savory sweet

October 15, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

van gogh

Stream winds so pure and clear
lovely path throughout the year

Where from does this rivulet meander?
And how does it avoid harsh arid slander?

I beg to know this stream of life
Endless source to ease my strife

As a tear you shall always go
Upon the mountain’s cheek so slow

You are not of this world lovely stream
Not from yarn, legend, or even a dream

You are a divine droplet making its way
Winding downward without fear nor sway

Water replenishes me in graceful rebirth
With purposeful joy o’er saddened earth

For continuous and ready are your reserves
Gathering salt of which the soil preserves

This salt shalt ne’er have flavor lost
Just as endless stream flows from redeemed one’s cost

Preserve and replenish, these two shalt meet
The endless stream, savory sweet

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

treatise

July 31, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

Peasants beneath Trees at Moret by Camille Pissarro

For God
so loved the world
that He gave
His only begotten
Son,
that whoever believes
in Him
should not perish
but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

rest

May 29, 2016 by Rick Stassi you

Picasso

hasten toward peace
acquaint yourself with
this way of silence

hearken the voice of rest
let reason fail
and your heart soften

peer with eager eyes
into the light
shone of breath and life

hear melodious passage
it brings metered beauty
upon ears wanting

allow summer breeze
she will warm you
and prepare you heart

seek eyes of God
for He will hold fast
a gaze of lasting love.

waning pale

July 27, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Untitled Abstract 122-12
Artist: Sean Seal

4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4 (KJV)

Divinely led from valley low
Once, fitful of this way to go.
All moments claimed by more than me
Try to wrest them back, I plea!

Elements of ashes and dry bones
fervently deny life.
Why do most walk as these element?
I did. Blindness mired in strife.

Why did I let air be breathed?
Into a soul parched received?
I wonder at times what I did
To be counted even as I hid.

And I pray now for your dry bones
You who believe you know the path.
The Lord, without prejudice, sees your heart.
Where flesh is absent love atones

So, I stand in gaps of gray and dry
Watching bones and ashes pass by
Light come forth and rid these souls
Selfish hearts, stubborn, hidden holes.

For there is Light around to see
Certainly it is blinding now
But Love and heart is set free!
Life from death. sinew to bone.

All can be one glorious day
If those would see the truth, the Way
And I can rest in waning pale
Seeking breath for those who fail.

rick

Veiled and Clouded

July 19, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Heidi Brummer
South Africa

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans 5:1 (NKJV)

Empty me Lord,
my mind betrays
filled with thoughts
for intended delays

Empty me Lord,
of the veil of night
that blocks out light
and defers my sight

Empty me Lord,
of this mind so clouded
in skies of gray
seeking is shrouded

Empty me Lord
of barricaded stream
blocking wisdom
cancel this erratic dream

For faith alone shall
bear enough reason
to fill this heart-
mind held with treason

And justly I walk
to see Your eyes
by this faith alone
discard disguise

and peace shall come
evident in certain hour
for by my faith
I rest in Your power.

home

July 11, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

home is a
Light well lit.
There in my heart
discarding my wit.
placing dreams of gold
and arms of love –
pierced then healed,
my guardian shield
subduing fear I feebly wield.
eyes upon my soul now pure
tis my home i reason, so sure
to where He beckons –
to where dew shant dry
and roots shall pry
deep to Living water.
Beacon of hope.
It is home I go
for He is there
His heart shall provoke
my glowing soul upon this night
Dark bird of prey shall now take flight!
For I shall stay home,
and will surely scare
and rebuke the preying dark bird away
for home with God protected I stay.

embraced

June 25, 2013 by Rick Stassi you

Artist: Sean Seal

Embers glowing, fire bright
Warmth protrudes from what is light
From afar we view, you take my hand
Such distance to travel to this venerated land
Through freezing field I traipse a pilgrim’s journey
But I worry not because you’re with me
And tarry not, the gait is swift
A lightened load gives me a lift
Our teardrop joins, hearts both break
For broken, disheartened, souls yet to wake
How I love this walk – time with you
In this moment virtues ne’er misconstrue
My feet are cold, the hoarfrost stings
I shall endure these trifling things
I waver once and look at you
Eyes of brown, hazel and blue
All of the colors, spectrum bright
The warmth afar yet still in sight.
You and I alone in this space
Time to thank, sing, embrace
For your hand I hold on dear
Removes all doubt, removes all fear
I love you now with all my heart
You love me too right from the start
And frosted path is stinging feet
Endure it now until Maker meet
I shall endure as life meanders well
Ever with you gives so much to tell
Closer now, face dark to light
’twas not me, ’twas your might
Rapping now upon the door
Peaceful…feet they sting no more
And bright inside shines ember glow
I look outside to see the snow
Another comes, soon even more
An ever rapping to narrow door
Love is bright and frost is cold
Time to realize young to old
But only in this earthly place
For by the fire, age disgrace
And I am calm, ’tis peacefulness
All I have seen gone to rest
But surprisingly joy is at hand
My presence embraced, His demand.