For now the future ahead I fear

For now the future ahead I fear
Where might I be in scarce a year
A day, an hour, so soon
My thoughts steer sour

That which oft unknown
Holds a power unshown
For it holds back from us
That which we can control

We long to know all that we can
To plan all that we plan
For yesterday's blunders known
Perchance tomorrows wonders
Sewn by our own hand

Could we not find some joy
In that for which we had a hand

Sadly think I canst ever be
For the truth of which I see
Doth show that all we wrought
Tis woe

For we canst know all there is to know
For we have not the wisdom
To wield such works of art
Tis not our part to play

And yet still the wonder of it lingers there
Within our very souls
We have the will without control
Our purpose is known

Though its mere reflection tis shown
For we are feeble and frail
And canst begin to carry the burden
Of all we know

Tis our guide in whom we must confide
In him we hide our sorrow our pride
All that comes between us
Whether good or otherwise

And with such aid
Can we look to that which
Has yet to be made

And no longer fear that of which
Once were we much so afraid
For fear oft comes
By that which experience
Doth lack

Save for our friend
Who knows both beginning and end
We can most assuredly be
Confident in that which is
Yet to come

And this path ahead
For him already hath tread
Hath paid the toll
Of which our very soul
Doth cost

And for that price
All future things are sure

So fear not
That which lies ahead
If thee but walk
The path of him
Who paved it
Pebble by pebble

-Joshua Lee Foist

On going back

There are these days
Of which I oft wonder
I reflect on times past
On days without number

Would things have changed
I wonder
If things had been different
If certain meetings missed
What should be replaced

A lifetime to imagine
If things had been
That are not now
Again

Yet toiled though I may
With such thoughts of dismay
I can't but help to think
It's all part of a far greater plan

One of which I can scarcely see
Or understand
Each moment whether good or ill
Remains yet still
A piece in the puzzle
Of that grander design

For moments unchanged
Through joys and sorrows
Change they the tomorrows
Of which we know today

The lessons then learned
Ne'er prolonged
Beyond their perfect place

Each trial and test
Passes through the flame
It remains
Though marred by its memory

Yet still it guides
The course of things
Still to come

May they teach
That of which
Naivete did not know

And then depart from all
To let it go
Out into the world
And chart a new course

For time may tell the tale
Of all those who prevail
Through the trough times
The tumbles and torrents

The wisdom of which
Doth teach to each
That narrow path
Which leads to understanding

For in its knowledge
Finds one some strength
And courage to combat
All that may to it
Yet come

-Joshua Lee Foist

I near had lost my way

I near had lost my way
As slowly saw my idols crumble
to dust and clay
Alas that was but yesterday

Spring had come
For but a brief flutter
Then flurried away
Amidst the wind and rain

The cold and icy chill
Didst knock the thrill of it
from me

Indeed my heart sank for awhile
The wonder the imagining
All forgot all turned from me
And caught in the winds of winter's misery

I heard the cold wind cry out in the night
As the sleet and snow took flight
Yet somehow in their eerie cry
Heard I something far distant still

Twas familiar yet hard to place
It carried with it a tender grace
And then began I to once more remember
That voice so fond of which I oft longed to hear

Hope in all its haunting
Had wandered in and found me
wanting
My joys and follies all once employed
Now cast from me for all annoyed

Yet in this single note didst I
Find all I'd lost and wanted most
For here had all of life began
Yes here where none could fear or trap

So free and rich and full of grace
Still wonder within wonder
Twas all embrace

And soon I learned of all my heart
So long had spurned
Yet deeper and deeper still
Had burned and yearned
And longed to fill

All and nothing else
Could so satisfy
Surrendered my soul
To its full control
And satisfied all longings
In the deepest part

And when at last my breath regained
Once more began to see the life beyond the mystery
For there once lost had now been found
Twas love in all its richest and fullest displays
For in it was found all forgiveness
All hope, all joy in part
For here had found
The deepest longings of the heart

And perfect was it
Unlike its earthly perversion known
For here in all its splendor and beauty full grown
was found
And completely and wonderfully did it abound

-Joshua Lee Foist

Upon this open plane

Upon this open plane
Out into that field of dreams
Lies all possibility
And hope of that which could be

The greatest of all expectations
Will surely be beyond
All wonder and imagination

At times the sheer thought of it:
Anything - anything at all
The future though yet uncertain
Has a certain thrill about it
For by this time next
When we are here
Who knows what shall await us
But perhaps the greatest desire of all
For all our longings, trials, and tears
To at last have found
That which all our lifelong hath sought

Indeed, so breathless, boundless, and free
Shall we at once be
To walk in that light
Through that narrow corridor
Where all dreams imagined
Shall be fulfilled

When wonder of wonders
Is here and now
Shall we bow
Before such magnificence
For here at last
Are we and home

-Joshua Lee Foist

And now of beauty may we speak

And now of beauty may we speak
For here our hearts have longed to seek
Such splendor and grace
Upon thee often do we trace

Within the winds
That warmth suspends
Its gracious coat
Doth wrap us in

The fragrance of a distant rose
May cleanse us of our former woes
The taste of fresh found fruit
Tis sweet and succulent to our soul

The touch most tender
The feeling so soft and smooth
As silk should surround us
And welcome us in

Yet these wonders in themselves
Merely tease our troubled hearts
For they speak of a glorious art
Of which we only know in part

We wish to live inside the dream itself
To be one with it and a part
Of that which makes it shine

And these are but a taste of the divine
Those things that ought to turn our hearts
To where the source of sunlight shines

A rich and fuller place than this
A deeper and vaster expanse
A wonder beyond shall draw us in

If we will but let its wonder in
And cast our crude
Comparable counterfeits aside

And come towards the light
Of that open door
The hunger our hearts have longed
For but a taste more

Tis better than anything
This life hath known
For it is the source of all things
Once before and yet once more

For all we know of beauty
Tis but a drop from that great
Ocean of wealth

Where once life for us itself began
Twas wondrous to behold
In those days of old

When man and God
Didst walk
Astride

And there was nothing
Between of which to hide

Shall soon again
That glory know
If we will but humbly
Withdraw and go

Into that land
That place
Where life again shall be

That wonder beyond the sea
Where all unknown
No more a mystery

For we shall live
In that eternal place
Where God and man
Once more shall be
Face to face

-Joshua Lee Foist

Inspired in part from C.S. Lewis's:
“Glory as Brightness, Splendour, Luminosity,” from The Weight of Glory

Of this my heart must confess

Of this my heart must confess
I have known thee oft in loneliness
Thy melancholy heart doth feel
Despite the wintry chill
It seems the days they come and go

Whether the spring or the snow
Will ere begin to change
In time perchance
The doubts may turn to dreams

These hopes and longings still
May someday in time
Come true

How oft I wonder through the haze
Of glorious sunrise
At beginning of days

Yet what round the corner find
So pessimistic my demise
Doth take its place
As my disguise
Of hope of longing
In your eyes

Tis feeble and folly true
To all too often think of you
And yet I do - I do
Of this I can't deny

And yet I often wonder why
Seasons come and go
Yet some things never change

Will my heart cease to beat
As once before
When you no more
Come walking through
That open door

Too much invested
Too many sleepless nights
Unrested

And for what
Tis not all of life
Found in this

Though joy is found
In momentary bliss
And we remember this
Yes, remember this

But not long may we
Grow old shall see
The days grow short
In time

Long after this rhyme
Hath past
Sublime

Twill know a love
That's always true
A love that once
Perchance
Thought I found in you

And whether here
Or some far off place
I trust will find
Us in thy grace

Where time seems
To stand yet still
And all of life
On earth
Lost its thrill

The will to live
To dream again
It hopes beyond
The world of men

And looks yet far
And farther still
To that long awaited
Place

Where hopes fulfilled
And tears replaced
With joy and grace
To carry on
Beyond the dawn
And close of day

-Joshua Lee Foist

And if tomorrow never came

And if tomorrow never came
Could I my burden bare
To tell you what's inside
How to cast away my pride
And let you know what's there
Could courage shroud despair

There are times so oft
When longing seems forever
And patience though a treasure
Too long to measure
Is tempted by its pleasure

Yea virtue must remain
If all thy sorrows
Yet before and evermore
Should come this day
None could fill the void
Save one

Tis he who says when all is done
For him and him alone
Who sits upon the throne
No earthly home can compare
Yet wipes away he every tear
And all thy fear
Tis gone away
When cares are cast
And all is past

A love for none as he
Can know
No earthly form
Could so adorn
No richness find
As the divine
For in all darkness
His light will shine

When night is turned
To day
And all thy sorrows
Gone away
Shall come shall come
The rising sun
Rising in his glory
Come
Shall rise he in his glory
Shine
The man, the God
Divine

-Joshua Lee Foist