Poetry Sunday ~ Sing-Song Spring

Mark 11: 23-24 "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Sing-Song Spring!

The cardinals all sing

They sing to the spring

All the songs of joy they bring

Red will remind life to begin.

The robin happily bouncing 

around the ground a’ jouncing

Chirping out song all day long

To signal the season to come along

March is the month of birth

Where gracious gals greet the earth

To sing out a song of spring

Marking the seasonal swing

Sounds of spring fill the air

In the month of swinging flair

Songs give praise to longer days

Birthdays dance in sun filled rays!

My mother's birthday poem! Not a sad note on the page! Her birthday is on the 23rd, wouldn't you know, the same as mine! What a coincidence. And you all know what I feel about coincidences, right? No such thing! Enjoy and God Bless! 

Music... Healer of the Soul

1 Chron. 15:16 “And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.”

Music… healer of the Soul

“This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender.” ~ Pete Seeger

Have you ever listened to music that made you happy? Sad? Melancholy? Have you ever wondered why music does that to every single person alive on the planet, young and old? Growing up I always wanted to play an instrument but lacked any encouragement as my house was flooded with marijuana smoke (older brothers), cigarette smoke and beer cans. I feel it hindered any growth in the musical aspirations I might have had but one thing I DID have? My Holly Hobbie record player where I would sit in my room and sing my heart out listening to music of the day.

I trained my voice early on by listening to the likes of Barbara Streisand and Karen Carpenter, two of the greatest singing teachers I could ever ask for. My musical likes were influenced by my older brothers (Beatles, Clapton) not necessarily my parent's music (Sinatra, Patsy Kline) and my likes in later years would turn out to be a mix of them all. I have four brothers so the music spanned many generations from the early sixties until today where my tastes have grown like a vine climbing the tree.

It’s amazing how times have changed and technology allows you to teach yourself amazing things instrumentally. Grace Vanderwaal, twelve years old, taught herself (via YouTube) how to play the ukelele and if you don’t know who she is, now it is my turn to say, get your head out of the sand! She is the America’s Got Talent winner of one million dollars and a contract with a recording label.

As you all may or may not know, I don’t watch television so how I clicked this child from a rare visit to YouTube is beyond me but I connected with this little girl the moment I saw her cherubic face, seeing what happens when your family surrounds you with love and nurtures your blossoming talent.

I may have missed the mark on a singing and dancing career but music, was well absorbed into my soul from a very early age. I wonder if that is the reason I write poetry? Is it a form of music to my soul via words? Hmm now that’s interesting, isn’t it? 

Music whether instrumental or filled with words touches the soul! I do believe since the beginning of time a simple hum filled the humans and they had to get it out of their system so they began designing instruments. While the age of a musical instrument may be off since some believe the earth to be 6,000 years old, either way, music has been around since the beginning of time.

Biblically we know as early as the book of Genesis the singing and instruments were alive and on the scene. Imagine that, we were created to bring forth music from the very beginning, I wonder if it was the first form of medicine, psychologically speaking.

Gen. 31:27 “Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?”

1 Sam. 18:6 “And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.” 

I can honestly say that had it not been for the healing properties that music has brought to my life, I would not be the woman I am before you today. Poetry, singing and writing, (I no longer dance because of my disability) are my outlets to the musical healing, while I have SEVERAL friends who play the guitar, piano, keyboard, drums, flute, violin, and a husband who plays the sax or they are avid singers professional or otherwise. Is it coincidence that God surrounded me with this palette of friends? I don’t believe in coincidence! 

So let me tell you of healing that takes place via music. Whether praise music, hymns, rock, country, soul or jazz each avenue is an outlet if internal healing that you WILL carry with you AFTER death.

Music Divine

Divine is the dancing pirouette of sound. 

Bathing in the luminosity of space. 

A bastion of baubles blazing boldly. 

Rhythm masking in the ticker-tape of time. 

Reverberating in reverent chime. 

Compliant to the composer of conceit. 

Fastidious to the feasible feast. 

Notorious notes nourish in sync. 

Melody meets a measure combine... 

Divine is the dancing ~~ pirouette of sound!

Copyright ©joni zipp

Praise and Worship

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When I was but six years old I decided I wanted to praise and worship God. Six, you might ask? Yes! I went to Catholic school and my very first teacher was a nun, Sr. Kathleen. I asked her why she was a nun and she told me, “Because I wanted to give my life to God.”

As you can imagine, at the time I didn’t understand what she was saying but I too wanted ‘to give my life to God’, I had to learn about Him more first. And learn I did! By second grade we were allowed our first Holy Communion and I, in my hand-me-down white lace dress that was first worn by my much shorter sister, proudly felt like a princess and gave my life to God after all, I did get to eat his Body. I knew in a lightning-flash instant that God was not looking at my dress or knobby knees, He was looking at my soul!

Rom 7:4 “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

1 Cor. 10:16 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”

1Cor.12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

Eph.4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Besides learning from the nuns about God, my most prized memories were our praise and worship in church. Hymns seemed to me to be like a direct connection to God Himself because when I sang I felt something move inside, it wasn’t hunger pains per se, it was the Holy Spirit gurgling in there and I knew this! I was hungering for Him!

Eph.1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Eph.4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

1 Thes. 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Then by the eighth grade I was well on my way to having a deep crush on Jesus. He was my first love. Not in a sexual way like other crushes, no, this was a deep love and I knew then that I was His and He was mine for life, for eternity. Praise and worship took on a new shape, form and meaning. 

Sure I strayed down the wrong path a few times but He always guided me in the right direction and led me to a song in my heart and music for my soul, the wonderful sound that rang in his ear. After I got over wanting to be a nun, I was led to different churches and many different religions but what was strong in each was the praise and worship music.

Hymns in the Catholic church, semi-hymns in the UCC church, then Grace church had an entire different meaning in praise and worship, one that God led me to knowing I thirsted for more; hand raising and Lord praising. I found a place where there was no shame in loving God. We didn’t just stare at each other like we’d all gone mad, we were united in Christ, in our love of Christ! We praised our God and  connected on the love for Him that we all shared.

Judges 5:3 “Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.”

1Chr. 23:5 “Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.” 
[30] And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;

See that? EVERY MORNING! Not once a week. 

2 Chron. 5:13 “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;”

Pss.9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
[2] I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
[11] Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
[14] That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

Pss. 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Pss. 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.  
(not just DAILY but all day long!)

Pss 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

Pss. 28:2 “Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.”

Pss 63:4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Granted I may be strange to many but not to my Lord and Savior. He made me perfect in his sight so I will praise and worship Him and all His creation! It is the LEAST I can do for a God who sent His Son to shed blood for lil’ ol’ me! I close my eyes and open my heart and rejoice in praising His name.

Poetry Sunday ~ A Vital Season

Pss. 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

A Vital Season

The chirping of the birds awake

The chimes ring out in tune.

The morn has come and I’m alive

Praise God my morning croon.

The trees are showing color

Leaves dance with vitality

Wind is brisk the lulling sound

Sings loudly out to me.

Winter sleeps, as grass turns green

The season bursts with vigor

I sit in awe of God’s own hand

That touches the seedling trigger.

A vibrant season stands before us

Now’s our chance to flourish.

Speak to the wind, sing out God

Allow the journey to nourish.

Eph. 5: 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Beauty of the Sandhill Crane

Song of Sol. 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

~ The Sandhill Crane ~

The majestic beauty of Crane descending

Black lines mount the sky

Like rows and rows of soldiers pending

Their song-filled woes draw nigh.

Their movement off in the distance

Seeking a haven to rest.

Being met with no resistance

To the wandering river they nest.

Right on cue each year they meet

The melody fills the air.

Gather together new friends to greet

A sanctuary they share.

Flocking northward like a band of thieves

To the winding river they roam.

A blanket of clouds each one weaves

Finding a shelter to call home.

Briefly at the Sandhills they stay

The morning’s call will incite you.

You’ll rise and shine to greet each day

Until the moment the Crane bid adieu!

Isa. 60: 8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows

Poetry Sunday ~ Winds in the Willow

Wind in the Willows

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The wind in the willows walking away;

Cats in the cradle carrying this day.

Harps will be humming a soft melody

Birds are bound for the top of the tree.

Flowers are flowing in fortitudes stance

Branches bending a soulful dance.

Life it lulls and stills the soul

like bud to blossom becoming whole.

Ants are artfully aiming high

Powered persistence playfully ply.

Hypocrites hiss hypothetical spew

Willfully whispered for all to chew.

Soulful spirits sing songs of praise

Unleashing light through the haze.

Darkness dawns here nevermore,

Sleeping wake on a new days shore.

Poetry Sunday ~ Silence Whispers ~

Fire in the heart sends smoke into the head. ~Proverb
***
Silence Whispers
***
The crackle of embers
burning desire
embedded in the
human fire.

The light emits
a softened glow
each pirouette
a stately show.

Shadows dance
across the room
with each step
escapes the gloom.

Silence whispers
a single flame
the Light, the glory
without a name.

Hear the call
behold the sound
become one with
all you’ve found.

Melody holds
the infamous key
the Light, the love,
you gave to me!

Poetry Sunday~ A Winter Scene

A Winter Scene
***
The morning breathes a sigh of relief,
a new dawn has broken through.
The snow it whispers from the sky
 the blush of a fresh days hue.

Trees are barren as they sleep
each limb has clinging cotton
crisp cold air wafts throughout
squirrels are all but forgotten.

The crunching noise it lingers
as deer and elk creep by.
Silence holds this winter day
as snow falls from on high.

The air is full of Christmas
a holy day abounds.
Bells and holly carry on
the wondrous seasons sounds.

Mystery here is clinging
as angels sing a song,
coming is a new born babe
leading men along.

Awaken all you nations
hear the words I plea,
God has sent a part of Him
for sins of you and me.

Generations have come and gone
but everything's the same.
The Holy night is cherished
as the very day He came!

Poetry Sunday ~ Nightshades

Ps.146: 8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

Nightshades
***
A parade of silence fills the air
the night is cold and dreary;
light it dances on my face
my legs are getting weary.

Christmas holds no magic
the sight of me took flight;
it left a somber stillness
in every bleeding night.

The tree it has a presence;
the lights just sit and stare.
I touch the piny needles
Yet no one knows I’m there.

Another Christmas is coming
the holiday creeps right in.
I’m standing here left gazing,
at the windows I have within.

Will the season show its mystery
to me as I muddle through
I’ll cling to all the sounds I hear
and memories of you.

My joy is in the musical notes,
the sounds of bells and song.
I’ll find that during Christmas

it was with me all year long.

Poetry Sunday ~ What if I...die

Prov. 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
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What if I Die?

All rights reserved: copyright © Joni Zipp

***

What if I live
what if I die
what if I tell
you all
the times that I cry?
What if I...
What if I...
What if I die.

What if I share
what if I dare
what if I care
enough
to tell you stuff,
what if I...
what if I...
What if I dare?

What if I give
what if I lie
what if I say
I love
more than I do.
what if I...
what if I...
what if I lie.

What if I live
what if I give
what if I share
it all and try
not to cry
What if I...
What if I...

What if I DIE?
All rights reserved: copyright © Joni Zipp

Poetry Sunday

A Rainbow's Song

You descended upon me

as a fine billowy white cloud.

Wrapped your essence around me

absorbed all of my gray,

to rain your love on me.

You carried me blissfully away

into the warmth of the sunshine

to create a beautiful rainbow's song.

You enveloped me with the

flaming passionate reds.

Gave me the blue hues

of an infinite sky.

Showered me with the yellows

of purity

Blossomed around me

the fragrance of aromatic oranges.

Planted me safely

in a field of wondrous green.

Your love has been a song to my soul…

an everlasting rainbow's song…

To infinity…and beyond.