
No one for you to embrace.
Do you not behold, my Little Star?
A plan rests before you,
A plan of mental synthesis
With you on call until your debut.
Little Star, when the other stars fall,
When the moon fails to shine
And the sun stakes out the sky,
Your light will stand at the frontline.
Do not quiver at solitude;
Do not gasp at the horde,
For with you we can endure
And no longer, my Lodestar, will you be ignored.
Time! To dance Little Star,
Laugh, cry, giggle, and shout
For my antiseptic rain sets you free
From the life-long drought.
So, with your freedom,
Light up your black hole
Stand to attention before the squad of guns
To save the souls Satan stole.
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Remember
*Hey y’all!! I’m now in Texas and my days last long (or well the same as in Florida, only I have work to be done at a desk for now)! Anyways, I’m sorry you’ve had to wait for a new poem! Please don’t leave! I’ll work on getting into a more seamless schedule with still posting poems. Thanks so much!
I wrote this poem back in college, one late night and after thinking about ‘The Lion King’! Ha.
Remember
Remember, who you are?
You are a child of mine-
My son, my brother-
Forever your light will shine!
Remember, who you are?
You are a friend of mine-
My soldier, my warrior-
Wielder of the Sword Divine!
Remember, who you are?
You are a seed of mine-
My ally, my follower-
Always to be apart of my vine!
So, give heart and remember,
You are set apart and mine-
Have courage and strength,
For soon with me you shall dine!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Roundabout Dreams
Roundabout Dreams
Circular TracksPrints in the sandAll out sprintsTo find an answer~Who am I?Randomness not okayMust nail down a targetAnd pursue headlongInto the unknown,A Roundabout DreamFrom one location to another,From one scenario to twoSome say helter-skelterPursuit gets us no-where,Yet change rears backAnd we must tangle alongLest we die along the way,Lost to ourselvesAnd the dreams once held.Let loose! Let go! Move!Make adjustmentsTo come upon everyRoundabout Dream.Infinite DomainOn and on and on and onRegardless the start,We sometimes take breathsTo catch ourselvesUpon the clouds~Dragons and unicorns,Knights and all Hero storiesFor all our Roundabout Dreams~~By: A.J. Wagoner
Keystone
*Yep, I found all my older poems, so I’m going to be sharing them. Haha! Blast from the past of a throwback nature! Enjoy! 
(Also note, Christ reveals the true heart of the Father and there is NO wrath in it! Felt I should share that tidbit of Truth, in case what I wrote seems off…granted this was way back in 2007 before I knew all I know now.)
(Also note, Christ reveals the true heart of the Father and there is NO wrath in it! Felt I should share that tidbit of Truth, in case what I wrote seems off…granted this was way back in 2007 before I knew all I know now.)KeystoneAn arch—Architectural innovationSupports so much weightEven a nation.Two sides togetherHinge on one element—A simple keystoneCures stones’ lament.The SAVIOR—Creation’s birthHolds all our Father’s wrathEven for the earth.Sparks of us allRide on one conviction—The people’s keystoneProvides souls’ redemption.~By: A.J. Wagoner
Seventy Sesames
Seventy Sesames
(for Alisa Prox)
Seventy Sesames
Tendency for Pedantry
The depths of a Learner
Rises with Gallantry
For Seventy Sesames
Lead to thankful forgiveness,
When one remembers
Remedy’s Longevity
And comes before His face
Just to say
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
So, Seventy Says-a-Mes
Can daunt a Heart’s Identity,
Yet lead to Integrity’s Dependency
Upon Eternity’s Expectancy!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
“Work of Art”
“Work of Art”
(for Melina Orengo)
Freshness wafts through the Jungle,
A breeze beyond recognition
To shore up brokenness
And heal effects of sedition,
When old-times spring forth
To drown the New Life~
Oh, how His breath breathes
And stops devil’s knife,
Spirit armor jingles anew
For the dings and dents
Thought too much
Polished gone, PIP POP events
The King hard at labor
To refasten His Daughter
With Heaven’s Armor~
Love through Grace
Fights darkness’s slaughter,
Light’s enveloped embrace!
Yes, His breath breathes,
Her heart never wavers
For in Him she cleaves~
‘One’ they reside
Forever together,
Hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart
Abides in Him,
She receives the title:
“Work of Art”.
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Big Ben’s Keep
Big Ben’s Keep
(for Sarah Schrack)
A butterfly glides
Upon the lucid breeze
Through valley and field,
Over Mountains and Streams
Of by-gone eras
To the Great City
Within her heart.
Her Beauty resonates
Throughout all the land
Where watchtowers and castles
Lead her by the hand
To ensure her safety,
To soak in her Love.
Such care never seen before,
A land for a Butterfly~
The ticks of his Clock
Signal his choice
To take care of Radiance,
Aye, she has become
Great Big Ben’s Keep.
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Rose for Sharon
Rose for Sharon
(for Sharon Tallmadge)
Upon the midnight clear,
I settle down to write:
What to share with Sharon,
A Daughter of the King?
Lost in wonder,
Lost in thought,
Not sure of the thing I sought;
And yet…
And yet Papa dictates,
“I Love her with Passion
Never known,
Redeem her always
Never alone
And with the Dawn,
The Spring to come,
My fragrance will rise
From Every Rose for Sharon.”
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Summer’s Last Stand ~ Laura Cushing
Today’s “Thursday’s Treasure” (Surprise! It has been awhile! Haha) comes to us from one of my ModPo classmates, Laura Cushing! A freelance writer, a learner, and an all around great person with fantastic thoughts and ideas on poetry!
Summer’s Last Stand – by Laura Cushing
You’re wearing a halo strapped around your shoulders,
though the rest of the band only sees it as a five dollar T-shirt
purchased latenight from a roadside stand. The barefoot Mexican senorita who sold it had a face as brown as baked clay, eyes like apples, and the most sonorous voice I’d ever heard.
We write a song in her honor.
The arrhythmic cadence of telephone poles dance across the roadways
pole …. swag…. sway… pole…
swag… sway… sway… swag… pole
Home feels further away with every laugh.
Miles come in markers as Daniel tries to his best to coax
a Mariachi sound from his acoustic guitar.
…sixty-nine gets a puerile giggle, but ninety-eight is sober,
hitting like degrees of the ever-present sun.
Staggered over the airwaves, The Cure confirms it;
Today is Friday, so I’m running high on love.
Bobbie Dylan tells us we’re all just tangled
up in blue, and we laugh until we cry
because it’s so very close to truth.
Fifteen miles to Vegas and Cherry’s on the rag. Halfway through summer,
equidistant past and future. You make a joke about Adam and Eve,
and we all laugh until we see the murder glazing her pale eyes.
The carpet of our van is already sticky with remains of too many fast-food meals,
and spilt beer, so we stop for generic tampons and half a tank of gas.
Flattened sacrifices to the asphalt god are less identifiable than ghosts,
a deer or a bear or a wolverine or a raccoon…
We fancy that some idle Thursday night, we’ll gather them into a road kill circle,
and freak out the natives.
Leaving Vegas, a tire blows out with hiss-rattle-thump
puncturing the August afternoon. You peel off your souvenir shirt
to wipe the beads of sweat
running races down your forehead.
While you switch in the spare, I sip from a cherry soda and admire the view.
Our drummer edges out a rhythm with his sticks
tap-tap-tapping the side of our war-torn van. He’s wearing his barbed wire
bandana like a crown of thorns- our own crucified Christ, all long hair
and a martyr’s persecuted smile.
I never loved you more than in the moment you turned to me, and said
‘Fuck it, let’s just go home.’ Eighty miles gone, Michael has to piss in the radiator
to keep it from running dry.
We all turn away but feel connected to the moment, just the same.
My head on your shoulder as I sleep, half-standing and you whisper in my ear
“This was the best summer of my life.”
I smile, because I know you’re a liar.. but you still steal my breath while you’re telling the story.
*I, AJ or Cleaver of God, hope to get back into the swing of things with posting on a regular basis. I’m sorry for the delay!
Holy Spirit & A One Way
Holy Spirit & A One Way
The silence breaks. The Fire roars anew.
629.
Six-Hundred twenty-nine days (the 23rd of May) since I touched-down in the JFK airport after The World Race. I kept count.
The time elapsed transported me to numerous places throughout the States from New Jersey to Kansas City, from Wisconsin to West Virginia, even to a summer in Chicago, Illinois. Much have I learned throughout my time in America. Much has Papa revealed to me about His heart and His Love for the entirety of the world, aka YOU and me.
My poetry book still awaits publication. Soon~stands the best answer I can give on the possible dates. My posts also for the most part stay consistent (until recent weeks).
My last update other than anything related to poetry involved my days in Chicago (I think). Since those days, I have for the most part either been at home with my family or in-town with a family from my church (the Porter’s) from my church. The fall/winter housed jobs with Josh to move individuals, as well as a ten-week course in Modern & Contemporary American Poetry.
Mid-January to Mid-February held a roadtrip with Josh to Georgia and West Virginia (and a run-in with high water in a Mustang). Along with these journeys over the last eight to nine months my pursuit for Ireland transitioned to South Korea~a slow process with little fruit of an outcome.
The last few weeks, God blessed me with a temporary job at the shop of my church’s property chair, where I do the shipment (and all other random things) for their product. They build (weld) truck rollbars and guards for the most part. The work, tough at first, allowed for me to pay for bills the last few weeks and save some money for a little bit. (Josh will take over for me next week).
NOW…
Now, Holy Spirit does His thing again and my river changes course. The pursuit of South Korea comes to a close (for now) and I take another avenue to bring the Kingdom of God (hence why Josh will take over for me).
You see, my squadmate from The World Race, Nikki Medders, works for an organization in Texas, which deals with foster kids and their ranch needs houseparents. So, last night I bought a one-way ticket to Austin, Texas on June 10th.
Say what?!?!?
Yeah, I’m crazy. I leap into the unknown all over again to go and love on foster children at a ranch in the heart of Texas. Ridiculous? Yep.
I cannot say the choice stood easy for my heart derailed for a few days, while I grieved the thought to stay in America and not travel (full time) for at least two years to do such a position. I do know Legacy Ranch will be a time of growth and renewal where I can live in my element to pray, love, encourage and pour into the lives of children and teens who come to the ranch.
Am I petrified? ….yes, but I trust Abba and know He goes before me. I rest in the Truth of His faithfulness to me and the knowledge His best for me looks way different than I could ever imagine!
So, in a recap, on June 10th 2013 I fly to Austin, Texas and on the 15th I train to be a houseparent to foster kids, in essence I become a father in a few weeks.
AND ladies and gentlemen, your update issued. BAM!
*My poetry, poetry tips and what not I hope to get back on track with within the next week. Thank you for your patience and your desire to know what I’m about to get myself into! Prayers, encouragement, and life words always welcome!
Also, how may I pray for you??
Poetry Month Complete
Poetry Month Complete
Thirty Days downAnd not a single frown,While I write the linesTo count. The sun shinesEver brighter today,Wait, no, clouds coverThe sky all the day longGentle poofs to discoverBunnies, brownies, more~When up we look and exploreThe depths of our imaginationFor your utmost destination.~By: A.J. Wagoner
I want to take the time to thank all of you readers! Thank you for the time you’ve perused my words! Thank you for your peepers on the screen and thank you for your love for poetry! I appreciate it oh so very much!
I am going to take a few days off to get a few things in motion, then I will share an update on my life before I get back into the regular updates of poems, Tuesday’s Tip Jar and Thursday’s Treasures. I hope you will stay tuned for the updates!
A few links to some of the poems over the past month:
Thirty Days (NaPoWriMo #30)
Thirty Days (NaPoWriMo #30)
Thirty Days hath certain months~
Thirty Days to write poems
And bring nautical shoes
To Life with line and rhyme:
Screws snooze bemuse Chartreuse
For Thirty Days of poetry
Enlivens the roots of trees
To grow deeper and deeper
Into the rich soil~
Languages’ deposits
Within the Hope of tomorrow,
When we let the ink overflow
And spill along the page
Tic marks and tittles
Of little brittle and your
Submittal.
Oh, Thirty Days never enough
To get all the thoughts
From mind and space
Onto any page
Whether real or virtual~
Thirty Days to write and write,
A great scroll of a sight
Leads to one question:
Thirty more days,
Pretty please?
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Davek’s Howl (NaPoWriMo #29)
Davek’s Howl (NaPoWriMo #29)
Davek’s Howl
To cleave ever closer to Heaven
Hakuna Matata
Takes precedence throughout
And Love echoes
L’amour to Ast to Upendo
Over and over again
For the world spins
On the look out
For an ever increase
And abundance of Hearts
Who burn with passion
To share forgiveness,
Grace, Peace,
And all the Armastus
Of every heart, Salut
Hakuna Matata
Davek’s Howl
Draws Heaven closer
Every single time~
Salamat Po Merci!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Don’t Kill Me. ~Creativity
Don’t Kill Me, ~Creativity. (NaPoWriMo #28)
I Am always around.
I Am snug within your heart,
Your mind,
Let your fingers scratch the itch,
The itch to draw,
Write,
Sing,
Play,
With paint
With dreams
With all
For I do not come and go!
I Am always around!
You let me go,
You choose to feed others
And neglect the muse of me,
Your Creativity!
Let your imagination wander
To the things of fantasy
Not for bad or evil,
But for Good,
For Life and Love,
For Creation and Dreams,
For the things unseen~
Yes, let me run wild
For together innovation triumphs
When we explore the seven seas,
Or reside in castles with dragons.
Come, don’t kill me!
Let me thrive!
Allow us to explore
Allow us to discover
New places, things, people, ideas.
I Am always around,
Yet you dull the senses
With the glare of your gadgets
And you miss Beauty everywhere!
Please, Don’t kill me!
New colors, shapes, sizes
Await their Freedom!
I ask plain and simple,
Don’t kill me. ~Creativity
~By: A.J. Wagoner
A Single Step (NaPoWriMo #27)
A Single Step (NaPoWriMo #27)
“A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step.” ~Lao-Tzu
A Single Step
Begins the quest
A journey of miles
Upon Miles
Thousand features
Classic tales
Of the soul
When one must set forth
On a Journey of sorts,
A third edition
From one place to another
Within the time required~
Books laden with discovery,
Yet a Single Step
And back can never equate
To the Depth present
Within Unique nature;
A Journey of a thousand miles
Of Faith
Of Hope
Of Love and hate,
The progress of us all
Grants wishes, Life limits
And personal sacrifice
For annual smiles,
Universe miracles generosity
Eclipses uncommon advice
To spotlight, promote
Composer, the Progress of Love
To span continents
And never forget~
No price on value
A Single Step
Designed to help the Journey
Into one’s self,
But more so into Love’s depths
From the least of all encountered,
A thousand miles more
And a Single Step
Takes one through
Escalated panoramas~
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Moments… (NaPoWriMo #26)
Moments… (NaPoWriMo #26)
Taken from ‘Those Moments‘
Moments…
When light and darkness hold,
Laughter ceases sobs unsold.
Those …
The world looks and you run away,
Or the clouds gray and sliver cliche.
Moments…
You fear worst all your crumble,
Or storms perfection life takes tumble.
Those …
When Brown’s adults more intelligible,
Than those who plain corrigible.
Moments…
When realize absurdity materialism self,
Or the one place things the shelf.
Those …
You from parts,
And understand forever captured hearts.
Moments…
When fail to capture essence of present,
Yet stay real call you more 100 percent.
Yes, moments by we live every day life
To augment to beat of drum tune a fife;
Dreams blossom reality brilliant hues
To Heaven’s realities the eternal cues.
Those …
When child laughs darkness quakes,
Or tears and peace floods lakes.
Moments…
The prostitute’s free her life whole,
Or sun shines frowns from soul.
Moments…
80-year-old understands love reigns,
Or rainbows the skyline just remains.
Those …
When orphan warmth and mute speak,
Those alone around long such mystique.
Moments…
You realize immensity Creator,
Or such One never be dictator.
Those …
You return to impoverished parts,
And love all more for hearts.
Moments…
When words the lead precedence,
Yet images names bring relevance.
Oh, those when we into eyes
To reveal praises God rise to skies;
His children’s voices praise His name
For death darkness love overcame!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
Prepare to Configure (NaPoWriMo #25)
Prepare to Configure (NaPoWriMo #25)
Images in the night,Flares rocket highWithin the Stratosphere of the mindAnd I’m lost within your goodness!Set to change the landscapeClean away the scarsFreshen up the dandelionsYes, Prepare to ConfigureThe Hard- Software of our LivesWhen we allow anthems to swellThe symphonies and melodiesOf Love, Grace, Joy and PeaceRing out! Do not shut down!Prepare to ConfigureOur hearts to the noiseGuitar rips, bass dropsMore. More. More!Plans set. Concrete poured.Ready to take on the worldAnd show the Kindness of LoveOver and over again!So, world…Prepare to ConfigureFor Abba’s Gentleness rises evermore!~By: A.J. Wagoner
Wanderer Wagon (NaPoWriMo #24
Wanderer Wagon (NaPoWriMo #24)
Wanderer Wagon
Adage wren worn
Wander Wagoner
Arranged En Wow
award grew neon
Raga dew Renown
wanna reed grow
ad Wane Regrown
Grandee War won
derange aw worn
downrange ware
wordage
Narrow awn Edge
A garden we worn
A Redrawn new GO!
A dragon wren we a grand wren Woe,
A dawn genre row
Award grew en on
A wager nerd won~
A wagon red wren
EGAD! raw new nor
Danger ran we! Ow!
Redrawn an we GO!
Dang Rare we Won
And gear we worn
Road rang new, we
rad aw grew neon
Draw war gone en
Rage Ran dew now
An awn Dog err we
Wanderer Wagon Wander Wagoner
~By: A.J. Wagoner
*anagrams from my name
Another Day at the Shop (NaPoWriMo #23)
Another Day at the Shop (NaPoWriMo #23)
Oh, another day at the shop~Creaks and Moans, Half-mast to back cracks,Pokes, slices with X-Acto burns.Oh, another day at the shop~Oy no! eight hours cardboard nonstopWidth to Length to Height, label tracksOh, another day at the shop~Creaks and Moans, Half-mast to back cracks.Break out!!Thirty-five and a quarterInches~oh yeah!Don’t forget the label!Protect the finger cousinsFor lost in thought could proveTroublesome while at the shop.~By: A.J. Wagoner
Cloud Cover (NaPoWriMo #22)
Cloud Cover (NaPoWriMo #22)
Cloud Cover
Blues
Mid-April’s stance
Water logged
Ooze
No time to think
Naps take over Maps
And I’m
Done
On our Earth Day
Show them some
Worth, Yay!
~By: A.J. Wagoner
