QUILT

QUILT

BY

FRANK A VOLLMER

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Limbo Isn't Limbo Anymore

FOR SALE A PROPERTY

DREAMED BY MEN

IN LOVE WITH GOD’S JUSTICE

IMITATING HIM WITH OLD TESTAMENT VIGOR

LIMBO MEANS EDGE OR BORDER

NEITHER HEAVEN NOR HELL

A PLACE WHERE ONE MIGHT FEEL EMPTY

BUT NOT KNOW WHY

BUT GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER

THAN OUR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND

 THE FENCE THAT DIVIDES

HEAVEN AND HELL

HAS BEEN MOVED

 CHILDREN

WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE

ARE RUNNING

WHERE THEY HAVE ALWAYS RUN

ON GOD’S GOLDEN STREETS

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The Creche

THE CROTCHETY OLD MINISTER

SET IN HIS WAYS

CAME DOWN FROM HIS CHRISTMAS EVE NAP

 FOUND HIS GRANDCHILDREN

PLAYING WITH THE NATIVITY CRIB FIGURES

HIS INSTINCT WAS TO CRY OUT SACRILEGE

THIS WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY

A FINE ITALIAN MADE SET

HAND CARVED AND PAINTED

AND ILLUMINATED JUST SO

A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE TO BEHOLD

 HERE THEY WERE PLAYING WITH IT

LIKE ACTION FIGURES

WHAT STOPPED HIM FROM YELLING

IN HIS GRANDFATHER VOICE

HE DID NOT KNOW

HE’D BEEN GRUFF BEFORE

BUT HE STAYED WHERE HE WAS

AND LISTENED

 THIS IS WHAT HE HEARD

THE OLDER CHILD TEACHING THE YOUNGER

AT THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTMAS

THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE

SCATTERED ALL OVER

THE ANIMALS AND THE PEOPLE

BUSY DOING ANIMAL AND PEOPLE THINGS

BUT WHEN JESUS IS BORN

THEY ALL WANT TO BE AROUND HIM

LIKE A MAGNET DRAWS METAL

THAT’S WHY SO MANY CAROLS SAY COME

THERE IS NO PUSHING OR SHOVING

THERE’S ROOM FOR EVERYONE

EVEN GRAND POP WHEN HE’S NOT SMILING

OR EAVESDROPPING ON THE STAIR

.

Someone's Missing at Christmas

IT PERVADED THE HOUSE

LIKE THE AROMAS

FROM THE KITCHEN

THE SENSE OF SOMETHING MISSING

OF SOMEONE MISSING

LIKE A MELODY

MISSING A NOTE

OR A POEM

MISSING A VERSE

IT FELT INCOMPLETE

WHAT A TRIBUTE

TO THE PERSON GONE

TO BE MISSED

THAT A PART OF ONE’S HEART

HAD GONE WITH THEM

SORROW

YES

THEY COULD UNDERSTAND

BUT ALSO THEY WOULD SAY

CELEBRATE MY LIFE

THE JOKES WE TOLD

THE ADVENTURES WE HAD

THE GOOD TIMES

THE BAD TIMES

THE ORDINARY

DAY TO DAY TIMES

THE TIMES WE WERE BROUGHT

TOAST AND TEA

ON A GREEN SAUCER

AND A YELLOW CUP

CELEBRATE MY LIFE

 I SHALL LIVE ON

 I SHALL PERMEATE YOUR LIFE

LIKE AN AROMA

WAFTING FROM THE KITCHEN

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COMMUNION OF SAINTS (1 Corinthians 12)

THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HORIZON

WHERE I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SKY

A PLACE I CANNOT REACH

NO MATTER HOW I TRY

BUT THERE IS A PLACE

WHERE MEET HEAVEN AND EARTH

THE ALTAR

THE TABLE

WHERE CHRIST COMES FOR RE-BIRTH

BRINGING WITH HIM

ALL WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE

AS IF THERE WAS IN TIME A DOOR

THROUGH WHICH CAN COME

ALL I LOVE

MY SAVIOR

AND MY HEART FRIENDS

TO THIS PLACE

TO THIS TRYSTING PLACE

WHERE LOVERS MEET

WHERE FOR A MOMENT

ALL MY HEART PAINS ARE EASED

IN THE PRESENCE

OF ALL I LOVE

WITH ANGELS AND ARCHANGELS

GATHERED AT THE HORIZON

GATHERED IN UNION

GATHERED IN COMMUNION

WE ALL SING IN JOY

IN LOVE

IN CONSOLATION

HOLY HOLY HOLY

FRANK A VOLLMER

. 

HMNNN

Marriage is love. ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN IT PROBABLY RATES A ONE THIRTEEN IF IT'S ON THE LIST AT ALL IN A WORLD WHERE CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY WHERE PEOPLE LIVE AND SLEEP IN CARDBOARD BOXES WHERE SOLDIERS ARE SENT TO FIGHT FOR OIL WHERE THE LINE BETWEEN THE RICH AND POOR IS STEADILY WIDENING SOMEHOW WHICH ORIFICE IS USED IN SEXUAL LOVE DIMINISHES TO NON IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY WHEN HETEROSEXUALS SOMETIMES USE THEM THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT HOMOSEXUALITY MIGHT BE GENETIC ARE WE NOT IN DANGER OF CONDEMNING GALILEO OR DARWIN AGAIN I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A HERMAPHRODITE WHOM MAY THAT PERSON LOVE DID GOD MAKE A MISTAKE TO MAKE HIM/HER ONE WAY  THEN TELL HIM/HER TO LIVE ANOTHER IS GOD LIKE A LITTLE BOY WHO TEARS WINGS OFF FLIES TO SEE IF THEY FLY IN CIRCLES IS THE FRUIT OF FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF THE GOD EXPERIENCE A CONDEMNING GOD WHO CALLS HIMSELF LOVE GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON TO CREATE THAT IMAGE RATHER WE WHO WOULD BE GOD-LIKE HAVE DONE SO WE HAVE EATEN OF THE TREE THEN FOUND EVERYONE BUT OURSELVES NAKED FATHER OF THE POOR THE WIDOW  THE ORPHAN THE MESSAGE IS GIVEN TO US TO CARE NOT TO CONDEMN @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ The Bridge THE LEGEND GOES THERE WAS A TOWN WITH A BRIDGE OVER A RIVER DOWN WHICH CHILDREN WERE FLOATED ON A RAFT THE GOOD CITIZENS WORRIED THAT A CHILD WOULD FLOAT BY IN THE NIGHT AND BE LOST SO THEY HIRED WATCHMEN THEY HUNG A NET FROM THE BRIDGE TO CATCH THE RAFTS THEY WERE DILIGENT IN SAVING CHILDREN SOMETIMES MANY SOMETIMES FEW FAIR WEATHER OR FOUL THE WATCHMEN WATCHED THEN ONE DAY SOMEONE SAID WHY ARE THESE CHILDREN COMING DOWN THE RIVER WHO WOULD ABANDON A CHILD IN SUCH A WAY THEN SOMEONE SAID LET US GO UPRIVER FIND OUT WHY  TRY TO STOP IT I WONDER BECAUSE WE ARE A SINFUL PEOPLE WE ARE MORE INCLINED TO EASE THE EFFECTS OF SIN RATHER THAN THE CAUSE AS IF OUR SINFULNESS WEAKENS OUR RESOLVE AS IF GOD DOESN'T WANT A SAINTLY PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE THE WORLD WHAT HE WANTS IT TO BE WE ARE TASKED TO BE THE WATCHERS ON THE BRIDGE WE ARE ALSO TASKED TO ASK WHY WE ARE NEEDED  TO PUT OURSELVES OUT OF A JOB @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Towels I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TOWELS THE SUBJECT IS SURE TO MAKE MEN HOWLS YOU SEE WHEN YOU GO TO THE JOHN WHAT YOU HAPPEN UPON ARE TOWELS ARTFULLY ARRANGED  THAT’S THE CAUSE OF SOMETHING STRANGE  WHAT DO YOU KNOW THEY’RE ONLY FOR SHOW TO USE ONE SHOWS YOU’RE SOCIALLY INEPT DRYING MY HANDS ON MY PANTS I’M SOCIALLY ADEPT IT’S TIME FOR MEN TO STAND UP FOR THEIR RIGHTS LEAVE THE TOILET SEAT UP, NEVER TURN OUT LIGHTS CLUTTER THE PLACE WITH NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS AS LONG AS IT’S CLEAN WHO CARES HOW IT LOOKS I REALIZE I’M UNDER A CLOUD I’M MALE NO OPINIONS ALLOWED OH FOR THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH WHEN I’D DRY MYSELF WITH A T-SHIRT FOR SOOTH Shitty Shepherds SHITTY SHEPHERDS SHEPHERDING CLEAN SHEEP SO SAYS THE NOBLE POET CHAUCER HOW APT AN IMAGE A ROLE PLAYED WELL BY PRIESTS MINISTERS RABBIS POLITICIANS RULERS ALL CLOTHED IN SUNDAY FINERY WITH THE BEST MANNERS UNWORTHY SHEPHERDS OF INNOCENT FLOCKS TO QUESTION THEM IS TO QUESTION THEIR GOD LIKE STANCE UNHOLY TO DO SO BUT LATELY THE SMELL OF THE SHEPHERDS HAS BECOME TOO GREAT THEY’VE MADE FRIENDS WITH THE WOLVES THEY NO LONGER CARE FOR THE SHEEP  THE SHEEP NO LONGER LISTEN TO THE SHEPHERDS AND THEIR CALL TO FOLLOW FRANK A VOLLMER Eye of a Needle A TRADITIONAL WAY OF PREACHING ON THE CAMEL AND EYE OF A NEEDLE STORY IS TO SAY THERE WAS A GATE IN JERUSALEM’S WALLS LOW AND NARROW A CAMEL COULD PASS THROUGH IF HIS BURDEN WAS REMOVED IF HE ENTERED ON HIS KNEES A GOOD TEACHING STORY BUT IT MAY NOT BE TRUE THE EXPLANATION IS NOT TRACED BEYOND THE NINTH CENTURY THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN THE SAYING WAS COMMON IN THE MIDDLE EAST A SAYING OF IMPOSSIBILITY IN BAGHDAD THE CAMEL WAS REPLACED BY A ELEPHANT IT’S POSSIBLE THE WORD IS MISTRANSLATED AND MEANS CABLE HAWSER LARGE ROPE HOWEVER IT IS TRANSLATED IT DENOTES IMPOSSIBILITY  YET THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS LOVED THE RICH YOUNG MAN WHO ASKED THE QUESTION SO BEING RICH WASN’T WRONG BUT WHAT HE DID WITH IT HOW TIGHTLY HE GRASPED WHAT HE HAD HE WOULDN’T SHARE WE SAY TO THE WORLD GOD LOVES YOU HE HAS GIVEN YOU HIS SON HE HAS GIVEN YOU REDEMPTION HE HAS GIVEN YOU ALL OF CREATION TO SHARE THE HUNGRY IN DARFUR SAY WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLAN THE POOR IN BRAZIL’S CLUTTERED SLUMS SAY WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS THE VICTIM’S OF RELIGIOUS AND RACIAL HATRED SAY WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS THE SICK OF THE WORLD UNABLE TO PAY FOR MEDICINE SAY WHO’S MESSING WITH GOD’S PLANS I’M SINGING AN OLD SONG BUT THE MELODY LINGERS IN MY EAR LIKE AN EARWORM ALWAYS IN MY EAR I BELIEVE IN GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THAT BELIEF NOTHING MAKES SENSE  WE ARE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF ATOMS SPINNING AROUND THE SUN I BELIEVE THAT GOD WITH MAN’S WORKS CAN REDEEM CREATION  CHANGE THE SAYING TO WE NEED A SMALLER NEEDLE THE CAMEL KEEPS FALLING THROUGH @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Broken Mirror BROKEN MIRROR WHO CAN PUT A LIMIT TO GOD’S LOVE WHO CAN PUT A FENCE AROUND IT  SAY TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE FENCE YOU DO NOT BELONG TO GOD WHO COULD BUILD SUCH A FENCE WE IN OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE HAVE BUILT SUCH A FENCE MUSLIMS JEWS HAVE BUILT SUCH FENCES BUDDHISTS HINDUS ET CETERA ET CETERA ET CETERA HAVE BUILT SUCH FENCES DOES GOD NOT WEEP WHEN HE LOOKS AT HIS CREATION  SEES PEOPLE CROWDED BEHIND FENCES WHEN IN HIS PLAN THERE ARE NO FENCES IS IT NOT TIME TO SAY THAT THE SAME SPIRIT THAT WHISPERS IN OUR EAR THAT GOD IS LOVE WHISPERS THE SAME SONG TO ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ON WHATEVER SIDE OF MAN MADE FENCES THEY ARE THAT THE VIEW OF GOD IS GREATER THAN OURS HE IS NOT TRAPPED BY COUNTRY CASTE OR CREED THAT GOD’S PLAN IS FOR VALLEYS TO BE FILLED MOUNTAINS BROUGHT LOW ROADS LEVEL AND STRAIGHTENED SO ALL HIS PEOPLE MAY MIGRATE WHERE THEY WILL FREELY UNDER HIS SMILING SUN WHERE THE LION AND THE LAMB WILL BE HOUSEHOLD PETS THAT GOD WHEN HE SENT HIS SON WANTED CREATION RESTORED BY HIS BIRTH WANTED CREATION RESTORED AS IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING BEFORE THE MIRROR OF CREATION WAS SHATTERED THAT HE WANTED HIS SON TO BE A CO-WORKER WITH HIS FELLOW HUMANS TO BRING BACK TOGETHER ALL THE PIECES OF THE MIRROR EACH ONE TASKED TO DO HIS SHARE ENLIVENED BY THE INCARNATION GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD AS SIMPLE AS THAT FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT HE SEES NO FENCES  THE WAY THE TRUTH  THE LIGHT ARE OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO ALL MEN LORD AS WE LABOR TO RESTORE THE SHARDS OF YOUR CREATION AS WE LABOR TO MAKE THE MIRROR WHOLE WE CATCH A GLIMPSE OF OURSELVES IN THE PIECE WE HOLD  WE KNOW THAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT YOU AND YOU ARE SMILING @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@