© lindaphillipscampbell
Although Linda's poems,
stories and songs are copy-righted she has given her permission for anyone to share them "freely at no charge" with
anyone who would like to share them with others. You must, when sharing these works include the copy-right.
By Linda Campbell
This Heart
You were all of four days
when I met you.
You came early so I didn't get there.
My sister's second baby girl,
I was thrilled, but why should
I care?
When I see you and you look up at me
Like----'There you are, now where have you been!"
My heart stops dead
in its beating,
And I know it's one heart we share!
Through the years it's always kept beating,
Feeling each
other's pains and joys---
The college years when I knew you were in danger,
I put my soul in the gap for yours....
Years
at my house as a little girl,
Mean as hell, but so bright I could see
There was always that heart between us
And
that look---"Oh, there you are."
The missing years melt away at our meeting,
Though it may have been years apart.
I
catch that look you always give me---
You know the one. "Oh, there you are."
Then it happens, I've never outgrown it,
I
should be immune after all this time---
My heart stops dead in its beating
And I know This One Heart we still share.
So
when you go this time--- take it with you.
It's no good when we're parted like this.
It will bleed, I know, if divided---
So
take it. This Heart, yours and mine
I'll be fine, I'll know that it's beating,
Til the miles melt before us again.
And
I see that look pass between us
"Oh, there you are, it's about damn time!"
And if Christ should tarry His coming
And
my flesh must grow old and die,
Once again you'll have custody of it
Til reunited--- This Heart, yours and mine.
When
we meet again in His presence,
I know it will be like before
When you looked for me and then found me
And This Heart
said, "Oh, there you are!" linda 02142001
You
You are the wind and the
wings
The very existence and persistence of all things.
You are the song in my heart
And the voice that makes it
heard.
But most of all--- You gave me the Word.
You are the one who has always been in my heart.
You've never wavered,
You've never failed,
You've never forgotten the night You wrote me in the Book.
You've never remembered the things I
did before.
You've never forgotten that in You it's all paid for.
You still give me goosebumps for a simple little prayer
Even
though it may have been months since I uttered one.
You are the Perfect Love that casts away all fear,
The one thing
we crave---Peace.
Have mercy on me. Thank you for remembering that I am still your child,
Even when I have forgotten.
Glory,
Glory, Glory to God in the highest!
Thank you for that Special Place--- Under the Blood!
lindaphillipscampbell 01022001
Raining Blue
Playing on the couch
He
strains to see out the window
My beautiful boy---
Worth everything we've been through!
Something outside the window
Brings
joy and giggling, too
My baby boy's first snowflakes---
Moma, it's raining blue!
So proud, so proud
His day
finally came
He's worked so hard
To excel in this game---
My heart breaks at leaving him
But leave I must do---
He's
still my baby
And it's raining blue!
My head is shaved
My nose badly bruised
My muscles ache
Like a bone-chilling
flu.
I'm proud to be here
And I know I'll get through
But I still miss my Moma.
And it's raining blue
© 08312000
lpc
for john
Joseph
Why me, Lord?
---I'm old,
I'm worn---
She's but a child, a virgin,
What gift can I afford?
I know I am the legal one
I'm widowed, my
children grown
But isn't there a younger man
To fill her life--- your plan?
"My Son," God said, "It must be you,
You
are the chosen one
To be her dear protector,
For the child she bears is Mine!"
The angels came and told me---
Still
trembling, I concede,
I'll wed this child, this virgin girl,
Still marveling, but I believe.
I scarce can see,
Eloah,
Why you have chosen me
To witness this great miracle---
Your Son, to hold and see!
A child bride and
a baby boy
In my ancient days, I claim
The King of Kings here in my arms!
The Blessed Son, the Lamb!
So thank
you, Lord, for choosing me
To be part of your plan---
A tired and aged carpenter,
To witness the Son of Man!
©122099
zerrha
The Rent
I read the Gospels again,
for pleasure
Never dreaming what I'd find
Though I know afore I've read them,
Treasures awaken new each time
This
time found me looking
With Luke, the doctor and my friend
Standing at the cross appalling
Of the depths man has stooped
to sin
Luke bade me, "Look beyond it!"
"The bloody mantle, bruised and torn,
"See the glory of the Father!
"See
the shining of the Son!"
I felt the love for my brethren
A mother's love for her Son,
Caught a glimpse of Christ's
great mercy
As death's garment came undone
What a love for my brothers!
Unquenchable and deep
Found it just
where Christ once placed it
Felt Him awaken it from sleep.
As a mother loves her children
So Christeach and every
one
To each bestows His precious spirit
El Shaddai's undying love!
Not just a carbon copy
No, indeed the very
soul
An irretrievable part He gives us
As a mother to her own
No wonder how He feels us
Each joy, each sorrow,
each pain
How He feels the oft rejection
How He grieves the bloody stain
But why the bloody torture,
When
all He had to do was die?
Surely, Satan's attempt to stop the questions---
A future remnant asking why?
You see,
Satan knows our thirst for blood---
Knew we'd hang on every word
Knew we'd revel in the drama
And Truth's lesson
would go unheard.
The lesson is the Garments!
Christ's spirit versus death---
Though He wore the bloody garment
He
kept His soul unsoiled by flesh!
I am the Garmentthe piece of Christ
Irreplaceable and sure---
Each footstep
is Christ's example
To live unspotted, white and pure!
Purity I cannot attain---
My flesh always a warring member
But
I know One Who Did sustain---
And my stains He does not remember!
My Creator wore this garment---
Never asking
what He wouldn't do
With His torn flesh, the veil was rent
To free its hold on me and you
We, too, must strive
to rent the veil
The menstrual rag needs evershedding
Through Christ to lay aside the clay
For the spirit of our
Father's letting.
Having uncovered the Christ-garment
Shedding successfully the flesh
We are but brethren in
Christ's army
Yet unborn, alive or deceased!
So in Truth, we're just two garments
One in clay, and one in Light
Luke
walked a friend to the cross today
Held my hand and eased my fright.
Reminded me, we've stood here before
Hand
in hand, with earth shaking sobs
Luke the manme yet unborn---
Eternal friends in preordained jobs
O, how we loved
Him at that hour!
As Beauty vanquished the bloody flux!
And with His heart we felt an inkling
Of what our Father
feels for us
The dark hour is soon upon us---
The bloody garment, heavy and vile
Word by Word, we are able to
shed it---
Truth by Truth, to dispel the lies!
© 07012000
Heart
A mighty band approaches,
Sir?
What would you have us do?
I tell them Ill think of something
But they are so many and we are so few.
I
keep stoic---try to hide my fears
I cant let my family down
But the man who leads the crimson band
Has reason to
cause us tears.
I took from him the ultimate
His inheritance, and now I see
How my deceit will cause me pain
And
my family will pay for my deeds
But wait---maybe I can appease him
For he is a material soul
His inheritance
he once sold to me
For some morsels in a tasty bowl.
We both were so immature then
And always at odds, it seems
Would
it have been so difficult
To treat him kindly and esteem?
My handmaids and my young of each
Ill put in groups
ahead----
Then my wife of sorrow and deceit.
Before my beloved and her son instead.
But before them all, Ill
send great gifts
Of riches, and sheep by the herd
Of cattle, and camels, goats and kids
Maybe then hell consider
my word.
What am I thinking, O foolish man?
So fearful and little of faith?
Is not my God ever in control?
In
His hands, belies my fate!
Whatever the crimson hoard has planned
Or horrors theyve laid in store
Whatever befalls,
Ill face as a man
But my family deserves so much more!
Heart/cont
So I send them in formation
Send them out
to meet my fate
Herded as lambs to the slaughter..
Hoping my beloved will be safe!
But the crimson hoard passes
them by
With barely a wayward glance
No harm to one of my companies!
No threats, nor one complaint!
Who are
these groups, all scattered?
He shouts as he dismounts!
And comes bounding toward me!
For naught my life now counts!
Because
of misdeeds, I tell him,
Rightfully now, I fear for my life!
But I beg you, please, please pardon
My children and
my wives!
But my brother does not strike me!
No sword does he unsheathe
But falls upon my neck with tears!
And
with joy my soul doth greet!
So remember, my distant children,
As surely as you remember my name---
In truth,
we all are brothers,
The red bear and the eagle the same!
Who am I? Who is my brother?
What nations descended
from each,
Of these, two ancient brothers?
What lesson, their story to teach?
© 0310200
Love's Letter from the Cross
Christ thought of me as He
was dying
On a cross, lifetimes ago---
With love He formed each precious thought
Though He was suffering, I had to
know!
Crucifixion is such a cruel, cruel death
To respire, He stretched full on the nails
The flesh tore angry,
for each ragged breath
Words for me, He was dying to tell
The garment, He said, is all there is---
The one I
gave you when we were begun
I housed it in flesh to give all a chance---
As you, to be with Me, as one.
The only
sin that matters at all
Is to bloody this garment with flesh
I am spirit, and so I want you to be
This present life
is only a test.
Though I know the strength that you're made of
I need to see what the rest will do
When reduced
to the worm, so hated
Which life, which garment, will they choose?
The flesh things, carnal and dying
Or My Spirit
and the Words that are life
My foe controls the world where you're walking
But I take care of my darling, my wife!
The
garment, my Love, is all that counts
The rest is deception, lies, and games
I told you how I came to set you free
Salvation
and freedom---the same
I kept my Garment unspotted
Though I lived everyday as you
Perfection, I knew, you couldn't
attain
But I did, and Mine covers you!
The animalyour flesh, feeds on dead things
Dead beasts, dead plants, dying
worlds
But a spirit must feed on spiritual things
What is spirit? My truth and my words.
love's letter/cross
Satan
doesn't want you to see Me
The glory, the victory--- death's fall
So My flesh he battered, mangled, and tore
He thought
you'd cry and stop searching at all
And it works on most of the dying world
But not you--- you hang on each line
As
a wife savors the words of her love
Your spirit seeks truth from Mine
It looks like the whole world is against you
And
it is, except for one fact
I own it all, I'm still in control
And I love you, and that is that!
I'm still walking
on the waters
Never leaving you, just a thought away
I'm in the same world, aware of your plight
In the spirit, come
with Me today
So, Wife, hear my love as you read this
In a world a future away
In my words, hear my assurance
of love
Yours yesterday, forever, and today!
© 0703200
Christ quoted Psalms 22 on the cross before dying, though
tortured and offered vinegar mingled with gall,
(a sedative that would have clouded his mindHe refused it.)
This Psalm
is written to the chief musician upon Aljeleth.
Chief musician means glitter, to be eminent.
Aljeleth means a doe or
hind.
What in God's plan is glittering and eminent? THE ELECT
What is a doe or hind?
A flesh and blood animalthat
gives milk and nurtures and protects her young.
The epitome of MotherhoodMother Earth
Hence, He is speaking to his Elect
in the flesh, who will hear Him.
Calvary's Host
I know we agreed to do this
I
know in my soul that we can
I remember how He made us promise
No intervention, no resistance, no stand!
But we
hadn't seen the flesh man then!
We only had seen Him as God
No way we could have imagined
What creation could do
to it's God!
Yes, I knew He would bleed, that's what flesh is
I didn't know He would bleed so much----
O, when
will He stop it, when will He die!
Dear God, haven't you suffered enough?
We hang on each breath, we pray for a
word---
So anxious to save Him from this---
Wanting to take Him down from that cross
And enfold Him in celestial
bliss!
He's looking at us, His eyes tell usNO
"You promised each one to restrain!
This is a path you know I must
take!
Please allow Me to meet my fate."
How could creation be so cruel?
To drive nails in the Hand that made
them---
Or a Father's love be so full
That He would give His life to save them!
"Someday you'll thank Me, this
day you'll forget
When clay's mantle fogs your mind.
And you'll be glad I stayed to the death
To free you from Death
for all time!"
"Someday you'll be flesh and you'll read about Me,
A memory will tug at your heart
And you'll
remember how we all agreed
And you stood here and did your part!"
So we watched as He took that painful last breath
We
cried with earth shaking sobs
And our Father saw that our hearts were bereft
And sent darkness to cover our God!
©
05122000
Latter Rain
I see riders on the scene,
nothings as it seems to be
The rider on the milk white steed spills his lies upon the sea
O, Father, what will become
of me, living in this poison sea?
Hum---
War rides high on a crimson steed, prophesied of Esaus seed
And riding in
his murderous wake, Hunger on a black horse waits
He tips the scales; he reeks deceit--one days wage for the bread I eat
Child,
eat my wordhold fast my name
And Ill give you latter rain!
O, Father, what will become of me living in this hungry
sea
The famine in these perilous days, is not for the food we crave
Remember, child, I told you plainthese things must
come to be
Hum-----
The pale horse rides, his load is great. Death and hell must have their place
My Father is so
kind to me, his word my covering
The wine and oil, Death cannot stain, Gods seal in place remains
Child, eat my
wordhold fast my name
And Ill give you latter rain!
The Seventh seal, my Lord awaits, sitting on a shining steed
The
Lightning fell, the darkness great, now the sea awaits her fate
The angels fourdestruction waitsGods seal must be in place
Hum-----
My
Lord foretold me all these things, by His Word, my seal remains
Dont be deceived to Satans bed, fill your heart with God
instead
Study His Word, get His plan straightdont partake of Babylons fate
Child, eat my wordhold fast my name
And
Ill give you latter rain!
Child, eat my wordhold fast my name
And Ill give you latter rain!
I see riders
on the scene---nothings as it seems to be.
© 031598
Simon
Simon, Simon, lovest thou
me?
I love you as a brother, Christ,
What do you want of me?
Christ asks the question. Simon Peter is the
one.
Do you love me cause you love me, or the miracles Ive done?
Its carefully recorded, why do you think its so?
Its
a question for the ages, your Savior wants to know.
Simon, Simon, lovest thou me?
You are my best friend, Christ,
What
better can there be?
Peter was convicted, he knew that he had failed
The love that Christ is asking is tougher than
the nails
Though Peter failed repeatedly, his story shows us all
Gods love is so much bigger than any of our flaws
Simon,
Simon, lovest thou me?----
What I want is no conditions, Son----
As the love I give to thee!
I know I love the
miracles, I see them everyday
But when the stones start flying will I still be here to say
Savior, Savior, now I understand.
I
love you, Id die for you, will you ask me once again!
Simon, Simon, lovest thou me?
I love you without boundary, Lord,
Id
give my life for thee!
Simon, Simon, lovest thou me?----
What I want is no conditions, Son----
As the love I
give to thee!
Simon, Simon, lovest thou me?
© 081599
Ultimate Gift
I thought when he was dying
What
a thing to bear at this time
When everything should be joyous
A celebrationChristmas-time.
But the still, small
voice bade me listen
How would you feel if I hadnt done
The things I did to give this hope?
What if the victory
oer death wasnt won?
You see, I did all these things for you
So this moment youd not have to stand
Over your
dead in hopeless grief
But find hope in salvations plan.
I didnt come for the times of celebration,
Or the times
when life is so fair.
I came for the times you stand over the grave---
Pouring out your heart in despair.
The
times when without Me, you would have no hope
Of seeing your loved one again,
Without Me, all you would know is this
flesh
And the vulnerability of man.
I never asked anything that I wouldnt do
This Christmas youre celebrating
now,
Is because I was born a child like you
I lived and died to show you how!
But death couldnt hold Me---herein
is my gift--
That I now freely give to you
So you know, though you die, youll live again,
Because I live---then so
will you!
So this Christmas I give the Ultimate
The gift above all---everything!
I give you the promise youll
see him again
Because of Me, Death has no sting!
©123099
Supper
Out of the belly of hell,
cried I
"I'm alone, I'm alone. Dear God, why?
'I try to do right, help others as I can---
'But it seems when I need,
there's none to be found!"
You showed me last night, in blessed clarity---
"You're right, you're alone. Now will you
look to me?
'I'm all that you have on which to depend,
'But I'm everpresent. I'm the Great I Am.
"There's a piece
of gold inside you that you own
It was yours from forever, it's yours on and on.
It's virgin gold, it's always been
yours
No one can remove it, for I placed it there.
You're a part of Me, and I'm a part of you
I won't be without
you, and you can't be without me.
But what's even more wonderful and a comfort, too,
You own a small part of Me, but
I own all of you!
So no matter what claims the world may try to assume---
There's not one small part they can even use!
"I
was a man of grief, and acquainted with sorrow.
You surely are mine--- for my grief you have borrowed.
You think that
it's yours, when truly you sorrow,
But I've already carried it and paid all its dues.
It really is mine. I loan it to
you
Just like the sweet fire that I purge you through.
So when you feel My sorrow--- give praise to the Lamb---
That
I considered you worthy
To sup with the Great I Am!"
© 030188 zerrha
Bailey & Rainbows & Doves
God came in the dark of the
morning
On a cold December day
To ease the pain and affliction
And take our Jr. away
Jr.s race was long, he
was so tired
He held out till he could no more
Then he took the loving hand of God
And stepped out on eternitys shore
But
God remembers His promise
That he will never leave us alone
There will always be a comforter
And hope, though Jr.
is gone
And just to cement His promise
As He did with rainbows and doves
The self-same day God sent a sign,
Bailey---His
tangible love!
There is always hope, even in despair
He never takes without giving some
So He gave us Bailey
to soothe our loss
And show His Ever-present Love!
God came in the dark of the morning
In mercy, to a child in
need
And in mercy, He returned in the evening
Bringing Light in the darkness of grief
Bailey, your name is synonymous
With
Hope, and Goodness, and Love---
A sign that God always loves us
And gives us Bailey,
And Rainbows,
And Doves!
©
123099
What Was It Like
What was it like on the way
to the cross?
If you were His sheep, all hope would seem lost.
For only He knew the ultimate gain
The victory over
Death would be worth all the pain
What was it like on the way up the street?
If you were a Pharisee, you'd applaud
His defeat
His sheep are all scattered, no hope can survive
You could not imagine, He'd soon be alive
What was
it like on the way up the hill?
If you were His mother, what anguish you'd feel
You know what He said, but it's hard
to believe
This looks so final---how can I not grieve?
What was it like on the way to the cross?
If you were
the Savior you'd know it's not lost
It's only a step and not even the worst---
But you didn't imagine this horrible
thirst
What was it like on the way up the hill?
If you were me, you'd know, it's my punishment He feels
And although
I'm sorry, it's still a relief
It's Him doing the walking and not really me
What was it like on the way to His fate?
For
you and me, the Host, all we can do is wait---
For a motion, a nod, any sign at all,
Who are we kidding---we know He
won't call!
What was it like on the way to the cross?
Christ made the sacrifice so I would not be lost!
What
was it like on the way to the cross?
There were no surprises, Christ counted the cost!
© 05122000
If I Could Talk To You Today
If I could talk to you today
My
loved ones grieving sore---
Id tell you the story of Christmas
As youve never heard it before
How a father loved
his children
Though they were rebellious and vain
So much that He became as they
So He would know their struggles
and pain
How He gave His life---not just by dying---
For He lived everyday as we
Subject to our joys and weaknesses
Became
the portrait of humility
If I could talk to you today
My friends, grieving sore
Id tell you Hope is not in vain
Rejoice
for there is more!
All thats written on the Pages
All the promises evermore
Are now spread here before me
The
banquet just beyond Deaths door
If I could talk to you today
My Sweetheart, grieving sore
Id tell you, though
great I loved you---
Your Father loves you more!!!
© 02132000
Mothers Eyes
I hold my perfect baby boy
In
my arms, soft and warm
Will I be here to keep him safe?
Whence comes this nagging alarm?
I hear my perfect baby
boy
In play outside my room
Shrieks of laughter penetrate
My mantle of pain and doom
I see my perfect baby
boy
Out of sight and from afar
A child enlists to be a man
A pawn in a terrible war
I watch my perfect baby
boy
As he nurtures and cares for his own
I do my best to keep him safe
Im here and yet Im gone!
Long years
of separation for him
For me, not even a day
I groan for his deliverance
What hell face along the way
I grieve
for my perfect baby boy
Twenty years of struggle and pain
Just to stay with his family
One day more, one more memory
to gain
I rejoice for my perfect baby boy
Though hes now an aging man
Taking care the choice of eternity
Secures
as place in Redemptions plan!
I ache for my perfect baby boy
Struggling to make the journey
Torn twixt loved
ones there and me---
Deaths peace or lifes misery.
I hold my perfect baby boy
In my arms after all this time!
You
scarce can imagine the joy I feel!
My Son, eternitys thine!
Long years of separation ends
For us dawns a new
day---
Rejoice for his deliverance!
His race was won today!
(In loving memory of Grace Quinn Campbell and her
Perfect Baby Boy, William Pierson Campbell, Jr.,
May 2nd, 1926-----------December 21,1999)
© 122299 zerrha
Last Supper
(break) Why are you crying
Daddy, Daddy, dont you cry
Why are crying, Daddy, Daddy, tell me why?
Thanksgiving 77, Daddy called us allplease
come
This time is too important; no excuses just come home
So we gathered home for supper, us three and families
Gathered
home to please our Daddy, the only place to be
But instead of Daddy laughing, joking as he always did
This time
he just kept cryinghe couldnt stop the tears
Why so melancholy? Why you crying, Dad, were here?
Through his tears he
tried to tell us
Of his anguish and his fears
Listen to me now! Listen to me good
Id stay forever if I could
Children,
children, dont you see
The last time together that well ever be
I still hear his simple statement, his mournful
prophecy
He knew wed soon be parting, no more times to ever be
Together as a family, share a meal as we once did
He
knew it was our Last Supper-
Good bye to the life wed lived
I wasnt home for Christmas; Max wasnt home for spring
Brenda
saw them daily, but no way she could have seen
Daddy died by next Thanksgiving, the future he had seen
That was truly
our Last Supper
On earth there would ever be
Listen to me now! Listen to me good
Id stay forever if I could
Children,
children, dont you see
The last time together that well ever be
What Id give if I could see them, have supper one
more time
Sit down at Momas tablehear them talking fine
Taste my Momas cookinghear my Daddy laughing free
All thats
left are our memories and Brenda, Max, and me
So dont take it for granted that youll always hear their sound
Or
sit down at their table with your loved ones gathered round
For you have no way of knowing which time it will be
For
you the Last Supper with your loving family
Listen to me now! Listen to me good
Id stay forever if I could
Children,
children, dont you see
The last time together that well ever be
© 02112000 zerrha
That Moment
You know the moment---
That
point in time
When he separates himself from you
Goes from being part of your body---
Your soul---
And becomes
a separate being
His own person
Doesn't need you anymore.
The cord snaps--- he looks back
A gentle interruption
in his day.
You shed a silent tear, and he
Toddles away.
But for you
It's a violent recoil
Shaking your
timbers to the soul
You feel the raw edges
Of the severed spot
He will grieve the separation
Even try to come
back at times
But he can't---
You can't go back!
A silent tear is shed, and he
Walks away.
A doctor will
tell you
It happens at birth
Not so----
Only the umbilical cord is severed
At birth.
Every mother knows
The
stronger ties of heart and soul
Hold fast until---
That moment.
You know the one---
When looking back, he
Walks
away
And you stay and come
Undone.
It has no boundaries
This estrangement.
It happens within us, too
That
point of recognition---reality---
That moment.
The child you were looks back
Even holds out her hand to you.
All
for naught!
You can't reach it---You can't go back!
So grieving
A silent tear is shed, and she
Walks away.
Like
I said, no boundaries
Body, mind or soul
Warm earth, warm church
Belonging---
So good, at last, to be part---
of something?
Then comes the recognition---
That moment.
When you know we're just passing through
A stranger in
the land
A gratuitous, silent tear is shed, and we
Walk away.
Parallels toward separate destinies
The spirit
splits from the body---
Doesn't need her anymore
Though you carry the earthly vessel
Where once she carried you,
You
don't belong---
You can't go back!
You may try, but all for naught
Truth will not be undone
Once realized.
So
a silent tear is shed, and we
Walk away.
The body creeps doggedly
Back to the dust
From whence it came.
The
soul, the spirit---seeks higher
Bigger, more spiritual things
Anxious for the separation---
That moment.
A reverent
tear is shed
For the flesh, and we
Walk away.
The body dies, (no longer needed,
And as an aging mother, fades.)
The
soul remembers
But still soars free.
A poignant memory tugs
And the soul looks back---
You can't go back!
So
for the earth, the mother,
The winepress of flesh---
That moment---
A grateful tear is shed, and she
Passes away.
© 08122000 lindaphillipscampbell
