Marching Orders

Rise alert, face the dark

Kick the snake and punch the shark

Raise your voices loud for all

“We’re answering the Savior’s call!”

Need a jacket? We’ve got more!

And we pray from shore to shore

An army ready stiff as starch

Heed the call, ready to march!

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

First Candle

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Watch!

Listen! Hear the breeze

The song in the trees

Quiet and listen

For the Prince of Peace

See! The stars in the sky

Dance of fire on high

Be still and see

The King is coming nigh

Breathe! In the life of grace

From the Holy Face

Let be and breathe

Live in the sacred space

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Quietly

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Glorious Gratitude

Sticky stench passing through

Leading off beyond what's due

Yet even in the foulest cell

I hear the ringing of the bell

Amongst the lowest I have been

Lower still to go, from what I've seen

My pride, patched beyond repair

I hear here the angels' care

The church's bell and angels' song

Lifts the meek to be the strong

I give thanks for dirt and dust

To my God in whom I trust

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Mirror-verse

Collected reflection afflicting conflict

Mollified mailing measuring wit

Politely performant pressure has split

Feathery flit

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Held

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

St. Joseph the Terror of Demons

When snow turns black and blood is wary

When one's faith turns doubtful and weakens

Hark to the bulwark of Jesus and Mary

St. Joseph the Terror of Demons

In any corner of this life that we breathe

The angels sing out holy beacons

Malice and evil only simper and seethe

At St. Joseph the Terror of Demons

Be of stout heart when battle has drawn

When God alone knows His reasons

No defeat can hint or happen upon

St. Joseph the Terror of Demons

God less,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Separated

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

King

The shepherd comes and asks

The lamb asks with a roar

"How have you treated me?

When thirsty? Hungry? Forlorn?"

The lion asks with a gaze

"Who do you love more?

Yourself or me?"

The shepherd guards the door

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Peaceful Victory

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Drawing a Line

Madness creeps beyond the edge

The cliffs that pride dances near

The arrogant does not fear

Mocking here

The humble gardener's simple hedge

Marking off the fatal ledge

Keeping children safely full of cheer

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Shades

Mastered color, light, and time

Not much left to make a rhyme

Blended thoughts and blurred sight

Leads to a well rested sleep tonight

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Hammered

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Adrift

Adrift upon the wine deep blue

Far afield of any land

Far apart from knowing you

Seeker of the lost little lamb

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Two Makes Four

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Long Haul

Stubborn lungs and stubborn heart

Live with zeal at the start

Diligent hands and wise eyes

Are needed when stubbornness dies

Love of the master guides swift feet

Fear of the master keeps my soul neat

My work for the master is hopeful and deft

Keeping me busy once the master has left

If in the night, should sorrow arise

Or in the day, a joyous surprise

The peace in my labor keeps me on track

Ready to welcome when the master is back

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

ADD

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Midnight

The heart beats in silence

Stillness that wind cannot hear

Sharpness that rain cannot dampen

Focus as death waits in fear

Lungs breathe in lightning

Darker than the moon

Mouth numbed to silence

Time waits at noon

Together eyes seek the Lady

Quiet at the lake

Silence that thoughts cannot ripple

Fear cannot shake

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Hope in the Lord, Always

Sticky noise, dark noise of madness

Numbing all but shallow sadness

Curling balls of fragile clay

To protect the last spark of day

But day dies in the dark

Making silence stark

Against the infinite realm of night

This little guardian needs the light

Into the pond of tears, a hand

Out of despair and onto the land

A land of joy, peace, milk, and honey

Where even nighttime is always sunny

Grasped in the hand of our brother

Led into the embrace of our father and mother

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Good Book

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Store the Everlasting

And what of power, what does it serve?

What does it make, who does it heal?

In the grave it cannot be kept

Unlike a simple bread and wine meal

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Lamp

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Dead of the Night, Children of the Light

Do you sleep, dreaming of treasure

Stolen by thieves, every measure?

Are you awake awaiting salvation

Or nodding off to the will of a nation?

Have you kept up on the oils of grace

Lit by the Flame, revealing His Face?

Or have you been caught short, lost in the night

Having forsaken the Way of keeping the Light

Only those having waited awake, lamps trim

Will have their hunger assuaged by Him

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Hand of Blessing

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Unraised Eyes, Unlifted Heart

Fed by every breath

Quenched by each step

Calmed by my daily cross

Lovingly kept

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Quieted Child

Still and joyful against a storm

That blasts and drenches all about

But with my eyes upon His form

I cannot drown within my doubt

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Patting the Head

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey 

Fading World

Lightning fades into sparks and stars

Clouds dissolve and winds abate

Rain dries and with it fades tears

And all the waves are no longer irate

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey

Crown of Flames

God bless,

>P<

Joshua Fahey