BEHOLD, THIS IS MY DAY!

There he sat in shimmering sunshine  
Inhaling and eating dust by day
That rose to his frail legs calloused and weather-beaten
From feet on paths well-trodden
He knew sandals and shoes, bare feet and hooves
Sauntering to and fro
Daily by the gate

Yea, to his fingers and palms open to receive

Coins and crumbs
That any could give,
Thoughtless or thoughtful… just any thing
On sunny days and rainy alike
There he sat, down by the gate

Awful his experience

Beautiful the gate he sat at…

As crowds upon crowds flocked the Temple

To worship and appease
To slaughter and sacrifice
And he, only to beg . . .

 Yet this day in the crowd

As he watched sandals and shoes, bare feet and hooves
As dust rose and settled upon rising dust endlessly raised…
Came two guys unusual…

And he as usual begins to beg, not looking

Will you… just anything sirs…
Only what I have do I give you
Says one…
What!  Did I hear that well?
In Jesus’ Name, the Nazarene?  Will I walk?!
What, that is really strange!!
Do I even believe it?  Am I walking
Halleluiah!  Praise to God!

Then a’ jumping and a’ shouting

Through the gates, truly beautiful, he fled
Into the Temple, to worship the almighty, he ran…
And what a kafuffle in the Temple…
Behold, this is my day!

Written by Robert Magoola, December 2001.

October 2011, announcinga new approach. . .

Friends and fellow lovers of poetry,
It has been difficult for us to meet together as we did last semester at the seminary.

I would like to invite you to consider sharing your poetry here online. Feel free to write, or comment on poetry that you have read from another person here.

Robert Magoola,
Organizer.

Last two meetings . . .

Hello there fellow poets,

As the semester draws to a stop, we are coming to a screechy halt! Only two meetings this semester on 4/19 and 5/3. 

God bless you and I hope to see you over a poem or two in the near future.

Robert Magoola.

Poetry Meeting

This past Tuesday was our first poets' meeting in Cordelia B at the seminary's cafeteria. Some carried their box lunches from home while others purchased some food from the dining commons. Either way is good.

As was expected, we sat down to read and discuss some poems which  presented. New insights were brought to light and I was further encouraged in my writing.  

One thought that became poignant for me was a member's comment on the inaccessibility of today's poetry to society, a factor affecting the general lack of interest in poetry. So I am thinking of writing a paragraph or a chapter or a book about some of my poetry - just so people can access it more readily. For me the meeting was so inspirational. I tested this idea soon after the meeting where I invited one fried who had been very uninterested in poetry. She had told me: "I don't get it." When I read one to her and explained its background and why I wrote, she understood and thanked me for it! So, poetry can be accessible. It is the packaging that needs to be more attractive, to cushion the poem's bare bones. 

All members of our Wilmore community and beyond (if they want to travel her) are warmly welcomed to the poetry club. There is only one qualification: that you want to hear and participate in poetry. 

We have five more meetings this semester as follows:

Date	Presenter	Presenter	Discussion Leader
2.22.11	Scot Hoeksema	Jonas Hamilton
3.8.11
3.22.11
4.19.11
5.3.11

For each meeting we will aim to discuss poetry presented (whether written by them or inspiring them from another author) by two people. A discussion leader will guide the group through discussing each poem.

Please sign up for one of the dates above.

May God bless the works of our hands.

Robert Magoola.

New Semester

Hi Friend,

Welcome - I'm glad you stopped by at the Wilmore Poets blog site. I noticed that we are in the weekly TWAA (This Week at Asbury)! I am so looking forward to seeing you in the near future and to sharing some poetry with you - both mine and yours. Please mark the date - February 8 our start date; 12pm - 1pm in CORDELIA A at the seminary cafeteria.

Logistics - You will want to know a few things: if you are going to the cafeteria for noon - there will be a long line of students, faculty and staff most of whom will be just then coming from attending the service in Estes Chapel. Some people have a cafeteria meal plan and have money on their account - payable by swiping the seminary id card. For those who have no account, you will be expected to pay $6 at the entrance. It is safest to carry some cash rather than depend on a credit or debit card. For those who prefer to carry lunch from home, you only need to mention to the person at the front cafeteria entrance and they will let you pass through.

Let me encourage you to get in line sooner rather than later so we can start as close to noon as possible. We will end just before 1pm so you can return to class or to your next commitment of the day.   

Robert.

Happy New Year

Wishing you a happy new year. I hope this year will see many new positive poems- written from hearts filled with gratitude and joy at God's grace for the poets and those who are known by the poets of Wilmore.

Following Christmas

Friends,
I hope and trust that you had a wonderful Christmas. Here now we are in a place that some have called liminal space. It is not quite the end of the year and neither is 2010 continuing for much longer. We are expecting the change of years, a different decade in which we will make many new commitments, face new concerns and challenges. But God is good - for our God is constant: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can depend on him for a safe delivery into the next phase of our lives. With today's noon communion service I think I have had my final public service of the year. The next one is likely to be in 2011.

So much good response has come to me for the start of the Wilmore Poets club. Some have written in response here, some to my OneATS advert, others in email responses, and yet more by word of mouth. Things are looking up for our club. Remember it will be at the Asbury Seminary Dining Commons (a.k.a. Cafeteria) on Tuesdays during the spring semester, starting with Tuesday the 8th of February. So, come prepared to make your poetic contribution to all who will be present, and to the club.  

It's me, Robert Magoola