Fertile Fields and Fire

A Poetic Path for Rediscovering God

Vol. 1 First Light

by Phillip Phidippides April 2012

The Farm
Phillip Phidippides

In wonder and laughter my childhood days Frolicked within a security fence, Christopher Robinesque thoughts formed a maze For endless adventures, sylvan suspense. Our three bedroom box backed up to a farm With fields and barns and a pile of manure, A fence sternly stood protecting from harm But could not repel the growing allure That called from the fields, "Child, come and explore!", So I and my friends tall fence we did breach, Running and racing through acres of corn, Certain we'd barely escaped farmer's reach. Now as I sit at my desk I desire To once again hear the call of that choir.

Deep Calls to Deep

Phillip Phidippides

Deep calls to deep The deep truth of the universe Calls to the deep thirst of my soul And, once awakened, There is no returning to the former Safe, predictable, well manicured life. The pull Of the Peace that passes understanding Is not pacified by peripheral pretenses of devotion. Commotion reigns and bearings lost Until the tossed Are delivered onto a shore Where, indeed, "All things are new."

Sparrows
Phillip Phidippides

Little friends who visit my window sill, Shivering in the winter, Chirping in the spring. All life before you is set, And implanted within you are all the tools You will require. I, on the other hand, must look for meaning, Must look for purpose, Am restless, vigilant, Constantly sifting ideas. Your quick little movements fascinate me, And give me pause: We share the same Creator. You, it seems, have learned to completely trust Him.

Where Can We Meet You, God?

Phillip Phidippides

Where can we meet you, God? We of the sod dare not tread where you've trod. We who need air and love and bread Despair For we've erred Now through tares we plod. Our plight, though plain, can gain a hope We grope We grip And though we've slipped On slopes so deep in danger dipped Your chalice tipped... A single sip Provides the place Unveils Your face So we can rest...

Grace equipped

Glistening Jewels
Phillip Phidippides

Some moments remain undefiled, uncoated, Glistening jewels transcending the pale, Empyreal pearls persist uncorroded Granting a glimpse as through mist in a vale. We oft are buried in self satisfaction, Tending to question all inklings of Bliss, We'd rather supplant with a favorite distraction Than follow the hint of a Heavenly Kiss.

Sometimes despite all our efforts to hide, Crossing our eyes at the nose on our face, We're smote with the spray from a numinous tide, Accosted by sheen from a shimmering lake. A sea quite expansive curries our fancy Then carries on currents that, breaching our time, Hurry us out onto waves that are dancing, All history is bobbing like flotsam on wine.

These moments afloat on a vivified vision Remain in our memory, kernels of joy, Sources of succor amid gross divisions That prance all around us, cancerous ploys. Bejeweled and fueled the memory holds, Though crashing around are tsunamis of doubt, They dither and bother, tarnishing, bold, But golden the wave which carries us out.

Do You Recall?
Phillip Phidippides

do you recall when your heart first leapt first wept first swept into heavenly swirls? do you remember the day finding beauty ablaze amazed as you gazed on a luminous world? is there membrance now of the day of the call the voice so small was it there at all? a moment fleeting a meeting of mind and vapor a caper of a capricious imagination? or...perhaps...an invitation heaven sent for transformation

The Crux
Phillip Phidippides

I, born into time, Seeking the timeless. God, timeless, Seeking to be born into time? I guess the crux of the matter Is the point where the paths cross.

Are We Echoes
Phillip Phidippides

Are we echoes? Are we vagabonds in the ghetto of life? Or...are we part of the Word that was spoken Boomerangs specifically created Spiritually slated Traversing the night? Are we ships out at sea? Does our destiny roll like the waves? Or...is there a fortunate wind A blessing, a blend God's hand, man's days? In moments of peace In the crease between woes Will we pick up Your voice Its timbre, Its tone, Ever calling, and listening For Its own?

Discovering God's Love

Phillip Phidippides

Discovering God's love A lowering of walls Erected at the limit of our understanding An opening of the door To the prison of our language A releasing of the senses From rules that limit approach So that a heart, encroached, Can hear, hearken, imbibe And be strangely warmed While mystery and history Are broached.

Intimations
Phillip Phidippides

straining to the point of strabismus aching to solve a mystery looking for cracks in the cosmos tracking a trail of crumbs the hints bring scintillations of brighter things to come the scent brings intimations of victory already won the bits of broken bread have a sacrificial glow invitational translational I need to cease striving and eat to know

A Presence
Phillip Phidippides

On quiet, gentle breeze On quiet, mental seas His Presence can be sensed As world from mind is rinsed The present seems transcended His Presence now is blended With all within, without, Evicting every doubt In vigilance I'm still The vision sent fulfills A living lifelong quest "Verbum caro factum est." ("The Word is made flesh.")

Into the Wardrobe

a poem dedicated to C.S. Lewis and his creation: The Chronicles of Narnia
Phillip Phidippides

The door Darkened for most of my life Seemingly dormant Dawns A dim dominion With diminutive voice Formerly closeted Calls Threshold crossed, adventure begins, Foreign here the world of men, The still, small voice that yonder whispered, Here symphonic, cocooning vesper. Soul is filled with sweetest sound, Unearthly pitches, rondos, rounds, Self is lost in wooded lore As nature answers Lion's roar. Strangely odd, but strangely whole, Still waters part, bare the soul To truth existing from the start, Life's many forms, singleton Heart. When forces deem the time's enough, When path retraced to Adam's sons, The entrance stays unmarked, but soft Enchants the eyes of children lost.

New Creature
Phillip Phidippides

Though our cord is severed at birth Still, we are tethered To Life Mother Earth Our sustenance Benevolence Of dirt. Though thoughts may wander far Our umbilical scar Reminds Miraculous beginnings thrust into time Unseen connections Still bind. Perhaps life is conceived Nurtured in a world-sized womb Sustained by provision of Providence. One day waters burst Powered by thirst for God Covered in blood and sacrifice New Creature appears Apart from the sod.

Nativity
Phillip Phidippides

On moonless nights sky is searched Chasing ever expanding edge Of the mystery in which we live In morning stillness reverie Shores of ether realms are walked Imploring Life its secrets To give With ever enlarging telescopes We soar past outpost stars Wondering If we do find handprints at the edge Will there be scars? And on our inner journey's trek Does gravid night give way to morn? Is there a waiting Child of Hope Ready To be born?

Simple or Complex
Phillip Phidippides

God, Are you simple...or complex? I am vexed by the many words, the debates Talk of emptiness, nothingness, fullness, transcendence I try to discipline my mind But can an avalanche stop itself? All I know is what you bestow In a single crystalline drop Filtered from your vast store of benevolent balm The chaos.....now calm

Tall Fences
Phillip Phidippides

Heavenly Father How in the world do You get past me To get to me? How do You dodge the doubting The pouting The shouting To reach the drowning? Eclipse the apathy Atrophy Antipathy To spark epiphany? Face the facades Charades Parades Then pierce the feckless haze? It's curious, and glorious, Lord, how Despite all I do Fences I've erected Seem never too high, for You.

Tremors
Phillip Phidippides

somewhere between physical reality and spiritual mentality a chord was struck and I resonated tremors led to trephining truths timeless tipped targeting the very center of my existence amidst all the quaking my excuses became quiet reacquainted with ground of my being when shaking ceased I found a crease then the Rock where I stand amazed

The poetry in this collection may be copied and shared freely in any noncommercial manner.

Phillip Phidippides fdpdez@gmail.com