There are days like these

There are days like these
Ah far too frequent
And not surprisingly
Find they in autumn

When the air grows cool
And the colors turn
Such glory to behold
To watch the leaves
From gold to gray

Yet for this day
Once more the melancholy
Makes its motion
And fills my emotion
With dismal dismay

As all so oft
Doth it steal me away
Look on these eyes set and full
Their waters lose control
And run they down
Drip drop
To where they stop
And settle in their sorrow

Yet shan't they shade me tomorrow
Thy shadows that sooth
Do so fade away

Tis all an act it seems at times
Can hide thy fears
And longings that truth hath told in thee

So alone linger they
The thoughts
That gather throughout the day

Once saw I
A light within thine eye
Didst shine so brightly
Before once didst die

For once in wonder
Did it look round
Thinking possibilities abound

To have found a friend indeed
To have found in thy greatest need

Perchance thy romance
As oft twas happen-chance
A dream a dance

But now the scene has changed
And yet again
Find we in this haze
Gaze within gaze
Looking out into nothing

For where may despair
Ere but disappear
Can all longing
Find some belonging

True there is one
Who can fill all these fears
Yet oft through the years
So distant and cold
Thy friendship of old

Seems miles of reaching
And where does it lead
Thy former sins
Amended
In time didst seem
Hath ended

Yet in thy sorrow
Oft think thee to borrow
But a bit of ease
To find something that might please

Why doth it often seem
Such things thy soul should require
Tis folly they know and foolishness true
Yet longing within longing
They haunt you
They do

Will it tonight
Once more shall it be
Pull out thy bottle
And drink of thee
Thy poison to nourish
And numb the pain

Nothing in it hath thee to gain
Only to forget and forget awhile
Only to dream
In horror
Somehow in this very hour
Shall find thy sorrow end
And solace shall thee find
Thy one and only friend

Ah no more
Plague with thee these thoughts
The weight too great
Should they debate
Thee to thy one true fate

Tis all an end
Tis all for thee
If only to be rid of it
If only to be free
Might thee find
Thy friend
Scarced human in form
Though truly
Such crudeness could cling
To carry within it a king
Him of whom can bring
Everything
And take away that
Which once had been
Thy sorrow
Thy skin
And welcomes thee in his kin
Yea welcomes thee in
Again

-Joshua Lee Foist

So long scarcely seen september

So long scarcely seen september
Of thee shall we oft remember
Though faded find thy fortune true
Fondly still think we of you

The passing moments had there pleasures
Thy brighter days filled with treasures
Cool came the breeze
That drew us in
Now shall we again
Bid thee farewell

Yet before thee depart
Know that in this troubled heart
Lies yet still thy momentary bliss
A season of this a season shall miss

So may thy journey outward
Be one of glory too
As that day in which
We received you

And so bid we
On thy way
May thy final rays
Bring us still
Brighter days

For summer hath ceased
And autumn released
In spender september
Shall we always remember

-Joshua Lee Foist

Leave thy worries to the wind

Leave thy worries to the wind
Where better there they may depend
Let not the rain thy heart disdain
For in it find thee not always sorrow and pain
Joy may yet shower thee in its wonder
For in thee may find thy friend

Let not thine eye catch thee by
Yet let it lie upon that which shall surely satisfy
Some in season shall thee know
And in season come that go

But what remains
Can never fade
Forever shall thee find
Tis one of a kind

A love yet lingering
Finds thee in thy floundering
And faithfully follows thee
Wherever thee go

Let not thy lusts disguise
Yea yet open thine eyes
To the great and wondrous surprise
Hope lies but a fairbreadth ahead

And there beyond
All wonder
Doth tread

-Joshua Lee Foist

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