Presentation given April 19, 2011 at New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord, NH

1. Poetry Where You Live – RepriseNHTI – April 19, 2011 Raymond A. Foss Poetry Where You Live 160 Main Street Suncook, NH

2. Beach Sand Maybe it is the memories the change of pace that brings us there the sense of vacation maybe the smell of the place the sights of the gulls, the dunes, the grasses but oh it is the feel of it, the crunch and slide of it the feeling of beach sand so different from dirt, soil, loam no, not earthy, moist, rich, but oh so granular and gritty even when wet, moveable paper spreading under toes sliding beneath the soles smoothing my skin clearing my mind unburdening me of the rest drawing me to the tactile, the feel of beach sand

3. Casting Stones Casting stones out into the deep waters creating ripples to wash across the world Words of love of comfort, of hope sharing messages of Christ his lessons for our lives to bring us back to God January 28, 2010

4. The Rich Man – haiku – 2 Told to follow Christ to sell all his possessions his sorrow profound November 14, 2009

5. In Denial, Following In turning, submission in turning, grace responding to His call to focus on God in denial, following giving up control centering on Christ walking with our Savior all the days of our life March 26, 2011 and March 27, 2011

6. A Rainbow of Hope An urgent call a race down the dark stairs a flicker of color as I ran outside an arc, His bow, His promise shown down on us standing in awe and wonder the rich color muted in the city It curves over the alley above the tenements, the wires the clutter, the stresses of life a timely reminder in good times and bad of your faithfulness, your covenant with your people a beautiful arc, a shimmering bow a pleasure to behold a piece of hope placed for a moment, a few seconds unnoticed by so many, lost in the push and pull of daily living shared with those lucky few who stopped for a moment or two and looked up July 28, 2006 20:02 Manchester, NH

7. Marigold Monarchs Fidgety, shy, tremulous introverted royalty hide, run, burst to flight normally, as I approach with my predatory posture sudden motion toward them but not this day, posing for the camera, star after star ready for their closeup this day holding still, primping, pining for the camera for their moment in the sun for stardom October 15, 2006 15:45

8. The Words of Creation God of creation, speak your words to me through your world let me hear your voice in the heavens in the earth, the seas, in all that dwell, all that live, all that exist within your creation Let me hear the glory of you, shouted by the mountains, sung by the wind, preached by the plants, written by the animals, witnessed to by the grains of sand proclaimed by every star in the sky, beyond my vision, my ability to perceive Share your love in the voice of creation for all to see, to know your grace and feel your loving presence May 8, 2008 Psalm 19:1-4

9. A Fruitless Tree A tree, not bearing fruit A landowner impatient, ready to pass judgment, A gardener, ready to work, asking for more time, to nurture and feed the fruitless tree Who are the players, the actors in the parable the tree, the landowner, and the gardener? We aren’t told, but it is a very telling story for the lessons it can teach about so many things March 15, 2007 13:22 Luke 13:6-9

11. Living Water, the Stain of His Blood The altar this morning draped, brightened by living water, by the royal stain of His blood vivid shimmering color, textured, flowing beside the open bible, below the cross, the lighted candles a mere hint of the grandeur the hem, the robe of the creator, filling the temple October 19, 2008

12. Immersed in Love Drenched in the waters immersed in love calling us ever out of God’s great love Seeking our acceptance the beginning of our faith saying yes to God’s offer immersed in his grace March 19, 2011

13. On Wings Eagles’ wings, rising up rising on wings, like wings of eagles mounting up on high no longer weary, able to fly we rise, up from our path climbing up, rising up on wings as of eagles September 26, 2008

14. The Mystery of Her Gift We cannot understand we won’t comprehend the mystery of her gift what it means to me The power of her faith beyond my feeble mind leaving all to God trusting in him All she had she gave in the offering plate on the altar cloth unto our sovereign God Believing in him that he would provide all she had she gave humbly, to the Lord Luke 20:45-21:4 The scribe and the widow’s offering

15. The Cries of the Martyrs Do they hear their cries steeling them to action do the people hear the cries the cries of the martyrs So many innocents gunned down by the madman murdering his people to hold on to his power Torturing protestors stealing them in the night removed from their own homes in terror and fright The world complicit while it sits in silence allowing the tyrant to prowl the darkened streets March 5, 2011 massacre in Zawiya

16. Buoyed by Your Love Standing on water buoyed by your love even when the winds make some standing confidently knowing you can hold me up in the storms of life going where you would lead me held within your embrace feeling you with me guiding my feet standing on living water buoyed by your love August 2, 2010

17. If we were Christians If we were faithfulif we were Christiansfollowing Christliving by God’s commandsto love our neighborsour enemiesas ourselvesWhat would we sayhow would we speakif we were faithfulif we were Christiansfollowing Christliving by God’s commandsgoing where we were sentinto this worldbearing his loveoffered freelyfor allwithout exceptionreservationWhat would we sayif we walked as we claimbearing his nameWould we be silentin the face of injusticeWould we be silentwhile they were in chainsFebruary 20, 2011Matthew 5:38-48