Verse, and Verse Revelation A Studio Editions Publication ~ With Illustrations ~ Martha Keltz
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Verse, and Verse Revelation Verses and Illustrations by Martha Keltz 2
A Studio Editions Book Copyright © 2019 by Martha Keltz
Part I: Verse Including Five Verses from A Maya Trilogy, Dramas About Augustus and Alice Le Plongeon, Studio Editions, 1994 Part II: Verse, Revelation
For Studio Editions see: www.StudioEditions.com
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Verse, and Verse Revelation To kindle within me, forcefully, and on my own The light of thinking. Interpreting the meaning of experience Out of the world spirit’s well of power Is now for me summer’s legacy, Autumn’s peace, and winter’s hope.
From Rudolf Steiner – The Calendar of the Soul October 20 - 26
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Part I: Verse
Contents and Illustrations The Heart’s Seeding Heart Eye Illustration, Heart Eye Sun Eye Illustration, Sun Eye Spiritual Eye Illustration, Spiritual Eye Abbey Ruins and the Light Illustration, Abbey Ruins Pyramids Easter Sunday Illustration, Hummingbird Grove Ancient Temple Inner Temple Alice’s Verse, I, with Guitar Illustration, Maya Jaguar Alice’s Verse, II Alice’s Verse, III Prince Coh’s Verse Augustus Le Plongeon’s Verse 5
Memory Mirrors Light Fire The Archetype Illustration, The Archetype The Cosmic Cross, North – Uriel (Oriphiel) The Cosmic Cross, East – Michael Illustration, Michael The Cosmic Cross, South – Gabriel The Cosmic Cross, West – Raphael Illustration, Dodecahedron Earth, High Desert Tree Water, Spring Storm Air, Divine Light Illustration, Air New Jerusalem, John, Revelation 21:19-20 Illustration, New Jerusalem
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The Heart’s Seeding
As a fountain flows, Streams of living light Pour from the crown’s dweller. Being’s golden seeds are nourished. The seeds, like teardrops, Find the center of the lotus – Petals in motion – And begin to form The being of the chalice At the crossing point of forces.
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Heart Eye
Planetary beings commune Within the aura of the heart, Sun and center of soul’s journeyings. Heart eye awakens in sleep, And in the balm of astral light Is protected by the heart From mighty forces Beyond its sphere of knowing. Soon heart eye will return to its home, The earthly temple.
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Sun Eye
In depth of sleep awaken The flame of awareness At the center of being. Perceive, in breath and word, The soul’s abode in the spirit’s cosmos.
Light of day’s summit, The son, guides here. Thoughts stir to living motion Through the strength and wisdom Of divine sustenance.
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Spiritual Eye
Spiritual eye deeply ascends To find kindred souls of lifetimes. Some dwell in warm, benevolent light, While others dwell in cold darkness, As each gave – or yet give – in life. Can the awakened caring of the eye Summon all into the light? Thus, questions pour forth: What has self-knowledge to reveal Of abundance – or lack thereof – In compassionate will to just deeds.
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Abbey Ruins and the Light
At midnight the soul may return To the pre-earthly life And cross the abyss To a previous existence. Yet no single soul wanders here, For here, all are one. In gazing at the ruins That the earth turns to ash, The increase of light Is inwardly perceived, Made manifest by the sacrifices Of kindred souls and spirits.
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Pyramids
Three pyramids are seen In the rich Mayan forests Of the heart’s memories. No ancient structures, these, Symmetry and signs reveal A new awareness. The three solemnly receive the gods At their apexes, And through time, space and infinity, The human and divine together Engage in a new creation, A reborn earth.
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Easter Sunday
Preparing foundations in matter, Building up, tearing down, starting over, Until support remains and serves. Well-formed work through sacrifice, Manifest, visible, touchable. Then it will happen‌ The Light of the Resurrected Son, Who is loved, Will come to life from within, And the true great work of the Father Experienced In loving, shared endeavor.
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Grove
Great rocks on the path, Ancient, marked by cosmic forces; Set in place by human agents Of mighty gods’ intent. Roots and branches of gnarled trees, dark; Leaves singing, calling in the wind; The path twisting and rising. Then… Rings of music sounding ‘round a great tree, In a grove full of wild flowers and streaming light. Hesitation. Can the seeker truly enter This sacred place, where the will has led? “Come and see and hear,” the Spirit calls, “It has been long ages since last we met.”
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Ancient Temple
Up in the window, high above, The elect within the temple Perceive the giant eye of Jupiter Looking sternly down upon them. Outside, the common people gather, Souls full of unrequited longing, Drawing comfort from nearness To the resounding outer columns. Observing there, and the future, Jupiter smiles, for several found worthy Have remained with the people. The elect believe the god is pleased with them.
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Inner Temple
Enduring pain and loss in outer life, Rejecting the illusions of matter, Overcoming intrinsic weaknesses, Perceiving the sufferings of others That a few words may assuage. Such constants lead to an inner temple, Where light and living wonders Emerge from the work of the soul As it has drawn upon the spirit. A higher presence may appear, Clarifying and comforting: “All that you will ever need Is already contained within you.�
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Alice’s Verse, I, with Guitar
Seven days upon arrival In the heart of Maya land, Came a challenge for survival, Yellow fever showed its hand. Alice lay upon the sick bed, She was nursed both day and night, Till her youth the fev'rish skein shed; She recovered from the blight. 'Twas said a priestess could foretell Through power of a small cross. She urged the Maya to rebel, Regain the lands so long lost. A Christian she had ordered killed; Mestizos she detested, The Cruzob rebels, they were skilled; The revolution crested. The government advised we halt, Le Plongeon would not hear. (Continued‌)
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By a wise Maya he'd been taught. And discoveries lay near. In due time we were given guard; To Piste we did travel. But Piste now resembles shard, Lays ruined, filled with gravel. With terrible machete blow The Santa Cruz killed its own.
Maya who side with Mexico Can expect no mercy shown. A ruined, forlorn church our home; We camp upon a grave site. Remains lay under slabs of stone; Maya souls have taken flight.
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Alice’s Verse, II
The stones of sacred myst'ries tell, The high pontiff presiding; Egyptians knew the symbols well, The cosmic laws abiding. Eleven thousand years ago The lands were in communion. Alike could sep'rate cultures grow, When Atlantis brought union.
Freemasons built the temples here. A triangle represents The territories of their sphere In the three great continents. A knotted ribbon served to show The mason's binding knowledge. India's sages were to know The wisdom of this college. In Europe and on Asian shores Ere Solomon's temple rose, (Continued‌)
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Maya seafarers opened doors, A fact ancient language shows. The alphabet of Greek reveals, When to Maya it's compared, An epic Le Plongeon feels The seeker should not be spared. Alpha, heavy breaks the sea wells; Gamma, the seas cover land. Mu, of Mu the alphabet tells; Omikron, the whirling sand. Sigma, and the last warmth tapers; Upsilon, abysmal snow. Chi and Psi, a mouth forms vapors; Omega, the volcano.
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Alice’s Verse, III Now Aac has slain his brother Coh; His totem is a winding snake. Queen Móo, a sorrowing widow, Her province Aac will swiftly take. A servant bears fruit to the queen. Will she not marry his master? Not far behind Prince Aac is seen, Foreshadowing new disaster.
A macaw in her stately tree, And nearby sacred monkey, stir. The queen's protectors they will be, When civil war and flight occur. Queen Móo rejects the evil hand; Prince Aac by hatred is consumed. The noble queen must flee her land, Which, led by tyranny, is doomed. She flees eastward, the isles her goal, Hoping to find remnants of Mu, Yet all is lost to sight but shoal And muddy waters to eschew. Still she's inspired to find a way To Egypt, nestling on the Nile. (Continued…)
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The people bid the dear queen stay; Thus, she is victor in her trial. She is called “little sister� fair, Isis in her rainbow feathers. A crown of stars adorns her hair; Tears her heart no longer tethers. Like a goddess she is adored; Taught by the monkey-visage Thoth. Thus Egypt-land is firmly moored, To valiant Osiris betroth.
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Prince Coh’s Verse, A Maya Trilogy I was Prince Coh Of the true Great Spirit. My father was the sovereign Canchi Of Mayach, in U-luumil ceh, The land of the deer; The land of the Beb, The mulberry tree; The country of the king, Surrounded by water. My brother Cay was the high priest, Who led the people in worship Of the sun, moon and stars; Of Ku, the divine essence, The uncreated soul of the world. Our astronomers gave us knowledge Of the heavenly bodies, Whose movements guided our lives. They knew of the continents; They calculated the longitudes And latitudes of earth, And epochs of solstices and equinoxes. (Continued‌)
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I am the inspirer Of you who seek truths Of U-luumil ceh, Country of the great Can, And the Cat-ayo The cucumber tree. Listen to the Prince: When, at the beginning Of the month of May, The constellation of the Southern Cross Appears on the horizon, Then the season of rain is near. The cross heralds Renewal of nature, And is the sign of spring And life to come. Thus, may I signify Renewed life to you, The higher life that is to be. Yet, when the master rises in the east, The four parts of heaven, The four corners of the earth Are shattered. . . . My spear remains a token (Continued‌)
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Of a tragic past, And presages momentous events Still to be lived.
Friend of U-luumil ceh, The spirit of my queen Is reflected in your eye. May you bring a memory Of the warmth and light Of the majesty of our era Into the coldness of your world, Where each man is but a withered branch Of the tree of paradise we knew, In the emerald forests And the azure waters Of the land of Beb.
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Augustus Le Plongeon’s Verse I speak from a sphere Where speech would be muted Yet tones sound forth Vibrant with meaning. Here Maya is heard A resounding echo From the great avenue Of living monuments. Here the most perfect buildings Of every civilization Are embedded like gems In the heavens. The great sphinx turns his head And follows with his eyes The wayfaring soul. Few may pass this way. The sun beams upon the buildings, The moon, cooling, glistens; The planets moving, sing, Embracing the megaliths. The quiet stars, distant, Hold every thought That built these temples. (Continued‌)
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In joy and pain Our feet tread Weary miles on earth To bring the ancient sites Before our eyes and hearts. Here cosmic thoughts and music Ease the path through monuments Scarce imagined on earth! Yet earth we serve, we need For aeons yet to come. From Maya land, south, I gaze upon two pyramids, Mightier than ever we knew! The one is older, And from the apex, Where the priests guide— As once I guided— Sunbeams descend To the firmament below. At the second, more recent, Souls are ascending, Climbing the high, steep steps, Not easily! . . . (Continued…)
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Alice, beloved, My soul yearns To explore these vivid details Of light and shadow; To listen to the tones Of the ages; Walk the broad avenue Of living monuments; Assist the souls In their ascent . . . Yet I am held back. Where is my helper Who was always by my side On that distant strand? Will she place her hand Again in my own? Know this, my angel: There is no monument Greater than love! . . . .
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Memory Mirrors
Time to seek the truth in spirit; To quiet thoughts and close the eyes. Images pass through consciousness, Some shadowy and fragmented, Others heavy with detail and emotion, Enough to flood the soul with feelings And divert the mind. Yet‌ These are only memory mirrors – Break the mirrors! Beyond is darkness, nothingness. Then a Light shines in the darkness, And begins to become comprehensible. This is spirit, full of truth.
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Light
The light that is seen, Beaming on the shades In the morning – This is but the dying Of the divine light. Only the awakened Spiritual Eye Can perceive the Divinity. So says the lesson. One morning, Eyes closed to matter Will open to spirit.
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Fire
When fire leaps too high We withdraw from it. What power it must contain Within itself, to subside Within its being, deny its nature, While we are comforted; Warmed by its sacrifice. “What is it to us!” snap the flames, “We can withhold some power for you When the entire universe Wraps itself in our element!”
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The Archetype
Ideals to consider, always within; Structural patterns on the path, invincible, That elude the senses and the intellect; Models for fruitful aspiration, The endless striving toward perfection – In such qualities the archetype is hidden. Active in nature, in human soul and spirit, Through temporal and eternal life, Inspired by like and dissimilar entities, Inwardly changing accordingly, dynamically. Someday, the archetype will enlighten the intellect: “You must always recognize me in your past lives.”
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The Cosmic Cross, North ~ Uriel (Oriphiel)
During the summer solstice When cosmic and solar fires Burn close to earth And dragons curl, seeking to enclose, The auroral activity increases. In the north, Uriel and the dove Gaze downward to the human regions. Shining crystalline forms are pleasing, While distortions and evil deeds Can arouse wrath and destructive powers. Yet the white fires of Saint John’s Day Are increasing across the globe. Uriel turns toward the autumn equinox.
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The Cosmic Cross, East ~ Michael
Michael intensifies in autumn and winter, When the earth awakens spiritually. Michael’s abode for the teaching of mankind Is supported by mighty elements of nature, While he is quintessentially A cosmic being, With celestial eye in Aldebaran And power of will in Taurus. His symbol is the beehive. Celestial companions include Orion, Gemini with Castor and Pollux; Auriga, And the Pleiades and their half sisters.
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The Cosmic Cross, South ~ Gabriel
Gabriel, Archangel of the Annunciation, Is silver-white, like white fire. Gabriel purifies and ennobles passions With the blue-white sheaths of winter And the magenta warmth of the south. Its star of Fomalhaut has powers For working within the physical body, And it is known to carry a golden vessel, The Grail of nourishment, To Raphael in the west, Making possible the newborn’s first breath And every breath of life thereafter.
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The Cosmic Cross, West ~ Raphael
At the center point of forces’ exchange, In blazing golden aura, the heart beats With divine regularity, While each passing breath Renews spiritual and physical life. Newborn beings emerge From celestial and senses’ forces of Leo, Aligned with Ursa Major and Polaris. Raphael is the great physician Who can heal tormenting passions With a touch of light to the chest, Drawing forth obstructed compassion And setting the soul free.
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Earth ~ High Desert Tree
Unending heavy traffic Across the bridge and – Well below – a concrete arroyo. Narrow sidewalks and metal rails Barely protect the walkers. Yet, where the bridge ends, eastward – Behind a rail and atop a dry incline – A desert tree thrives amidst the litter. Each spring it blossoms heavily With orchid-like magenta flowers. Later, west winds off the distant mesa Spread the lovely petals on the ground.
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Water ~ Spring Storm
Dark storm clouds from the northwest Move rapidly into fair skies; Winds bend the trees and plants; Rain beats fiercely against windows And pounds into the bare, parched ground. Spring flowers bow their heads To the undines, who soon become tranquil. Thirsty birds drink from pools of water. In the valley below the mountains, Rays of sun merge with the clouds And a rainbow appears, Nature’s promise of summer.
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Air ~ Divine Light
Air is the breath of divine light, Penetrating every breathing being Every moment of their earthly lives. A windy day is rife with active sylphs Who have joyfully renewed their numbers In service to the great king, Jupiter, Through three earthly kingdoms. So many humans remain unregenerate! The sylphs will never cease trying To awaken these unconscious ones With playful, whispering touches.
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New Jerusalem
“And the foundations Of the wall of the city Were garnished with all manner Of precious stones. The first foundation Was jasper; the second, sapphire; The third, a chalcedony; The fourth, an emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; The sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; The eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; The tenth, a chrysoprasus; The eleventh, a jacinth; The twelfth, an amethyst.�
~ John, Revelation 21:19-20
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Sources for Verse, Part I
Heart Eye, Sun Eye, and Spiritual Eye are drawn from Planetary Spheres and Their Influence in Man’s Life, Lecture Three, by Rudolf Steiner, August 1922. The Four Archangels of the Cosmic Cross are drawn from The Cross and the Triangle in Cosmos and Man, by Rudolf Steiner, published by The Etheric Dimensions Press, edited by Paul Emberson, 2005. The stars of the Four Archangels are from studies in Astrosophy, with James Gillen, 2008~2010. June 24, 2016
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Part II: Verse, Revelation Verse, Revelation is largely based on Lectures by Rudolf Steiner, 1924, in The Book of Revelation and The Work of the Priest, published by the Rudolf Steiner Press, 2008.
Contents and Illustrations
The Vessel Seven Seals Faithful Companion Archangelic Regencies Illustration, Seven Candles The Sacred Number Three The New Jerusalem Illustration, Pillars White Horse Rider Illustration, Descent The Fall of Adversaries Clothed with the Sun Sea of Glass Comets Transubstantiation (Free Verse)
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The Vessel
The ‘I’ takes up its task today To understand the light of old Appearing in the vessel; pray To comprehend the orb of gold When priests perceived apocalypse. The longing grows to overcome The times’ material eclipse; Its forces rending ideals numb.
The ‘I’ soon learns that none but ‘I’ Can walk the sacrificial path; Within the golden orb does lie, Heart’s peace assuaging outer wrath. Reveal the secret, new light found, The son within the earth and soul, A globe redeemed, to future bound; All this is Revelation’s goal.
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Seven Seals
The seven-times sealed pages Of letters given by God Reveal the future ages Humanity will have trod. Higher ‘I’ sees what God asks In opened seals: cosmic tasks.
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Faithful Companion
Consciousness of soul-eternal Can long-last bring death into light. Death remains a hidden kernel Until sustained in spirit-sight.
This good friend conceals the night skies, While stars are studied in star-maps, For naught but opened spirit eyes Can see astronomy’s great lapse.
When death removes its dark raiment A living cosmos will be known Through mighty weaving, God’s intent; For moral souls, all glories shown.
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Archangelic Regencies
Michael, God’s countenance; Oriphiel, of Saturn’s force. Anael, love’s sustenance; Zachariel, the kingly source. Raphael, the healer great, And Samael, so quarrelsome. Gabriel, at the moon’s gate, And Michael… new ages come.
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The Sacred Number Three
John knew the sacred number three And what in evolution Would oppose Christianity – Forces of devolution. And in the year of three three three The ‘I am’ entered each soul, Splintering all humanity Yet giving each self its role.
The demon seized upon the three And distorted it with tricks; Men would reject trichotomy By the year six sixty-six. So, John revealed the demon’s name In ancient Hebrew numbers: Sorat, sun demon, is the same Who all good works encumbers.
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The New Jerusalem
From above, heavenly substance Descends upon the human form As spirit’s striving sustenance When old Jerusalem is shorn. A city of man constructed Of spirit as real as the earth, But now no longer obstructed By materialism’s berth. For spiritual knowledge and art Allow for a new perspective; On Golgotha began the start Of Christ’s new cosmic directive. The forehead grown for spirit sight, Creations are visualized, And out of mankind’s darkest night The new temples are realized.
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White Horse Rider
Heaven opens and there descends The Trinity as One Upon a white horse – to what ends Has this new time begun? No one can speak his name but he – No other can say ‘I’ – And on his garment all can see Where sprinkled blood does lie.
The blood is Logos, or the Word; The sword at mouth is will. The King of Kings from him is heard And selfish lords meet ill. From human to divinity His truth will mark the way; On all paths of infinity The faith will never stray.
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The Fall of Adversaries
Revelation warns of errors In trials when spirit strives; Human beings are the bearers When evolution thrives. The way contains three subversions To increase evil’s length And these will require conversions For increased moral strength.
The first allows emotions’ storms To darken spirit’s light; To live beneath the moral norms And increase social blight. This is the “Fall of Babylon” In words used long ago, Yet still the loss of one’s icon That lets the heart’s warmth flow.
The second is caused by the beast And the false prophet’s rule Through humans possessed, at the least, (Continued…)
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Thus, naught but demon’s tool. Yet corrupted spirits will fall In this second dire phase, And as true prophets inform all, Far worse dwells in foul haze.
The third downfall is Satan’s world, Adverse to cosmic will; Planets order it would have hurled Had God not made it still. Thus the fall of evil powers Is foreseen in John’s Word. God on goodness his love showers While new trumpets are heard.
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Clothed With the Sun
A vision from ages long past Arises anew in our time, As Isis and Horus once cast, Then Mother and Son, so sublime. A woman is clothed with the sun And gives birth to her cosmic child – The ‘I am’ from Father’s weave spun, Glorious light, countenance mild.
The dragon was thrown down to earth And seven continents arose Through force of errors – tragic birth, With astrality to enclose. But strong now the ‘I’ sunbeams ray With visions clear, ancient and new, Transforming our life of today – World of the Son, infinite, true.
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Sea of Glass
In summer, seas can be mild, While winter stirs waves aloft. Humanity, nature’s child, Longs for waters that are soft. Good thoughts improve conditions; Dark intent is contorting; Love brings quiet submissions; Weakness is ill-supporting. Someday the waters will change In homage to high intent. Those who bypass the beast’s range Will find the ocean’s content; Seeming like a “sea of glass,” Gelatinous, transparent, Like a smooth, reflecting mass, Yet old sea still apparent. Harps and voices’ harmony Ring forth the new destiny.
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Comets
A comet is man’s leaven; It subdues the beast within. Falling to earth from heaven, It will break, sparkle and spin. Long ago, one broke in two And a “two-horned beast” emerged. To dark intent it was true, But with healing it converged. Natural life is conjoined With a hidden moral sphere, But lest this fact be purloined, Seven seals yet hold it near. The year nineteen thirty-three Was prophesied as dooming. How might people then be free? – With evil heightened, looming. Yet the folk such times must spurn – Awake with spirit-filled life – To comprehend Christ’s return In unseen worlds, through heart’s strife.
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Transubstantiation ~ Easter Sunday
Preparing foundations in matter, Building up, tearing down, starting over, Until support remains and serves. Well-formed work through sacrifice, Manifest, visible, touchable. Then it will happen‌ The light of the Resurrected Son, Who is loved, Will come to life from within, And the true great work of the Father Experienced In loving, shared endeavor.
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A Studio Editions Alpha~Omega Book by Martha Keltz © 2016 - 2019
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