we’re sail-a-brating
our
anniversary
using that
system
of counting daze
oceans of memories between us
how can we count
the waves?
that have washed through
our story
written in the sand
beach ya we can
make more
walking hand in hand
endless ditties
won’t express my
true emotions
words won’t
so I’ll stop versing now love
to see you
and hold this moment
You’re such a beautiful design, yeah,
the one God clued me into, darlin’,
every bit of wonderful He had to work with
when the day was young.
You’re such a beautiful design, and I,
remain devoted after all this time, but
it’s all gone so quickly – so quickly
so quickly.
Tell the director to slow down the picture,
make all the scenes prolong.
Add some more chapters to the story,
a few more verses to the song, our song.
You’re such a beautiful design, uh huh.
There’s not a thing to improve.
To make any comments to the contrary
would be the very definition of rude.
Beautiful, oh so… oh so.
Beautiful, oh so, now now
Ohhhhh, yeah yeah.
Ohhh, beautiful design.
© Joel Tipple
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
sideways to the sheet
I much prefer the way they trace
lines of joy upon your face
round where those groups of freckles meet
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
frightened in alarm
I’d really rather see them well
to see a child saved from harm
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
trying to bear the pain
I think I’d like to see them mix
with a refreshing summer rain
Your tears weren’t meant to fall that way
so if a mere man has any say
if God wills no more days of sadness play
please tears of joy fill her days
and make the rest of those tears fall that way
© Joel Tipple
Early on in our relationship, I found out that my wife could read my mind.
Okay, you’re thinking, that’s just a wife thing. I mean, guys are pretty obvious, right?
The thing is, she really has a knack for it. I don’t begin to understand how it works, but
when I figured out it was happening, we had to come to an agreement. The agreement was
that if I thought something that wouldn’t exactly be conducive to marital bliss, but didn’t
say it out loud, she had to give me credit for not vocalizing what was on my mind. That’s fair,
don’t you think? Thank the Lord, she’s held up to her end of the bargain. At the same time,
my thought life is better than it was when I was younger. I thank God for that too.
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Psalm 139:1-6
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
the day when we first met
you know you passed me in the hall
could I have seen through the next 30 years
bouncing up and down like a ball
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
to savor and linger
just like our first kiss
you know that special memories
are made of stuff like this
not bound by laws of time
or gravity
all of those moments in between
mean that much to me
give me all of that memory
or none of it at all
every last frame
like stills on the wall
the rooms that we passed through
processed every sound
all of that memory
or none of it at all
the farther away I am from you
the greater the distance from young
words that were so easy to say
fall weighted from my tongue
I see them at my feet and wonder
who will pick them up?
and help me use them
to call to you
but confound and blast the luck
next time tie a rope to me
so when you leave our door
when I have need
I can pull you home
and hold you evermore
Going to the store?
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
Please, can I go too?
Anywhere you go, is where I want to be.
I want to go with you.
Lift me up onto your shoulders.
I’m taller than everyone.
Give me your rough hands
to use for reigns;
we’ll ride off toward the sun.
Going to the beach?
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
Please, can I go too?
Anywhere you go, is where I want to be.
I want to go with you.
Sand is a world of adventure.
We’ll put it in my sandbox.
The ocean gives it up for free.
God knows I like to play.
Anywhere. Anything. Anyhow. Anywho.
Anywhat. Anyone. Anyis. Anydo.
Yes, I’ll go. Sure, I’ll go.
I want to be with you.
I want to go with you.
i’d like to be
as strong as a tree
that grows stronger
with the wind
turning over new leaves
while learning to breath
tasting news of where the wind’s been.
my roots would wind
down
toward the earth’s middle
halting before they burned
with so deep a grasp I’d survive
though swiftly the planet might turn
then after thousands of years
and lightning and wars and men’s tears
with one limb left green
teachers would take little ones to me
to wonder
and marvel
and dream
Don’t just say you see
what I do
what I say what I say
don’t just do
what you can prove
say what I say what I say
all the day all the day
what I say what I say
stop
jump in jump in spin
jump in jump in spin
do a quick revolution
jump out
ever since the day
we got married
been a holy ride
love done never ended
holy ride holy ride
on
jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin jump in spin
do a quick revolution
jump out
Lori sweet Lori
train gets a goin’ cross country
dreams of rails and coattails
we got goin’ with a mist of steam
dreams of rails and coattails
ain’t never lost what it mean
jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin jump in spin
do a quick revolution
back on
dance to the Lord’s revival
dance to our sweet Lord’s tune
dance to Jesus’ music
sweet sounds in your room
jump in spin jump in spin
jump in spin for it do you in
Lord lead a quiet revolution
with your strong constitution
say when
Just before or after last Christmas I decided to be more consistent with my writing by resurrecting a WordPress blog that had been dormant for quite some time. I had recently received a lot of encouragement and it gave me the incentive to write more poetry. While putting together the new blog I noticed a challenge put out by WordPress to post every day for 2013. I decided to give it a try and let everyone who read my blog know by putting the badge on my cover page. Today will be my 137th post. Accounting for a few days that I’ve posted more than once, that means I’ve posted over 130 days in a row. I’m looking forward to doing the whole 365.
There have been a lot of great things to come out of writing and publishing every day. For one, it has forced me to investigate different kinds of writing. I’ve explored poetry, song writing, devotionals, and humor. Along the way, I’ve gotten to know fellow bloggers who also believe strongly in writing, especially writing that moves them. I’ve had days when I thought I had written something relevant, only to get little in the way of results. But then I’ve had other days when I wasn’t all that thrilled with what I had put out, only to get lots of positive comments. It continues to be a fantastic learning experience and I just want to sincerely thank everyone who has read, commented, and shown me how fun and rewarding blogging can be. God continues to bless it. It’s my prayer that He is honored by what I write.
Write here, Joel. 