A Religious Journey

A great distance we have traveled
on land and sea,
with tidal waves and winds 
of rage, placing
our lives in Jeopardy.

This hazardous journey
and leap of faith,
has brought us to this land,
where the  sun shines bright and
the days are filled with Mercy and Grace.

We give thanks to he who guided us
with keen eyes and mighty hands.
He carried us through the tidal waves
to such a place of beauty
facing the perils of the raging winds.

We should forever give honor and praise
to the God of all creation and the provider
of all of our needs....

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

The River's Edge

She ran vicariously every
day to the river's edge.
My bones would chill
of harm I dread.

For near she sought
to see beneath the waters,
a shadowy frame of two 
figure with a ghostly laughter.

This is the game she played
at the river's edge,
with her unseen friends,
Lily and Fred.

Today she brought to the 
table, broken toys
and a golden frame
of a girl and boy.

To her mother and father,
she spoke, this is Lilly and Fred.
They have a beautiful home
at the river's edge.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

Clara Hood

That old building with shattered windows
and doors of splintered wood,
vacant rooms with ghostly sounds
and the foot prints of Clara Hood.

With her weathered skin
and piercing eyes,
her form had begin to
materialize.

Her haunting voice and
slender frame,
her knife like finger nails
and her hickory walking cane.

Like yesterday, I can remember
the floor stained with blood,
the ax resting on the old wooden stove,
dismembered on the floor was Mr. Hood.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

MYSTERIES

I have looked in the mirror
of my soul, for an answer 
to this mystery, with the 
purity of a child's heart.

How our minds melt and
our feelings runs free.  And 
yet the bond of passion maintains
its hold in pieces and in parts.

This mystery of feelings and
illusions of grandeur that surfaces
so freely and uninhibited, transports
my entire being to a distant place.

In your presence, I see the best 
of me and all that I desire right before
my eyes.  And yet I sometimes feel like 
an Angel that has fallen from grace.

I long for the gentle touch of your hands,
the softness of your lips, the soothing 
and melodic sound of your voice,
the sincerity of your feelings.

I have paced the floors of my
conscience, with all the years of my wisdom.
I have engaged in dialogue with the super
natural, but nothing is revealing.

It must forever  remain a MYSTERY.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

In The Stillness Of The Night

In the silence of our minds,
we seek refuge from danger.

Attempting to escape the dark zone,
where strangers dare and strangers linger.

Perpertrators of death and destruction,
broken hearts and unfinished dreams.

Treacherous walkways, an unending journey,
where the witches weaves their schemes.

In desperation we seek our family and friends,
when safety of silence eludes us.

When restless nights and tormented days,
controls our thoughts and destroys our trust.

We look relentlessly in our sordid pass,
for  those who came first and left last.

In the stillness of the night,
in the silence of our mind,

we continue to see refuge from danger,
by going to a stranger.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

FATHER

Traveling far,
energy low,
light changed to darkness
many miles ago.

Trying to reach home
before his end,
traveling this road alone
all over again.

Last chance cafe
is up ahead.
I will just pull in, not to stay,
just for coffee and shortbread.

Then it came to me,
his heart is weak.
This is my father I've got to see.
It maybe the last chance we have to speak.

For wisdom is gained
and a lesson is learned,
never to be late again.
For this I yearned,
just to whisper his name ....Father

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyright 2003

Oh! How Dare We Grumble

Oh!  How dare we grumble
at crumbs of bread,
when once we had our
choice of meat.

Our wines made sweet
with earthly flavors of vintage herbs,
that only nature could provide.

Now in misery we
hang our heads,
because all our riches
are now deplete.

With self inflicted vanity
we destroyed our labour,
that which was once driven
now have no drive.

For we should be content
to starve of nourishment.
When our bodies and minds
were eagle to plow the earth,

we failed to put in storage, the
bounty of that which nature
gave birth.

Oh! how dare we grumble.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

A WILD FLOWER

How beautiful they are with
their array of colors, majestic
display of beauty and
dignity in which they lay claim.

On the hillsides, mountain tops,
highways, byways and along
side the river's edge, they
cannot be contained.

Under all manner of conditions,
they flourish when others perish.
Their strength is hidden by their frailty,
but destined to beautify the earth.

For you are like a Wild Flower, so 
slender and curvaceous, so titillating to
the senses, with the quickness of mind
and a soul that mends.

I long to touch the perfectly created
petals and caress the elongated stems,
but I awake to find no end,
only to begin again.


Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2003

THE JOURNEY-Dr. Maya Angelou

I have found myself listening to
the rain drops from Heaven's reservoir.
When all else fails to attract my attention,
I find myself focusing on the blessings
that are locked behind  Heaven's door.

The Great Dr. Maya Angelou knew this
all to well.

The key to her blessings are safely stored
in her spiritual relationship with the Creator.
She was  fearless in her pursuit of promises made.
God has provided the armor for all of my wars.
When I get weary, I focus on the motivator.

The Great Dr. Maya Angelou knew this
all to well.

Biblical truths, prepared from the beginning of
God's creation, a road map for my  journey home.
It was never said that there would not be problems.
God did promise to provide, protect and guide me,
if I was obedient, I would never be alone.

The Great Dr. Maya Angelou is a perfect example
of what can be achieved when you are lead by 
your convictions, an unquenchable thirst for 
knowledge and faith in the Heavenly spirit that
that guided her.

The Great Dr. Maya Angelou knew this 
all to well.

In spite of all of her life's obstacles, she gave birth
to a legacy that will last for an eternity.  As she so
eloquently stated in one of my favorite poems..I
RISE, I RISE..

Obedience to God's Statues and Laws are required
for (FOR THE JOURNEY)

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2014,

The Promise Of the Rainbow, His hands extends Thru The Rain

Turbulent seas, we have to cross,
believing on our own we bare the brunt of the pain.
Unable to see the need for the extended hands
of the Creator that extends thru the rain.

The ship we sail on is frail and useless
against the torrential rain storms of life.
And yet we continue to pursue with such vigor,
that which lights up our eyes but is full of strife.

Onward we sail to distant lands in search of
earthly things, seeking carnal satisfaction.
Forgot we have, of the spiritual connection
to He that created us, we have no reaction.

Soon the end will come, He will let go of the sail,
because you have failed to honor your Creator.
Your ship will be tossed to and fro, it will disassemble.
Destruction will be your doom, and your cries will be greater.

You will be left reaching for the hands that are not there.
You will feel only the sharpness of his tongue.
His words will pierce your heart.
He will remove you from his memory, his will be done.

He will send forth His word into the world,
He will remove all confusion and only the pure
in heart will remain.  When he sees the Rainbow in
the sky, he will remember his promise. You will
be able to see His hands as they extends thru the rain.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2010

Where The Strength Resides

When the creative process of our mind
seems to loose its  fervor. Where do we
look for refuge?  Through the prism of
a lighted fantasy.

The challenge of finding our way in
the dark, gives us pain and pleasure. Our
mind is consumed with the idea of reaching
our goals and life's destination through the
easiest route of resistance.

In doing so, we loose the opportunity to
learn from life's struggles.  Knowledge that
would improve our ability to survive.  We have
been taught that less is more.

We refuse to believe that we are spiritual beings
rapped up in a physical body for the soul purpose
of doing the will of our creator.  How long will
we continue to struggle before we realize where
the strength resides.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2011

THE PARABLE OF THE WILLOW TREE

The Willow Tree with it's drooping
eyes filled with tears.
For centuries enslaved by the
master's will.

For tall it stood in a stately fashion,
a giant shadow it cast,
with it's magnificent foliage, covering
those who walked down it's path.

Under it's protective canopy
were colorful umbrellas,
lavish dresses and songs sung
by slaves, I am my masters's fellow.

In the nearby fields, there were no Willow Trees.
The scorching sun burned their skin.
There were no route of escape for
those slaves who wanted to leave.

Now! the master is dead, the slaves are free.
The road to freedom is  filled with joy.
Where the earth was once scorched by the sun,
it is now blocked by the same Willow Trees.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2013

WHO

Who have the keys to your success?
Who controls your future plans?
Who picks you up out of your mess?
When you find that alone you stand.

Where are your drinking friends?
Who pays the court cost?
Who stands in judgement, who defends?
Who finds you when you are lost?

Who picks you up when you fall?
Who dust you off when you are dirty from sin?
Who forgives you for all of your transgressions?
Again, again and again.

Who wipes the tears from your eyes?
Who heals the scars caused by your pain?
Who can send the thunder from Heaven?
In the dry season, who sends the rain?

Who created the oceans, rivers and seas?
Who taught the Robin to sing?
Who formed the earth when it was void of substance?
Who sends the winter, who sends the spring?

Who renders justice when justice is due?
Who see through the dark as well as light?
Who remembers when others deny your existence?
Who in the end, takes all your wrongs and makes them right?

Change "WHO" to "GOD"
Such a simple answer...

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2012

The Unjustified Slaughter of George Floyd By Police who Are Hired To Protect And Serve

• I felt that this tribute to   Brother Trayvon Martin needed to be reposted,  to bring our country's attention to this travesty.  The only difference is, I have changed the name to  Brother George Floyd, to reference the police brutality,  that is directed at the Black people in the United States of America.

How many times have we been
confronted with a fear that engulfs us
from a knock  on our door.

How many times have justice 
been misdirected when hatred and
misplaced laws lie at its very core.

With bad laws and suspicious intentions,
the act of an intentional death has
once again raised its head.

Where is the justice that the constitution
speaks of.  An inclusive document for
its entire people, so I have read.

One would think that more then four hundred
years of hatred and bigotry would have
been enough to turn the hands of time.

One would think that civility and justice
would serve as the main talking points,
instead of creating a cover up for a crime.

So many people have suffered, and
died to remove the stigma of racial injustice,
yet we find to some the path is still closed.

There are those that refuse to render justice
where justice is due.  But we as a people have an
obligation to fight to ensure that the cover up is exposed.

We must refuse to give up on our people, we as
a people must spread the word of truth and justice.
We must instill in them a sense of pride.

I for one am tired of listening to the news of
racial profiling, with an unlawful arrest, and that
another one of our black brothers has died.

It is my prayer that Brother George Floyd  death will
not be invain. The next victim could be
your brother or sister, your son or daughter.

Being the victim of an unjustified slaughter.

Our prayers are with the family of Brother George Floyd

TO MY WIFE ON HER BIRTHDAY

This is the time of the year that our expectations are
high especially when we were young. 
We relish our family and friends and that special
someone, sharing in our special day of fun.

We expect all sort of things from
those who share our lives and space.
We sometimes find ourselves reminiscing
about past birthdays in a quiet and isolated place.


It is always good to remember and reflect on
happy times and not the things we dread.
You see the quilt of happiness and sadness
are woven with the same thread.


So don't be mislead by the melodious tones
and happiness portrayed as joy.
Beware of the fleeting remnants of birthdays gone by,
and little girls dreams and big girls toys.


Always remember that the true meaning
of a birthday is the gift of birth.
Experience it, share it and protect it
while you are on this earth.


Your birthday is very special to me
because I have you in my life.
And it becomes more special with each passing day,
because you are my wife.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Your Loving Husband
Gamaliel

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding

"BETRAYED BY HER EYES"

I have been unable to dream
for lack of images.
I  am unable to retrieve from
the deep depositories of my mind,
for lack of a connection to
the unknown.

The intensity of her eyes
brings to bare a revelation of
truth and sanity.
When I have within my
grasp the true self, I
discover the reflection in
the mirror.

In the mirror, I can see only
her eyes.  The entirety of
her being escapes me.

Her eyes once again
betrays me.

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2011

When The Storms Comes

Who were there when the storms came?
Who has the power to stop it's anger?

Yet we refuse to acknowledge the Creator
of all things.

Who allows us to weather the storms?
The awesome hands of God, as He
chastise us for our trangressions.

We have become students of our
own ignorance.  We have learn nothing
from  God's lessons.

Who makes the earth shake, and the
heavens to release it's rain?

Who makes the thunder roar?
Who shakes the earth at it's core?

From the four corners of the earth,
the wind whisper His name.

GOD!!!

Poetic Verses By Gamaliel H. Gooding
Copyrighted 2011