Of august remember we the days

Of august remember we the days
How ere were they spent
Oft were busy
And lonesome went

Yet not all were they
So sadly sought
Yea some did steal thee
From thy momentary misery
And catch thee
In simplicity

For some spontaneity
Is borderline gaiety
In its former splendor
Long gone those days one
May scarce remember
When times were said
To be simpler

Yet still these days
Have their own glory
Of which we may yet praise

And so in thy near ended season
Hath joy come for its reason
Though not always clearly seen
Tis here to any and all
That seem keen to catch it
And let it in

Fair found friendship
Find we serendipitously
And so in it find we
Some splendid serenity

For not all things are in vain
That which we cannot gain
By our own merits
Are oft what need we
Most of all

And in hope
By them
The greatest gift
Could ever one imagine
To inherit

-Joshua Lee Foist

On these passing moments that remain

On these passing moments that remain
How shall one spend the time
May it not be in vain
As one watches the falling rain
Drift slowly down the window pane
Trickling down
Washing away the last moments of the day

Here in this place
One pauses to reflect
On what has been
Just before
And thinks on
That which could be
Yet still presently
Preoccupied
In the now
One cannot hide

So now to dwell within
That which is
And is (or may) yet be
But for the now
Of which one plainly sees
May it be profoundly
Purposeful

So as to remember it by
Whether tomorrow should come
Or pass one by
May these moments of certainty
Remain throughout all the days
That this life shall live

And so in them
Give the best
And the most
That as one is so blessed
May those round too
Be a part in that
Which is most
Joyously spent

-Joshua Lee Foist

How oft have thee

How oft have thee
Idols of idleness and ideals alluded me
Thine illusion may it pass
For as though in clarity see we beyond the glass
So then shatter that which remains
A mirror reflection of it

Perfection profits none
That cannot attain to its standard
For only one has achieved it
And surpassed it

So in thy striving seek for that
Which cannot be tarnished
Strip away thy facade
Make thee not thy vices
Thy one and only god

Live then in truth
That thy nature bear its proof
Humility oft gives one a greater ability
For it leads one to patience
And love beyond its own imagining

To love for loves sake
Giving all without any reservation
Only because that is what love demands
For therein lies thy reward
Where rust will not diminish or wither away

Yet in thy striving to serve
So may it be
Eagerly and always
With the love of that one
Who has surpassed all things
Who has borne the blame
And now restores and renews

So seek that which shall not
Surely fade away
For in that mercy lies
And hope rises within
And gives joy to all men
Who so patiently wait
All that which is best
And brightest, and most fair

For love is there
On the wings of the wind
And it brings no harm
For it comes to do good
And fill the hearts of those in need
That all may come and feed
On its fountain
And so by it be satisfied

-Joshua Lee Foist

Let not thy idle tongue lead thee to thine duplicity

Let not thy idle tongue lead thee to thine duplicity
But let thy words spring of truth
Oft let thy words be absent
That thy thoughts may gather awhile

Let thy heart and thine ears
Open to caverns not sought in years
For pearls a precious
Oft lie upon the passage by
Waiting to be received

Shut out none with thy impatient line
Yet rather let perseverance breathe patience within
And rule thee that thou might clearer see
All seems yet a mystery
Unraveled the riddle
When words a little
Time are given
To churn within
And by them
Learn again

Thine ways are not always true
Nay oft far from where
Fair virtue lies
Listen awhile
And put away thy petty disguise
Yea look on with eager eyes
That not in them criticize
But yearn to know
What all canst thee find
In friendship
Time may tell

So breaks the spell
Of simple selfish gain
There's much left to attain
Seek after the needs of others
That thee may call them brothers
And care for them as were your own
For indeed shall thee find
Thy one true home

-Joshua Lee Foist

So shall I depart to this season of solitude

So shall I depart to this season of solitude
Where thou my heart shall feed
Where ere the journey might lead
There shall I remain
Till all there
Must I gain

Thine service enough
Shall fill the void in me
None so true can satisfy
No one else in whom I can rely
Thy comfort enough
Shall get me by

Open my eyes to the awaking sunrise
And to my heart thine exquisite art
For where canst one find a love so pure
Where canst one find all
And hope to endure

Nothing is sure
But thine provision
Strip away this selfish display
That seeks its own
To fill it

For whether this life
Bring trouble and strife
All tis right
And pleasing in thy sight
When humility find
In human kind
To lay aside
All earthly pride
And follow thee
Faithfully

-Joshua Lee Foist

When shall the light return

When shall the light return
When shall in time the truth we learn
While all within us doth burn
Shall we but ne'er turn

Broken inside
This shattered soul
Hath nowhere to hide

Cannot this pain
Prolonged
Bring anything
But suffering

Clutching at the cracks
Peaking out of this shell
Bound within torment
Torment of hell

Twill not this blazed heat
Scarce but lift from my feet
While all around tis burning
Yet yearning something near and far

Longing to be near to anything at all
Anything whether great or small
Choking on these shards of sand
Cutting in
Seeping within the solace
That perchance had never been

The mind plays against itself
None is without its tortured game
Selfish endeavored
Arrogance leads

All its ways are to its own
Earthly praise

Shall hope
Ever hopelessly
Evade our way
Or ist still
Some shade (at least)
To cool the drought
Of despair

If only
In loneliness
Find our way
Lead back
To a quieter day

Where morning sunrise
Did twinkle our eyes
Back when the days
Seemed easier
To gaze

Out into longing
Fulfilling our dream
Though not quite knowing
What it might bring

Grace hath severed
All earthly desires endeavored
And paid in full
All that had bound us
Breaking the bonds
Bearing the pain

All for us
That we should gain
Hope of tomorrow
And tomorrows ahead

Restoring the joy
By which once
Were we fed

So onward
Onward we tread
Into the sunlit
Pathway ahead

-Joshua Lee Foist