For You: Poems of Faith, Hope and Love

by Steven and Justin Clark

For You

  Poems of Faith, Hope and Love

  By

  Steven Clark

  Copyright 2009 by Steven Clark.

  And That Guy Media, LLC.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review.

  That Guy Media, LLC

  26 Nottingham Drive

  Cartersville, GA 30121

  Baskin3@att.net

  CONTENTS

  New Horizons

  She Can

  The Wind and the Chimes

  Sunrise

  Just Another Memory

  The Poet

  What Happened to our Love?

  You are so Beautiful

  Sometimes

  Alma Mater

  Why Did It Have to End

  God’s Gift

  The Sea and I

  My Rainbow

  You’re Everything

  Georgia, My Sweet Home

  Take for Granted

  She’s the Light

  One With God

  Wish You Were Here

  I Was Once Your Hero

  Used to Think

  Tammy’s Poem

  Lady

  Cornerstone

  Inspiration

  These Things Are You

  Tonight

  Life’s Tragedy

  Try Again

  The Way That I Love You

  Deep in our Hearts

  Just Friends

  Roses on the Table

  A Poem to the President

  Rose Piano

  Where Has All The Love Gone

  Some Short Stuff

  Farewell

  Love of my Life

  When I See You

  I Prayed For You Today

  I’ll Remember You

  How Time Passes By

  Afterlife

  Baby’s Poem

  Just One More Time

  Cartersville Daydreaming

  In Jesus Christ

  There for Me

  PREFACE

  Like all art, poetry tells a story. Poetry cleanses the soul. It reaches out to another person, whether friend or stranger, with an open hand. Poetry moves the heart. It is but a tiny voice that cries out to reshape a troubled world. Poetry is faith. Poetry is hope. Poetry is love. It reaches inside of us to create emotions previous unknown. Above all, poetry matters.

  As the title suggests, this simple collection of poetry was written for you. It was written for you so that you might worship better and more fully. It was written for you so that you might see your God actively promoting your life. It was written for you so you might see your world, your family, friends and loved ones differently. It was written for you so you might learn a simple truth: that faith, hope and love when shared with others are never wasted, even when not returned.

  I am not a professional writer or poet. Nor am I a doctor, psychiatrist, love guru or theologian. I am just a person who has sought a way over the years to express himself and tell his experiences. Ultimately, I found that way through poetry. I hope you will share this collection with others. I hope you will find your voice as well.

  Few things in life are ever accomplished alone. This collection of poetry is no different. There are so many people and places over the years who have graced my life and blessed me with inspiration. I regret that I cannot mention them all here. However, there are a few I would like to name.

  Thank you to my brother, Jeff, who was invaluable in getting my manuscript formatted properly for publication.

  To my brother, Mike, for always being there for me.

  To my mother and father, for the wisdom and guidance.

  To my children, Justin, Jason and Brooke, you give me so much joy each and every day of my life.

  Finally, to my wife, Leslie, who has stood by me through the years and continues to provide the inspiration for so many poems yet to write. I look forward to sharing many more sunrises with you.

  Steven Clark

  2009

  TO MY WIFE

  “When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”

  —John F Kennedy

  New Horizons

  You are One beside Me

  And I have called your name

  No longer must you live in fear

  For My love has made you whole

  I have always walked beside you

  Ten thousand miles we have shared

  I have known your pain and wonders

  And your place I have prepared

  Take My hand now humble servant

  For you must soar above the clouds

  And I will show you new horizons

  And you will dance upon the sun

  Do not fear the coming darkness

  Nor the vastness of the tides

  For I have shown you new horizons

  And together, we shall rise

  Into the hurt, you were My healing

  Into the violence, you were My peace

  Onto city streets and hearts of stone

  You have carved My love

  Your ways have made the blind ones see

  Your words have glowed like fire

  All who saw your deeds have known

  The source of all your power

  When you stumbled on the journey

  So many mouths there were to feed

  Remember the field was rich for harvest

  And you were the sower of the seeds

  Take My joy now humble servant

  And you will soar above the clouds

  And I will show you new horizons

  And you will dance upon the sun

  Do not fear the coming darkness

  Nor the vastness of the tides

  For I have shown you new horizons

  And together, we shall rise

  She Can

  She can make me believe in myself

  When I’ve run out of cards to play

  She can be serious when I’m not

  When I’m silent, she knows what to say

  She can trap me into saying things

  That I know will always be true

  She can see through my outer defenses

  But says, “I like the real you”

  She can comfort me when I’m down

  She can look through my little lies

  She knows just what I’m thinking

  When she stares into my eyes

  She can understand my feelings

  She knows me better than I do

  How many times have I wanted to say it

  Nothing can replace my love for you

  The Wind and the Chimes

  The wind blew across the desert

  Laying waste to the vast ocean of time

  All that was heard in the distance

  Was a faint hum of chimes

  No one knew where it came from

  The wind was shocked and surprised

  With the mass destruction it had dealt

  How could man have possibly survived

  It quickly changed its direction

  And grabbed a storm cloud or two

  Man must be destroyed, it thought

  And that’s what I planned to do

  The wind arrived on the edge of a city

  Or at least what was left of one

  But the wind had not blown this city down

  This d
eed, man himself had done

  People were moving in the streets

  Probably searching for lost friends

  But the wind did not share their sadness

  As it swept them to their ends

  But the chimes continued humming

  So the wind continued its search

  Finding nothing, it decided to move

  To another region on the earth

  In the smallest caves they hid

  The last remains of man

  Always fearing the wind

  Surviving the best they can

  The chimes continue humming

  Almost like a dance

  But really it’s just heaven opening

  To give man another chance

  Sunrise

  Sunrise

  Over the mountains

  Makes me feel reborn

  Makes me feel new

  Sunrise

  Over the mountains

  Shows me a different life

  Reminds me of you

  I long to see the serenity of a calm, blue creek flowing

  I long to feel the gentle breeze of a cool mountain wind

  To know winter’s come with the very first snow

  It makes me want to begin my life again

  Sunrise

  Over the mountains

  Makes me feel reborn

  Is nature’s beauty reserved to so few

  It’s simplicity I cannot understand

  The creatures that live there, how can they know

  Nothing can compare to God’s great hand

  Sunrise

  Over the mountains

  Shows me a different life

  Makes me feel new

  Sunrise

  Over the mountains

  Makes me feel reborn

  Reminds me of you.

  Just Another Memory

  We had everything but time on our side

  I remember walking hand in hand

  What have I left behind

  I remember how growing up could be so fun

  We leave the pain behind us

  Because what’s done is done

  I remember how we laid down underneath the maple trees

  You said that everything’s alright

  As long as you had me

  And it hurts me just to say good-bye

  Try to fight the tears

  ‘Cause I hate to see you cry

  And I don’t want you to be

  Just another someone

  Who writes me letters

  And I don’t need another someone

  To say my life was better

  When I had you here

  And there’s one thing I know you’ll never be

  And that’s just another memory to me

  Though miles may separate us and time flashes by

  Sometime think about me

  When you close your eyes

  Have you lost to much sleep sitting by the telephone

  And though it doesn’t ring you know

  You never truly are alone

  When we finally see each other

  Will they call us old friends

  I miss the special moments

  Can we share those again

  And you still look so good to me

  And there’s one thing I know you’ll never be

  And that’s just another memory to me

  The Poet

  I paint a picture with words

  I write a novel on truths

  I am the story of an old man dying

  Still searching for his youth

  I can make you believe in love

  I create worlds I’ll never know

  And when the pen falls down and the candles dim

  I’m the man at the desk who’s alone

  Reality, I leave behind

  My voice is spoken but unheard

  I am the product of all my work

  My life is but a blur

  I am the man with wealth and fame

  I am the man out on the street

  I am everything in between

  Until society tramples her feet

  I can make you believe in life

  I create people I’ll never know

  And when the pen falls down and the lights go dim

  I’m the man at the desk who’s alone

  What Happened to Our Love?

  What happened to our love

  The things we used to share

  It’s so hard to believe

  That you no longer care

  I know we have our differences

  I know we’re not the same

  But you left without a reason

  And you never did explain

  What happened to our love

  The nights along the shore

  Now you’re like a stranger

  I don’t know you anymore

  I thought that it was special

  Being near you all the time

  But inside I sensed you changing

  There are others on your mind

  Can’t imagine that it’s all over

  That the feeling has run dry

  Still, I just can’t seem to find it

  When I stare into your eyes

  What happened to our love

  I guess I’ll never know

  You Are So Beautiful

  You are so beautiful

  I can’t believe the way you shine

  In all the ways that I look at you

  How I wish that you were mine

  But I’ve watched the moments pass

  All the words I just can’t say

  How I wish that I was strong and still

  I wonder why I’m so afraid

  You are so wonderful

  I can’t describe the way you are

  As I sail beneath this peaceful sky

  I see that you’re the brightest star

  And I want to hold you close

  And be the fire that keeps you warm

  How I wish that you could trust in me

  To be your shelter from the storm

  You are so magical

  I can’t believe that you are real

  It’s hard to hide this emotion when

  You’re so amazed at how I feel

  And maybe I’m the fool to think

  That I could ever make you see

  Do you know only half the man

  When there’s so much more to me

  Sometimes

  Sometimes

  I wish I could explain

  Just how beautiful you are

  Both inside and out

  Sometimes

  I wish I understood

  So I could give appreciation

  Where it is so richly deserved

  Sometimes

  I wish that I could stand by you

  To fight my personal battles

  When I’m so willing to try

  I’ve found a faith and a cause in you

  Though it might not always show

  When I search down in my soul

  There’s so much you’ve helped me find

  Sometimes

  When I’m all alone

  I think I hear you calling

  And the road I’m on doesn’t seem that long

  Sometimes

  When the world has turned away

  I see you reaching out

  And I feel all the confidence you’ve given me

  Sometimes

  When I see I’m growing old

  You show me new horizons

  That I’ve never seen

  Sometimes

  When my dreams have faded grey

  You give me some reality

  So I find my path again

  When I need a friend

  You are here

  To share the strength of your love

  To guide me through the coming storms

  Toward a calm and peaceful place

  Still sometimes

  When
I hear forever

  I think of you and me

  And inside, it doesn’t feel so bad

  Sometimes

  When it’s cold and dark

  You give me your embrace

  And my body becomes whole again

  Sometimes

  I know how much I care

  And I wish that I could tell you

  Sometimes

  Alma Mater

  For all the dreams we treasured

  And had to leave behind

  For all the memories we formed

  And thought we’d never find

  For the spirit in our souls

  That we knew was always there

  For the times that changed our lives

  And the secrets that we shared

  For all the many who made the one

  And as the years roll by

  We place our faith forever here

  At Spanish River High

  Why Did It Have To End (James at the Cross)

  Why did it all have to end

  When I thought we were only beginning

  Now, we can never begin again

  God, why did you have to die

  And horror is all that I feel

  We broke bread just the other day

  Somehow, this just can’t be real

  So where do we go from here

  The candles have burned

  The streets are all dark

  The world has turned

  Did you leave a mark

  Now things just won’t be the same

  I can’t believe you’re gone

  I don’t understand why

  You weren’t here all that long

  How could you do all that had to be done

  God’s Gift

  When God made the flowing waters

  Their beauty He gave to you

  As the mountains rise to meet the sun

  I’ll rise to meet you too

  If I could witness all creation

  What a joy it is to share

  For earth is like heaven to me

  Because God placed you there

  For the reasons for my happiness

  There’s so much you’ve helped me through

  My life was not God’s gift to me

  God’s gift to me was you

  So another year has escaped us

  There’s still so many more to see

  Time has not changed your beauty

  It still amazes me

  For the rainbow is never changing

  The stars will never fade