On days of rain and wind

On days of rain and wind
I find my heart tis low
When the winds blow
And the rain drizzles down
My melancholy oft steals round

What for cloudy days
Bring a restless heart
The doubts that divide
The truth inside

Oh cast me not from
This dismal scene
But work within
That hope may begin
To heal the hurt
That oft may hide
Amidst the storm
Inside

My minds a jelly mush of things
Thinking on what's been
And may yet never be

Yet past is past
And present
Is now

So wade not long
In thy wallowing song
Let the light of love
And longing seek
That which is sure

Through the fog
And fear that oft
May appear

Let it burn
Till its fire
Lights up
The night

For darkness
Cannot stand
Under it

Tis purged of all
Its punishment
For the light that shines
Brings joy divine

To all who will
Seek it
While yet
It spreads
It's canopy ore
The land
May find
The strength
To stand
And wait

For hope
Refreshes
And restores
Amidst
The coldest
And bitterest
Storms

-Joshua Lee Foist

We walked in the rain

We walked in the rain
She in her way
I in mine

At first when
I saw her
Rushing cross
The way

I thought
At chance
She'd see me
Though her back
To me was turned

I mused mildly
Of her in the mist
And mud

Then a moment I saw her
Once more just ahead
The path she had taken
Had brought her back round

Yet still I behind
And little a chance
So stole onward
Up the spiraled staircase
That led to the next road

When scarcely up it
Whom should I meet
But the lady by and by
I saw twice a time
Before

Upon our third encounter
This time our paths
Could not ignore
For now as one were
They

Then I in diffident demeanor
Did ask if I may offer
My canopy o'er her
While we walked
Awhile ahead

She kindly inclined
And I joyfully accepted

She asked my name
And I hers
Then of where I
Stayed

As we made mild
Conversation
She told me
Her craft

A poet was she
Though a scholar
At present

We spoke
A bit more
Before
Our ways
Diverged

Though I shall ne'er
Soon forget
Upon that once
Drizzly day

A fair young
Lass did I thrice
Once pass

And offered
My canopy
From the wind
And rain

-Joshua Lee Foist

Love's a bleary eyed wonder

Love's a bleary eyed wonder
That wastes its wares of me
Love's a hurricane
That washes over me

Left to the sand
Lonely left out to dry
The cool clear sky above
Where now art thou love

Love's a dove
Flouting overhead
Love's a raven
Ravaging the dead

Love's a chill
Veining down my skin
Love's a sun
Warming deep within

My soul searches
My heart aches
Oh love
Why tease
A thing like me

When last
My mind is
Gone of thee
Then return
To punish me

My time
Shall come again
Yet love I ask
Shall this time
Be true

This time
Sweet love
Will you remain
Through winter
And spring

Shall I know
Thee to the end
Shall ere
At last
I call thee
Friend

-Joshua Lee Foist

When I gaze upon the bay

When I gaze upon the bay
From the heights of Brooklyn
As the dawn of day
Awakes the glorious
Wonders of Wellington

To rest in the quiet
Of this sunlit seat
And let thy joy
Surround my soul

Where oft have I longed
To reside at dawn
Or dusk
Or noonday tide

You restore
The youth in me
That oft is lost
In the toil and trial

My strength comes
From a source
Far from this course

Where seas and lands
Are but pawns
In the palms of
Thy hands

Yet to gaze
Upon the fog
The prologue
To paradise

Where one day
May come
Thy reign
Thy Son

Shall come
Shall come
To walk once
More

Amongst
The souls
Of Men

-Joshua Lee Foist