Reynard & Vixen

(a fox love poem)

There in the heather, down near the fen,

Where thistles wile whimsy, and ferns all attend.

Low in the bracken, bramble and brush,

Flowers sing sonnets to the Sun's bashful blush.

Here in the briar as raindrops still fall,

Spring beckons its May morning call.

Troth in affection, both red and white,

Foxes in love, to dawning day light.

~Daniel

Beauty (a Warrior Song)

Beauty 

(a Warrior Song)

Fists, Blood and bone, scraping earth and shale. 

Cut red deep, staining tooth and nail. 

She Holds fast at any cost,

chases after any lost.

Pursues with grace for Heaven's sake.

Amid a greater mercies' wake .

The price is heavy because it's free,

This debt was payed on Calvary.

Blessed peacemaker who enters fray,

Holy Saint who fights this day.

(Deserve) is a word not on her tongue.

She breaths in Christ with every lung.

Forgiveness without apology,

Miracle worker on bruise bent knee.

~Daniel

Biblioclast

Biblioclast

A noble work, monument, reflection of its maker.

Perfect bound, Saddle stitch, French fold, Pen and paper.

Did the Luminary grieve the printing press? 

Did the Setter foresee this distress?Pages twisting pulp and sinew, leather's swarthy whistle-crack.

From Gutenberg to Heidelberger to Nuremberg in black.

Heaped up high upon each other.

Volumes, cling to one another.

Covers rent to the Author's cries.

Ink ash spires paint black the skies.

Temple, alter, synagogue... parliament-minaret & steeple.

People burning, burning books. Books and burning people.

~Daniel

Inspired by ~Heinrich Heine 1797-1856  "Where they have burned books,

they will end in burning human beings" 

Speak

Speak

A whisper of a sound, spreads infinite abound.

Tears through empty still.

No silence can resist, as syllables persist.       

Splitting, dark into light, void into fill.

Tethered one to the next, dulcet and complex.

Ever anon nature must yield.

Pouring over and in, founding firm origin. 

Pressing deep all that is sealed.

Pealing passed what is made, giving value to shade.

Foundational form from unfixed.

Expanses to finite, rushing faster then light.

Gracing all that He speaks. 

~Daniel

inspired by (John 1:1-5) & (Genesis 1)

Insolvent

Insolvent  

Oh what glory wonder,

here you've brought your heavens low.

And in my earthen weakness.

Life and breath does flow.

Woe that I would ponder,

any less the you.

And give my adoration,

where it wasn't worthy due.

Oh gratuitous mercy,

how painfully unfair.

That in your HOLY goodness 

my sin you would bear.

~Daniel

Man of Arms

 

Man of Arms  

{a fathers day poem}

{to Gary Ramer my father}

Broad and gleaming, two edged steel,

Gold leaf index worn to peel.

There he sits before the day,

slow to speak with much to say.

Battle weary page unfurled,

reading of another world.

Just an old man, coffee and a book,

until you take a closer look.

A Man in motion, yet still anon,

holy praying before the dawn.

Father fixed fast to fray,

a wartime hero in every way.

He's a Soldier, have you not heard?

He wields with grace the Holy WORD.

Thank you Pa

~Daniel

TIGHTROPE

Step right up!

The talented and remarkable Elise Stephens has done it again! This is an exciting short story from the author of "Moon light and Oranges" about a young man looking for an adventurous summer job with a circus, little did he know he would find more then he bargained for with this band of rambling rogues.

buy it HERE

For more from Elise check out her blog HERE

I had the pleasure of illustrating, photographing, and designing the cover.
~Daniel

THIS is WAR

THIS is WAR

Bleeding wounded, solemn slave,

Pallid prisoner, hungry grave.

Brother, sister, refugee.

Bound to darkness, blind are we.

Bodies broken, battle scarred,

Chained in iron, bruised and marred.

Are we just abandoned here?

All alone to ferment fear?

Spoils of a treason war?

Foreigners on this lonely shore?

Forsook, forgot... what for?

Dear comrade,

there is so much more! 

Take heart your not alone!

There is a splint to set that bone.

A hammer to unfetter you,

A bolt of light that cuts straight through!

GET UP! 

We're still at WAR!

The fight and fray is at the door,

The enemy is close at hand,

Your heart is not his captive land! 

Surrender is not what soldiers do.

Death has not Conquered you!

You are free! now take your stand!

Trust The Servant in command!

His victory is a Perfect plan!

Writ long before you were born,

He knew your weakness, and your thorn.

Hear the thrum and turmult sound! 

Here there is no neutral ground.

You are His or you are not,

but for sure. not, forgot!

inspired by Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill, (Ephesians 6:10-24), "I am Victorious" & John Piper, Desiring God, (Romans 7:14–25)   "Who Is This Divided Man?"

~Daniel

Nest Nascent

Nest Nascent

(A Mothers day poem)

((For my Mom))

Borrowed breath of brand new life.

Poured out love in labored strife.

Weary warrior of whispered nights.

Nursing long to faint night-lights.

Harking healer of tearful cries.

Dancing muse of lullabies.

Tender arms, firm in hand.

Held in place to help me stand.

A fixed firm tree in a broken land.

Teacher true who taught to seek.

Lips I learned from how to speak.

Encouraged me to step and walk.

The ears that long to hear me talk.

Selfless servant like no other,

marci.

Daughter, sister, Woman, mother.

~Daniel

coup de grâce

coup de grâce

Oh woe that I would do my damnedest, pull these bootstraps high and hard.

Dig my way out (even deeper), shovel debt from inch to yard.

Oh dread is me that in my pride,  I might drink my just deserve.

And in my lowly merit may, look to self as soul's preserve.

Oh what a weighty burden what lofty wanton stack,

What a wretched kindle pile double high upon my back.

Oh how the potters field gapes wide with hunger night and day,

And for a million lifetimes toil,  I could not hope to fully pay.

But you say "Son put that shovel down I will take the load from you.

I paid complete what you owe, there is nothing more to do,

It is finished! past present future full."

I say, "I don't deserve..." And you reply "I know."

~Daniel

Immortal in Memoriam

Immortal in Memoriam

Supple winsome tender,

Shaded umbra slender.

Dancing sylvan whisper,

Glimpsing just a sliver.

Crowned in Autem, clothed in Spring,

Writhed in mirth like unsung wing. 

Naiad, nymph of rivers clear,

Daughter as the graceful deer,

What fen and ford do you take flight?

What arbored pass would you delight?

Were I to learn your right full name,

Beguiled I'd be all the same.

Parched to hear your thoughts that hide,

On aura's breeze and woodlands wide.

Drunk to drink in knowing you,

Enchanted til my life is due.

~Daniel

Dogovan's War

Lt. Bill Dogovan and his crew, pour out blood, bullets and bombs over wartime France in this high flying, pulp thriller. If you hate Nazis, or love action, adventure and onamonapia, this book by Will Mari is for you.

Also I illustrated the cover.
you can get it here on Amazon 

~Daniel

Unusual Stories: volume I

This is a wonderful collection of fantastic stories, one of which is by my friend Elise Stephens. Her's is a suspenseful retelling of the myth of Pandora set in our modern day. Also the cover was designed by (yours truly).

I hope you enjoy it, it is free at smashword press.

~Daniel

on fate & PROVIDENCE

on fate & PROVIDENCE  

To what logician's ascribe and magician's contrive,
I bare no mark.

To the lofty heights, of metaphysician's geist,
I dare not embark. 

But in these two days, and in many ways,
I duly cannot expound.

A clear strange thing came to pass, though through dim lit glass,
a whisper of truth was found.

Now as to my humble estate, I am weary of this thing called (Fate),
of Witch' of Wyrd' and woven webs.

But as for me, and my destiny...
in foreknowing hands is lain.

At mercies' brink, in blood scrawled ink,
of the "Book of the Lamb that was Slain.

The hammer, wood and nail, should paint my fitting tale,
one of Justice in bitter fire.

Yet beyond where our minds can grasp, before time was cast,
in love God conspired. 

To whatever my end, be it betrayal by a friend,
or being cut down by the sword.

I pray one thing remain, the faith to proclaim,
that Jesus Christ is LORD. 

~Daniel

Foul Weather Feather

 {A Crow-mance}

Jet black and charcoal, rain drops and motor oil. 

Ash as the star starved night. 

Wind ruffled and pulled, snow covered and cold. 

Not a crumb to our name,

as poor as the nests from which we came. 

Yet even within ice, sleet and hail,

yours is a friendship that did not fail. 

From tip of your beak to the end of your tail,

my faithful friend.

I cannot add for tomorrow one more minute today,

but don't be anxious darling, the skies won't always be gray.

Remember last Autumn and the broken wing,

remember the miss-hatch, of that mournful Spring.

Heavier burdens have beset you and I,

even days too painful to fly.

But ours is a oath for better and worse,

perseverance perched abreast despite Adam's curse.

I will nest right by your side in joy and through strife,

the heart I give you, (my birdie bride), I give you for life.

~Daniel

Earl & Afternoon

Fragile hard, tensile thin,

from saucer base to fractured rim.

Yours, is porcelain bone white skin.

Mine, is fire pearled scar, and blackened char.

Steel, hammered-handle-hues.

You were made with tender care,

no glaze or turn was to spare.

I was cast from poured out flame.

But both you and I are quite the same.

Made diverse, in complement,

Spout of my spout, pantry sent. 

In this steam spun celestial cloud,

a serenade is sung aloud.

A railway stop metallic tone.

My whistle sounds for you alone.

Darling! won't you steep for me?

Oh Horror, that we may not meet,

if not for (High-Tea) and Company.

~Daniel