And so I must depart

And so I must depart
And leave behind all longings of the heart
Nature hath taken its course
And so I shall seek its source

I journey outward
Into the great expanse
Not knowing where I shall go
Or how long I must remain
In this trance

Yet steadily on
I advance
With great courage
And with all joy
I can employ

The great unknown
Is far too wondrous
And mysterious for words

Yet glorious lies the view ahead
Unlike any other land I have tread
The sea is wild and the journey treacherous
But there's no turning back

Always looking ahead
For there the journey shall end
And there the journey shall begin

What troubles may lie ahead
Who can know
Still steadily on we go
Engaging this course

With all speed
And all strength
We heed to the calling
From which none shall return
Yet all the while our heart's burn

Awaiting this glorious voyage
Into such uncharted waters
Where no eye hath seen
Nor any other hath been

We journey home
To that place
Which all our lives have longed
To live within those gates

Where the gardens grow wild
And the currents are strong
And all streams converge
At it's source

The source of all life
Tis here, our journey's end
When we have truly come home
To our one and greatest friend

-Joshua Lee Foist

I did reason with love for a season

I did reason with love for a season
Did share my strivings and struggles
Still it did so steadfastly
Love on
Without a thought or care

Such love so rare
With none couldst I compare
Nor comprehend
How I was so privy to such a friend
None had I known
So faithful and true

"Love," inquired I
"Why dost thou love
Such imperfection as I
What hath thou to gain
From such a pursuit"

Love replied
Without hesitation
"Twas for thy own sake
This bond of affection
I did stake"

"I do not love for my own gain
For I need not love to remain
For such love I give
For indeed Love I am
There is no love
To compare to mine"

"My love is complete
I love all
Whether in despair
Or without a care
My love exceeds all
Boundaries"

"So accept as thou wilt
My love without guilt
No "good" could thee do
To merit my love
For you"

"My love is true
My love is pure
It is the only cure
For all else is counterfeit
And will not satisfy"

"But my love remains
It bears all stains
And sorrows that one bares
In my love
One casts their cares
Upon"

And so breaks the dawn
Of hope
And what lies beyond
Indescribable
And too wonderful
For words

-Joshua Lee Foist

Why so oft do I seek such solitude and seclusion

Why so oft do I seek such solitude and seclusion
When ere I spend mere moments among stranged folk
Ist not I that art more strange than they
For though in my eyes they appear more common
I am more to them (I imagine) an exhibit at the zoo

Lost in the lonely hours
Where dismal days are all a maze
I venture here or there
For hours of years
And venture out again
When ere the dawn hath broke
Or twilight doth take

Once again, fair friend
We embark upon another day
And this one I pray
May be more of joy
Than the day before

Still sorrow doth seep in once more
And knocks at my door
As oft I engage it

So much I give of time these days
I wonder tis selfish for a season of silence
When moment to moment
I rush in or rush out
Ist too much to ask
Not to converse about

Some are given to speech
Whenever others are near
Yet when this is one's profession
One's work (one's obsession)
Tis tiresome to engage in
At the end of the day

Too engage in the mindless melodies
That meander their way
Throughout the moments of the day
I find more restful
Than talk or play

True in its own
Tis not a terrible trait
At least not all the time
At any rate

Perhaps tis fate
I did fall to this trade
For which I am
All too often little paid

Other professions
Surely have their obsessions
Though perhaps more subtle than this

I do care for those
Whether common or rare
Tis just not always
I like to share

And whether to be known
Or not known by name
I wish at least
To be known
As fellow
As friend

-Joshua Lee Foist

On washing

Thou doth stink
There is no other way
In which to say it
I think

And I speak not of character
Nor class
Save that thou lacks
The necessity
Of common class

When thy entrance was first made
Didst near but clear a room
With thy lack of groom

Twas it too much work
To cleanse thy form
For thy own sake
When thou didst awake

Nay, I fear
Tis more of concern
To spend thy time
Toping thy thirst of whiskey or wine
Or relishing in the wisps of smoke
That from thy pipe evoke

I fear if I did embalm thee
With some sent of sweetness
Thy toxins might repel
Such sweetness with thy smell

I can no further gift thee give
Than this request
That thou return
Well rested
And washed

-Joshua Lee Foist

And now in this tainted moment of truth

And now in this tainted moment of truth
I look round me for some reason some proof
That all that is felt whether in depth or in shallow
Hath substance and meaning no matter one's doubt

Hear one's story whether faint or load
All are moments of passing
Where beating and breathing abound

The feeling is numb
The mind is clouded and caught
Yet this too is not without meaning

All are passing
Coming and going
Whether revealed or concealed
Life is in living and breathing
The passing of time
In a heart that is beating

Pain that is felt
Whether distant or near
Can anyone acknowledge or bear

Here's proof within the pondering
No mind is but wandering
Tis always at work
Until the work is done

Though doubt may often
Fill one and consume much
Nothing can hide this simple truth
Tis blessed those who live
And give without end
For in this doth one find
The fairest of friend

In this whether in parting or greeting
Doth one find all of life hath meaning
Yea all of life
Is bound in a single breath

-Joshua Lee Foist

I was lost in the busyness of work and study

I was lost in the busyness of work and study
When I at first heard the news - all was not well
Though many a thought in me did swell
I could not linger on it long
For I had other things to reflect on

Though its anxiety grew in me still
I could not manage the courage to will
This thing from my thoughts
Too close and too dear
Emotions ran deep
And my heart did fear

Could the moment be near
For it was but a year or more past
When all was well
How my heart longed it would be so again
I could not ponder or begin
To think on what may lie ahead

I was selfish and in denial
And I let it fill me awhile
It was only a dream
Soon would I wake
And all would be as it had been before
Before the news had broke

Yet then as I awoke
I knew it was indeed true
And I prayed to God he would give me
The courage and strength to make it through

And for those whom I dearly love
Who were attending to his care
I did offer up my prayer
"Great God be merciful
For indeed all things are in your control"

And so must I trust
What ere the future may hold
That His will is best
We all have much been blessed
By this dear man of faith

Where ere the road ahead may lead
We know without a doubt
It will lead us closer
To the one above
Who looks down with love
Upon all who are his own

-Joshua Lee Foist

Ah, for the days that are to come

Ah, for the days that are to come
And for the day that is to be begun
All stand as one
What is and what remains to be done

What ere we become
In what remains
Who can say

But as one embarks on this day
In heart and mind may pray
That one should not be impatient
Of delay or any other such way

Here is a season
And with it good reason
To remain in this place and time
In this there is much to gain

So do not hastily wish
As to dismiss
This

Here shall thee stay
As long as thee may
Hope not for another day
But hope to make the most of it
So much as you can

There's good here to be found
And little chance you shall return
From this of which you should learn

So learn all that you may
While it is still called today
Learn all that these moments
May convey

And in time
When other pleasures may arise
And their joys may dampen your eyes
Look back with some reflection
To those former days with great affection

For here in have thee learned the lesson
Of what is gained with some correction
Some knowledge and wisdom is found
In the heart of one who is patient

One cannot hope to enjoy
Without also some trials to employ
But when they are past
One can rest in the knowledge
That some joys were made to ever last

-Joshua Lee Foist