Copyright © 2000 by Cora E. Cypser.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00 093128
ISBN: 1-892063-05-Printed in
Published by KIM PATHWAYS
Pieces of Yesterday
contains poems that connect our
yesterdays to
our tomorrows.
Dedicated to all
those who have
garnered wisdom from their yesterdays.
CONTENTS
The King’s Troubadour
1
Like The Ostrich 2
All Things From Emptiness 3
Eve 4
The Fallen Ideal 5
Humility, Not Futility
5
The Mustard Seed 6
The Adolescent 8
Feeling Immortal 8
Equality 9
Revelation As Gift 10
Song for Strength of Spirit
11
Today – 12
The Vision 13
Gift of The Trees 14
Time 15
Trauma 15
Autumn Is 16
For James 17
An Attempt to Visit Mao’s Tomb 18
An African on The French
To Those Who Fret Not
20
Accent on The Positive 20
The Foundling 21
Ripples 22
God’s Dwelling Place
23
Catechism Class 24
Jays On A Rainy Day 25
Jays and Sun 25
The Child and The Flowers 26
Near
The Loom of The Spinning
Sisters 28
Animal Talk 29
Leisure Time 30
Voice of Spring 31
Legion 32
Will Power 34
The Return 35
The Blue Gown 36
Little Ones 36
Mediterranean 37
Subway Music 39
Dealing with Frost 40
Wheels on Water 40
The Transformer 41
Generation Gap 42
The Self-Sufficient
43
Black Holes 44
Authority 44
God Has A Sense of Humor
45
Composer Creator 45
Blueness 46
Art Work 47
Sing for December 48
Would You Want to Go Back? 49
Jesus as Sacrament 50
Reality 50
Tracks on The Beach 51
Between The Shore and The Sea 52
The Empty Plastic 53
Lonely Heart 54
Argument on Birds 55
Something from Nothing
56
Death as A Miracle 57
Resurrection 57
Youth and Age 58
Consolation in Solitude
59
On Pain 60
On Joy 61
Loving as A Replacement to
Threatening 62
The Pyrite Pleuroceras 63
The King’s Troubadour
When I was a child, I thought
as a child
and my thoughts were lilting and proud and wild
and I wanted to sing for the Great King
because it seemed to be a good thing
and my name might be known.
But now I am grown!
And I want to sing for the
King
because he is kind
and his pain is so plain on his face
and his hands ask a song
and his truth and his right
shine across the black night
and show up the world’s wrong.
And I must walk singing
upon the wide earth
with steps firm and fleet
for to my surprise
when I knelt to be blessed
as the King’s troubadour
I found near my eyes
two blood-covered feet.
1
Like The Ostrich
We hide our hopes;
we hide our fears;
let no one see into our hearts
for years and years;
ignore all those who cross our path.
We do not show
our anger or our care.
We hide our true self deep inside
not letting ego out or others in.
We hide the sad side, bad
side.
We hide the weak side, meek
side;
let no one know our dreams
our aims, our plans, or our despair.
The mind is full of tumbling
thought
but it won’t think like it ought
unless we bring it out
for sunshine and fresh air.
The ostrich mind hides in the
sand
and shaking feathers face the land.
2
All Things From Emptiness
God caused them to be made
the fish in the sea from nothing
the ducks that paddle through the water
the swimming otter from nothing
the cat bird singing, laughing, imitating, from nothing
and all things that have their being on earth
these, too, from nothing
the giraffe, the sky scraper, the electronic brain
and the human, the wonder of the human being
from nothing, and the small, small things
that we can’t see with an unaided eye
the atom, the x-ray from nothing.
God made them all from
nothing.
Phoenician Commercial Vessel
3
Eve
Eve is a keeper of things.
Eve keeps broken toy cars,
headless dolls
chipped china, un-stuffed animals.
Why?
Because their spirits cry out
to her–
“Please don’t reject me!”
“Overlook my imperfections!”
“Save me from nothingness!”
Eve is a folder of laundry
giving tender care to shrunken T-shirts
frowsy pajamas, permanent press blouses.
Why?
To keep her sanity
to keep a place for everything
and everything in its place.
Eve is a sorter of socks
matching this sock with that.
Why?
Socks must pair up like souls
like husbands and wives
like friends on journeys.
Two by two, we enter
Socks, shirts, un-stuffed
animals
the Creator must smile on Eve
for taking such care of this creation.
4
The Fallen Ideal
The prince lies dead in his
palace on the hill.
We who have walked beside him
on the road
we who have fought beside him on the field
we who have drunk and eaten at his table
we feel the emptiness; we feel the chill.
We are too sad to repossess his load
To carry on, it seems we are
unable.
Will he forgive the words we
should have sealed?
Forgive the weeds we sowed
among the wheat?
Forgive our running off when
evil bode?
Can we commit ourselves to
imitate
his great humility, his burning zeal?
Are we so lost we can’t
forgive ourselves?
Does God forgive us when we are
not able?
Humility, Not Futility
What God has given to us
we are called to share in humility.
What the world presents to us
we are not to eye with futility.
For all problems, praise God
and ask for wisdom to care.
For all blessings, praise God
and ask for opportunities to share.
5
The Mustard Seed
Faith is knowing
there is an ocean,
because
you have seen a brook. W.A. Ward
We see the bud, and hope to
see the flower.
We know the acorn makes a
mighty tree.
We watch the second grow into
the hour
and know the hour becomes eternity.
We leap the brook and know
there is a river
and that the river flows into the sea
and when a kind word chances to come hither
I know the loving God has
thought of me.
Assyrian Galley
6
There an iron Mary stands
holding the little king
that he may see the fishing fleets
the shining sea, the church
the graveyard, and the cock.
Monstrous the statue looms
around the corner of the road
the powerful Mary and all-powerful son
the babe-in-arms
surveying the small piece of world
known as
I think the babe might like
the cock the best.
Small children’s eyes
don’t wander quite so far as sea and mount.
They grasp the near-by sight,
the thing at hand
the graveyard and the cock.
I think some artist of an
earlier year
just might have made the cock
in order to adorn his grave
hoping to have the babe’s eyes
watching over him.
He might have thought–
“When Jesus looks at this fine
iron bird
this Peter’s cock, how pleased he’ll be.
Perhaps he’ll even think of
me.”
Such I assume when I don’t
really know!
Humor us, Jesus, for the times
we claimed we understood another’s mind.
7
The Adolescent
I will grab the sun and prevent its setting
for I am young and strong;
I shall hold the sun in my
right hand
and the earth shall reel drunk-mad about me.
I shall snatch the rays of the
sun
and twist them to a crown for the wild world.
Then I shall give a merry young
laugh
for it is ludicrous that this world should be crowned.
I shall pull the golden clouds
from the horizon
and give them to this drunk earth for a pillow
and it is ludicrous. So I shall laugh
for I am young and strong.
Feeling Immortal
She stands there poised for
flight
on the brink of youth
saying, “Take me to the stars!
I must have stars to make me
happy.”
She stands there poised for
flight
scarcely thinking of those who went before.
She asks for the sun
like it was of no consequence
She is gracious, but
demanding.
She stands on the brink of
youth
quiet and eager.
She must have dreams to dream
and to make come true.
8
Equality
Only when we treat others with
equity
will we be able to live peacefully.
If we insist on superior
rights
or gather more property
we will find ourselves living in fear.
When people gather together in
fear
they will find an enemy to fight.
This will not relieve their
agony
but will cause devastation.
When those who are afraid
resolve to understand the opposition
they will find commonalities
which lead to friendship.
Nothing but harm comes
from insisting on one's specialness.
Chosen? Elected? God made us
all.
Thus, we are all the special
ones.
We must see ourselves in each
other.
When all of us see God's
workmanship
in the faces of those
around us
then God will dwell with all of us.
9
Revelation As Gift
God gives gifts of God’s own
self
to each of us.
We can find God’s Spirit
easily
in stars, in sunsets, and in flowing rivers.
We find the Spirit, too
in the garbage dumps of God’s creation
if we search diligently.
We can find God in words.
The scriptures speak to us
of different kinds of God
an angry God, a punishing God
a God of Love.
We chose our God idea.
We live out our God idea.
We can find God in people.
God is in mother love
in treasured friendships
but God also is revealed
in broken hearts, in wronged relationships
in the twisted and dysfunctional.
God’s process blossoms best
in forgiveness
dredged out of anger and despair.
10
Song for Strength of Spirit
Give me strength for the day, Yahweh
to walk my road
to carry my load.
Give me light for the day,
Yahweh
that I may see.
Please stay by me.
And while I’m asking
will you give me wisdom?
Will you give me knowledge?
Will you give me peace?
And while I’m asking
will you make me kinder?
Will you make me braver?
When I waver
will you urge me on?
Give me strength for the day,
Yahweh.
Egyptian Barque
11
Today –
we are in the presence of God.
We are immersed in an ocean of
spirit.
Yesterday
we were in God’s presence
when we argued
for the less kind position
the one that would make
more money for the wealthy
and take bread
from the children’s mouths.
We were in God’s presence
when we cheered
at the bombing of another.
We were in God’s presence
when we threw our left over lunch
out the car window.
Tomorrow, too
we will be in God’s presence.
Let us prepare ourselves
to rest in God’s presence
for God loves
to be present
to us.
12
The Vision
My neighbor had a stream
running through his property.
He had a vision of a
willow-lined pond
with water lilies
and a brood of ducklings
treading water behind their mother.
He dredged a hollow in the
earth
removed great stones
built him a wall around the hole
dammed up the end
let the spring rains
fill the cavity under the trees
and sent a mental invitation to the water fowl.
Two ducks responded to this
gift of pond
mallards with shining green upon their heads
a friendly pair, but not productive.
Must a man forego his dream
because his ducks appear homosexual?
13
Gift of The Trees
The oak and willow kept us
warm that winter
blaze after blaze of spitting, crackling wood.
The oak had dropped his leaves
in early summer
prey to some insects’ sorry appetites
giving us sign we should be using him
for heat instead of shade that year.
The willow we cut down because
his limbs
lashed violently against our wires.
He was a youngster who had
grown too tall.
We felt remorse, but had no
other choice.
So both trees kept us warm. We
felt their friendship
radiating to us, glad that they could be of use.
Early Greek Sailing Vessel
14
Time
Time is one of the dimensions
of love
our chance to send out feelers towards divinity.
Time is one way we make a
connection to God.
From past time, we develop
faith.
From present time, we learn to
love.
We look to the future, and
show the quality of hope.
We accept God’s present time
as God’s statement to us.
In our allotted time we learn
the world is sacrament
the holy material through which souls acquire being
and are enabled to think beyond that being
to what is beyond our being.
Only by touching the here and
now
can we conceive of the Totally Other.
By touching the garment of the
messenger Christ
we come in contact with Totally Other.
If we ourselves were Totally Other
we would not be able to reach towards God.
Trauma
What bird will sing
dragging a broken wing?
15
Autumn Is
when God comes walking across the grass
encouraging the living and the dying.
God murmurs to the oak tree–
“Be your most glorious;
turn red and shout ‘Glory to God!’
You must work well for me
while you are able.”
God talks to the maple.
God speaks to the dogwood and
to the alder
and God commands the willows and the birches.
Of course, some obey better
than others
and some are designed to obey better than others.
God summons the whole autumn
world.
They answer Gloria
And Adoremus.
Winter is
when all appears dead
and seems not to hear God’s voice.
But when the snow comes,
Beloved
we must not forget the spring.
Remember that God said
“I will renew all things.”
We must not forget the spring.
16
For James
This child will love the birds
though he’s no Francis.
But see how they cavort
here by the window sill
where his crib is.
This child will make great
music
though he is no John
chanting the word across
the darkness of the world
but he shall have love in his heart
to spread abroad.
He shall be baptized James
a strong man, burning with zeal
working and singing
that others may cherish
God in their
hearts.
See that hawk soaring
up above the treetops?
He shall soar
that the hearts of all
may follow him in his flight.
17
An Attempt to Visit Mao’s Tomb
We drove under flags to Tian An
where the red star shines and flags wave.
Can it be they wave for us
first a line of red
then a line of multicolor–
miles of flags.
The police believe the flags
rise and fall breezily
for an important visitor
but we sense something different.
The breast of
rises and falls in joyous breath
for us, the common people
and for the thoughts that common people bring
to share with thoughts that other commoners think.
Caring people bring more
to other caring people
than leaders sharing power with other leaders.
Premiers do not care for
thoughts of commoners.
Surely, we would have visited
the tomb
of Premier Mao
but the line was much too long.
We could not pay respect to
history
but we felt surging history
in the de colores
flags
and in the community
that is alive in
The flags spoke to us
curled bravely for us.
18
An African on The French
The black man from
walks like a king.
His face reveals nothing
but that he is wise.
He walks placing his feet
silently
like he had learned
to walk silently in the jungle.
His back is straight.
He is tall and his head is up.
His face looks strange to me.
His nose is too flat and wide.
His eyes are too Egyptian.
But he looks
like he had thought of God
and time and eternity
in the jungle silences.
Hannibal, too, proudly walked
the
with his elephants.
Roman Vessel
19
To Those Who Fret Not
Fret not - you are of more value than many sparrows. Matt.10:31
Are we of much more value, then
than sparrows?
Wherein does value lie?
In praising you, oh God
or in our inner make-up?
Is it that we have more
spirit-energy than birds?
But, if so, do we use it?
It seems we do not praise you
half as much as sparrows
though we have louder voices.
Accent on The Positive
Moses talked on the mount
to a fearsome God and heard
“You shall not–”
Love looked on a father’s face
and the word was shall.
Moses heard
“You shall not
hurt or harm or wrong–”
The Word spoke out
“You are fulfilled in love.”
20
The Foundling
Humankind, guided by instinct,
copulated
and brought forth
an idea of the creator
as loving and forgiving.
Many did not see how their
society
could possibly accept
mercy and suffering
with abusive power
so left this birthed thought bloodstained
with her own placenta
naked on the hillside
as customary with things female.
But a human, Ezekiel, came
upon it
discarded through social custom as worthless.
The human Ezekiel, cleaned it,
nurtured it.
The human Ezekiel with God’s
help
brought this seemingly worthless thought
to maturation.
Our kindlier instincts, brewed
by God
are more dependable than custom
and do not deceive us.
21
Ripples
Fisherman blue jeaned
red shirted comfortable
commander of a slight gray rowboat
on the
with ripples outrunning–
your reflection, sir
is ripples outrunning.
And I myself
how do I reflect to you?
We never know what reflections
we are sending to each other.
God give us the grace
to reflect God’s love
God’s life.
Norman Vessel, IXth Century
22
God’s Dwelling Place
The whole world is God’s
church
a holy place
the holiest of holies
and we must worship Being
every day in every way
with holy hands and helping hearts.
Whichever sex we are
a man, a woman
the holy God supports
our living and our breathing.
Each breath we draw in
that is holy breath.
Each hand we take
within our hand
each hand is holy.
The whole world is God’s
church.
We cannot thrust
this holiness of Being
from us.
23
Catechism Class
He rose from the dead, the
wise men said.
What would you do, Little Boy Blue,
if the whole wild story turned out to be true?
Terrible enough to see a man
die
under a wild and threatening sky
with gore pouring out and expiring sigh,
terrible enough that he died for you,
through your own fault, too, if you take as true
what we’re telling you, Little Boy Blue.
How can you know if your sin
hurts him
if that’s God on the cross who made us living
and hung the stars and etched the earth
and the moon and Mars, and is always giving?
Little Boy Blue, they say your
sin poked the sharp nails in.
Is it true? It is sad to think
that a lad like you
could hurt a man or hurt a God. Do you think you can?
But suppose it’s true, Little
Boy Blue? What will you do?
And suppose it’s true that
like they said
he came back smiling from the dead
and’s forgiven you, Little Boy Blue?
Suppose some morning without
warning
he comes like lightening from the sky? How frightening!
Wil