California Beamin'--An Ode

I want to write something
that encapsulates
what California has meant to me,
these twenty-two years now past;
I have learned much
and forgotten even more;
have found, and lost, love
many times over
to get to the love
I now have
and hope to keep;

like Bono,
I've climbed highest mountains
and kissed honey lips;
I've had my feet baptized
in her salty waters;

friends have come and gone---
because of time,
because of distance,
because of circumstances
beyond anyone's control;
but I've been blessed
by those who chose to,
or have been able to,
stay;

I've even been blessed
to be called father,
by one, not born of my blood--
the remarkably good,
out of what became
an unavoidably painful situation;
which is indicative,
of what California
has often been to me---

the joys
and
the pains;
the triumphs
and
the tragedies;
the sweet
and
the bitter,
which is also indicative
of what life
has often been to me.

So,
it's probably safe to say
that,
as much as Chicago,
where I was born and raised;
and Greenville,
where I was spiritually formed;
and everywhere in between,
California
has been life to me,
and,
hopefully,
preparation
for the life to come
as I leave
her sunny,
yet
bittersweet embrace.

Stay gold,
California.

© 2014 Joseph Powell

God’s Angry Man

In the dark night of my soul,

I pray for rain

to wash clean

my dirty streets,

knowing full well,

they will

become dirty

yet again;

for,

I sin boldly

in the face

of a God

who has shown me

mercy,

and I ask forgiveness,

only to squander it

like money

at a gambler’s table;

perhaps,

it is a good thing

that I am not

worthy

of such

grace;

I choose

to be prodigal,

time

and time

again,

like a spoiled child

who is

never satisfied;

I cannot say

I know not

what I do,

for that

would be

a lie;

and,

I want to be

honest

and

I want

to be

real--

my humanness,

this walking

bundle

of contradictions

made

manifest

underneath

God’s heaven,

upon God’s

earth.

If it is I,

past,

present, and

future

imperfect--

who,

like

so many

before me,

has

been chosen

to be His

representative

here,

then

so be it,

and

to Him

be

the glory.

And

what will happen,

will happen,

because,

in accordance

to His will,

it

was meant

to be.

Amen.

© 2014 Joseph Powell

Joseph Powell @Priscilla's Poetry Night