bluer skies

March 9, 2017 by Rick Stassi you

Manet

Panning west with
eyes of rust
seeking closure in
crimson trust
rest awaits in
hallowed clouds
as God Himself
harvests fields plowed
the west is where
life must end
and rotation controls
all light to send
and when at last
I close my eyes
God awakens me
in bluer skies.

lovely and true

August 13, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

grove of trees Renoir

peace comes in drops of rain
light piercing in prismatic plane
with hopeful glances far above
He is near and cradles in love

when do we fill the gap of vanity
and overflow like tourmaline sea?
i ponder inward and see my flaw
knowing God’s restoration in awe

renewal waxes in unfurling leaf
soft green waves silent absence brief
my Creator will not leave my aching heart
He is watchful and shall never part

I hope someday I will see
into myself amber lens free
to see the possibilty of finding anew
what God has always seen lovely and true.

treatise 2

August 1, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

Pablo Picasso

For now
we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face:
now I know in part;
but then shall I know
even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV

How I long to
See deeper into
My soul
To understand
How God sees me
And you.

Would I then
Learn to love
Even more
As I see
the depth of
His love?

rickjstassi

remembering now

September 5, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Loriann Signori

with time’s steadfast passing
on river’s gentle meander
as melodies gently sway
with mesmerizing candor.

my heart is completing
in continuing peace
more about now than end
each moment’s gentle release.

this soul be bold
knowing the nature of time
in constant reminder
mild countenance sublime.

and lay my head down
upon dreams passing above
remembering now
is from heaven’s love.

He is there

July 29, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Paul Klee

when the lights go out
shall I fear darkness?
do I see childhood
and all of its dreams
with fences to climb
and creeks to cross –
a robin to spy upon
in its time singing unaware?

when the lights go out
I shall see warmth with
firefly-lit segments of
all moments that are good
which rest in my heart.
eyes of grace and a
heart of love embrace me
and there is nary time to fear.

when the lights go out
I shall meet all that
is eternal and know all things
as time and space are
instilled in my mind
and I know life
is good and all is truth
in a Father who is there.

temporal lost

July 4, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

flowers languish with the setting sun
it is time to seek true strength
from which victory comes
and is counted each moment in
small battles on seeming infinite fields
prodding at my weakness.

now is when discontent and
the hopeful yearning for joy
meet eye-to-eye –
confidence and trust
dancing with unpleasant
weariness.

in the midst of all
confusion and thoughts
of a darker tomorrow
is a small light brought
and laid at my feet –
in Comfort’s arms respite comes.

finding joy in each weary moment
is neither burdensome
nor impossible but rather a
necessary part of leaving
the temporal lost and
finding the eternal Spirit.

there is peace on earth
in my soul as the sun rises
and cool summer mornings
bring hope and confidence
builds for a God who promises
all is perfected in perfect timing.

and I see His eyes
and I feel His hand
upon my heart
and He whispers softly
into willing ears
“all is good, all is right”.

a new worship

June 27, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Loriann Signori

storms ebb in pale gray dawn
as first light stirs and
eyes are rubbed in confusion –
for a bit – as thoughts catch up
to this moment.
what we believe we cannot endure,
soon is another victory
claimed with the confidence bred
in the aftermath.
however, listen now and hear:
true victory is realized
in the battle
in a tender cry of joy.
All things are made new
and there is a new worship.
A time when we sacrifice wholly
and give out of pure selflessness
even in biting pain.
There is a glint of light
out of the corner of my eye
and though merely a glint,
truly a beacon of victory
as I am reminded that as we
seek more understanding,
our worship is more than new
as in a fresh day, but new, as if
never been previously seen.
this is my word from God:
That we must cast off trite
daily ritual and seek
perspective through His eyes.
He makes all thing new
and the sweetest moment
happens in a dim morning
awakening – realizing we did not
just endure, but we flourished
and a new heaven and
a new earth beckon with
crystal water of Life flowing
from the throne of the Lord
and He sees it is good.

reasoning

May 30, 2015 by Rick Stassi you

Reasoning held afloat
by caustic visions
and venomous tongue
within walls built to
keep one’s rationale in
and One truth out.

Soon time will exact
its due reward for
being the guardian
of hope as wistful
eyes seek a pardon
from sorrowful life sentence

And heart and soul
will reconcile at the meeting
of sea and sand
where the light of eternity
comes to those who listen
and cry for others who follow

legacy

September 9, 2014 by Rick Stassi you

gustave caillebotte

And so, fields of green.
New breath of life
Seeking spring rains
Which pleasantly placate
The thirst
Of all things.

And so, fields of gold.
O, the time of our stand
Passing quickly, steadily…
Now balmy days of reflection:
Satisfied and flourishing,
Certain and abounding

And so, fields of gray.
Joyful rest in shortened days
Blanketed with a colorful covering
Of leaves from trees.
Wiser now and older, patient.
Seeds sown and heart so very content.

And so, fields of bleakness.
Solemn depth of wintry sleep.
No sorrow in God’s arms, though,
Knowing with a true heart
That what we have lived
Will continue in season next.

going home

June 21, 2014 by Rick Stassi you

“Mondsheine” 1919 Paul Klee

as open doors beckon me
with a revealed realization of full life-
more than one man can imagine
in a lifetime or a string of
lifetimes.

the eternal nature of God:
so much more than
self-goodness and happiness
or impossible distance measured
in redshift;

but the redemption
of a single tarnished soul
by grace alone.
In His grace.

yet how does one
thank eternal Love
for this chance to
really live?

we are but to live and love
Father and brother and sister
til paths of gold
receive our steps and
the pure and crystalline
river flows from
Goodness and we know
we are home.