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Walking upon trail, I stop in the heart of the trees
Snowy-white new-growth
of plum blossom peddles
—a fragrance I love—is carried to me on a breeze
How could I say these woods are silent?
For all around me I hear of creatures
And branches
Busy in noise-making
Though they try—in vain—to hide it
I linger here
as Frost would say, with distance more, and promises too
But stop, I must,
and breathe in these woods
For in the stopping I am renewed
anthony forrest
A drifting gaze I push along
The landscape as I stand
I turn my eyes to the hills
And lay them on the land
I watch the setting sun
As it lights a fiery flame
And now these burning hills
Give way to a new name
As if God himself drew a breath
Back the clouds to roll
A paling blue
A burning red
Building strength untold
Roaring winds will lift the sky
Its beauty I admire
So look hard upon the hills
Upon the Hills of Fire
anthony forrest
Like an Eagle, my heart soars
So high, careless, and free
And in the arms of my God
Is where I long to be
Things of Earth (oh how they draw)
So close and ever near
Yet with my God, I know that
I never need to fear
So like an Eagle I soar
So far above this land
With my Father, Lord, and God
Forever
Hand in hand
anthony forrest
I rise on a new day, in the silence of now,
seeking a whisper of wind through the trees.
Then stopping to pray, in the silence of now,
and wait for that small, quiet voice to find me.
Suddenly—my heart of clay (which crumbles now)
is soothed by the God of still whispers and peace.
anthony forrest
I walk along the path of life
And only darkness I can see
Though all these things point toward the wrong
God has a plan for me
His caring hand will I take
Now through His comfort I can see
That my loving Lord makes no mistakes
And how He beckons ‘Come unto Me’
anthony forrest
Empty streets in every town
Lead to shops with signs that say “closed”
Empty footfalls not heard on the ground
Of sidewalks that lead to nowhere but woes
Impossible to read a covered face
To draw out a hidden smile
We read the eyes and search for a trace
Of hope in our unknown trials
Empty hearts cry for peace
But look around the wrong corners
Instead—look to Christ, for He will please
And soothe the soul of every mourner
anthony forrest
Pine boughs awaken from their timeless frozen sleep
While the decaying remains of dirty snow melt from a heap
Singing bids that bounce and flutter
Talk of Spring and how the Earth begins to muster
All her strength to change her gown of Winter
She dresses now in something less bitter
In trappings of sunshine—a Springtime gem
And the warmth of a new season begins again
anthony forrest
River days end in Peruvian rains
Look overhead and see the sky stained
Parting clouds reveal the sun
Whose rays bring the forever heat of Amazon
Life doesn’t stop for rains unrelenting
Rivers rise high and strange birds sing
In harmony
Of boat-song, motor-drone
Of long canoes bringing dark souls home
anthony forrest
Long-winding watery way
Rain-swollen and muddy-tan
With tall, tall greens on display
On banks of bush and vines like strands
Of tinsel
In a winter-less land
And overhead, flocking hordes of colorful birds
Which, with training, speak words
On the ground, creatures and snakes
Truly a strange land, make no mistake
anthony forrest
Teach me, O Lord, in your ordinary ways
Give to me your daily grace
Your slow and steady hand of guidance
Carefully adjusts my everyday progress
Nothing flashy
Nothing false
Simply ordinary and true
And the gift of your love each day, renew
anthony forrest
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