Time is up, put down your pencils...

Well, we have reached the end of the poetry contest. I think I told some people they had till the end of the month, but really they were supposed to be in by the end of August so I don't feel too bad. Below are the poems that I received, in no particular order, sans author. To the right is a place to vote for your favorite one. Easy peasy :) Also, check facebook because there will be a place to vote on there as well = more votes! Happy hunting.

#1

Death, despair, destruction, fear await at every hand
Weary souls, once strong and whole, lay strewn across the land.
Anguished cries of heartache rise to meet the darkening sky.
And all around, on blood-stained ground, the wounded wait to die.

How did the mighty warriors fall? These strong and valiant men
Fighting for a common goal, their freedom to defend?
What caused them all to stumble, fall, and lose the precious prize?
What small mistake did each one make that brought their swift demise?

Their armor lies in tatters, scattered 'cross the wasted land.
The warriors fought, but none had thought to check ere they began
The very thing that would protect their fragile mortal frame
From fiery darts thrown at weak hearts when fearsome armies came.

I find a quiet, peaceful place where I can go to hide
and carefully and prayerfully examine every side
Of my armor that no harm or misadventure may befall
As I bravely and courageously accept my Master's call.

I polish dulling armor, scrape off rust and make it shine.
I tighten weakened bindings, make them strong and fast and fine.
As I put on the whole armor and I sharpen dulling sword
I become a stronger warrior in the Army of the Lord.

#2

The Armor of God
A warrior I will stand,
I’ll lift my heart to heaven and rejoice,
For my loins are girt with truth,
And spirit gives my trembling sword a voice.
This breastplate that I bear,
With righteousness and honor has been sealed;
I wear salvation’s crown,
A humble heart and mind with virtue filled.
My feet, in gospel peace,
Were angel-shod before the world began
And thus behind faith’s shield,
A strong and mighty warrior I can stand.
For Satan’s fiery darts,
His whirlwind that swirls shafts of doubt
Can’t penetrate the soul
Where God’s armor has been safely gird about.

#3


I’m too weak to be a great warrior I know but through Christ all my efforts increase.
Paul told the Philippians in 4:13 that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthenth me.”
I believe this is true so I try every day to win the great battle in very small ways.
It begins with the alarm going off, another day is beginning. The battle I fight each day, hopefully winning. Will I start today with a Scripture and Prayer to remind me where my strength is found?
Will I be patient when my children need me, or will the battle be lost in that one small moment when I yell at the child, so innocent and humble that I don’t want to be bothered with them at that moment?
Will I gather my family to read and to pray or is the TV more important today?
Will I go to the Temple or find an excuse when really there are so many things to do.
I’ve decided it’s not a grand battle I fight, its little decisions made every day to follow the Savior and trust in his way.
It’s going to church and Relief Society meetings, and doing my Visiting Teaching and callings or taking the time to talk to a neighbor or getting to know someone better.
There are so many choices to be made every day and I know that ones that I make right through Christ will increase.

#4

When evil reigns and dark
rearing forth its ugly head
in place of hope and love instead
a cold and shrivelled heart
and loneliness and hate
replace a warm, inviting home
and all is lost, it seems, or gone
and good is in retreat...
but wait. A glimpse, a path
a tiny light that penetrates
the darkest night, illuminates
the warriors against satan's wrath.
Though the battle rages on
and our bodies, caked in mud,
are fainting for the loss of blood
we must rise to fight again
for the power that He gives us
is greater than the darkness
the hopeless, cold, and heartless
and we know that He is with us.


(ps. if you sent me a poem and I didn't get it on here, let me know)

Poem

Morning. Dawn.
I strap my sword and buckler on
and join the marshalled ranks of God to fight.

Satan. Sin.
A battle that the Lord'll win
and bring the world his everlasting light.

Bleeding. Faints.
I Gather with the other saints
to overlook the battle's aftermath.

Sleeping. Rest.
One more day we did our best
Up against the dragon and his wrath.

Must be time to post again...

Hey readers. It feels like I've got a lot to say today, but nothing is coming out. Life is going well, though I've been really sad lately. It has been an interesting thing, going to therapy and all this last year or so. I've learned so many great things like how to fight anxiety and stress, how to make and stick to a plan for boredom and stressful situations. I've learned to have so many wonderful emotions that for some reason I would never let myself feel before, like excitement - I used to never get excited about anything. Unfortunately, along with these wonderful emotions came emotions at the other end of the spectrum.... and I don't think I was prepared for those ones. For the first time in a long time (if ever) I actually hated someone this year. I've disliked a lot of , people, but I hated someone. I get angry a lot more often now. And I think that it's because I've finally decided that I'm worth it. My feelings are worth protecting, and worth having... good or bad. One of the girls that I hometeach told me that her roomies kicked her out and that she moved into the other quorum's boundaries so I don't get to be her hometeacher any more, and it broke my heart.. and I was angry - angry that she didn't tell me, angry that she didn't ask for my help moving, angry that her roomie didn't tell me ...... but mostly, you know, I felt like a failure. Like my hometeaching wasn't enough and somehow I could have done more, or been more perceptive during our visits to know something was wrong. I just thought our relationship was better than that I guess.
And it reminded me of a time that I missed an appointment with my therapist, just sitting at work and I totally forgot, and I didn't call, and at our next appointment she reamed on me a little bit and said something to the effect of "I just thought our relationship was better than that" and after a while of "why didn't you call" I reminded her that I was just barely learning how to be in relationships with people and it was the first time I think I ever realized that relationships take work. And I'm not talking boyfriend girlfriend married or whatever, but just relating to the people around us. How easy it is to just sit in my own little world and not worry about what happens to other people, thinking I'm just not very good at it. It's just no excuse, because I am good at it. I think we are all good at it. I've noticed a pattern over the course of my life and maybe you all have too in your own lives that people seem to be loyal to me even though I don't put in any effort into the relationship, for some reason people want to be my friend.
And I still can't figure out, to this day, why that would be, and it's not a self esteem issue, so don't comment about that, I know I'm a great guy..... but I don't reciprocate anything to anybody. I don't put in any effort at all into these relationships. I wonder now how different my life would be if I only reciprocated what others gave me. If that's all the effort I put in, not going out of my way to do anything special, but just gave back what they've given me. I can't think of a single relationship in my life that wouldn't have been strengthened by just that..... I have the skills.... I may be awkward and not get it right (if there is a right) the first time, but I am starting to feel more and more that I owe it to people to try. Somebody goes out of their way, out of their comfort zone to say "hi" to me at church, I could at least be friendly. *sigh*
I think that's gonna have to do it for today, I'm just rambling. Oh, and I'm angry that nobody sent me any poems because I know all of you can write poetry ;) :p So, the challenge this week, reciprocate in relationships and send me a poem. Let me know how it goes or if you have any ideas on good ways you have found to reciprocate to people because I'm just learning how to do this and I need help.