To Carry Sorrows

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To Carry Sorrows
by Gideon Burton

a meditation upon Isaiah 53:3-6 (KJV)

To carry sorrows, this the pressing weight
the press and wait, uncertain how much more
or what it's for, these carried sorrows, freight
toward a destination without shore
nor harbor, harboring the laden craft
suspended in a deepening depth, a grief
whose eddies slowly spin this shaking craft
til all is tearing, torn upon the reef.
To carry sorrows, bury sorrows deep
within the organs' darkened tissue rich
with wrong, the layered cankered cancers keep
their host and host the oily muck and pitch
and how can I abandon cells and skin
to leave these sorrows, even now, to Him?

Provided For

creative commons licensed by James Jordan

Provided For

by Gideon Burton

after D&C 78:17-18:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

What copious abundance, ready, set,

awaiting and prepared by Father's hands

but hidden to your little eyes: the grand

and great, the fishes heavy in their net.

Too little, children, yet to see or bear

the rush of grace, the hush of others' pain,

the cresting crush of deserts' sudden rain,

the blooming flush of flesh in fresh repair.

Yet I will lead and cheer you, find your way,

will clear the tangled knots and smooth the road,

will coach and calm and cry and seek and pray.

In joy await: the kingdom keeps for you,

eternities that surge and swirl and flow

in blessings, riches -- quiet, promised, true.

Seeking the Good

Seeking the Good
by Gideon Burton

inspired by Philippians 4:8 and the 

13th article of faith 

All lovely things and virtuous, the white
inside of light, the sting of sweat, designs
that angle gravity, the binding bite
of interlocking fingers, laughter lines--
All things of good report: a budget kept,
a double-windsor tied on first attempt,
a flaky crust, a long jump deftly leapt,
a child from heaven's mercy not exempt--
I see the more I seek the more I see
that everywhere and everything and more
is more: the world in messages for me,
a refuge, message, comfort, pleasure, store.
     I look to see fresh subjects for bright praise,
     and warming oceans wash me in their waves.
    

Photo: flickr - Phil Strahl

The Shining One

The Shining One
by Gideon Burton
after D&C 88:6-13

The Shining One, because he has ascended,
ascended from the depths where he descended;
he spans the frame where timelesses is ended
and having all transcended, comprehended.
This is the light of Christ, the son of suns
and master of the monthly moons that run
against the ermine fields of stars begun
in aching eons past when Jesus spun
the elements, the cosmos kindled bright
brought forth from brooding bosom depths divine
to shine again, again against our night
and spangle gracious knowledge, godly wine
cascading liquid light from God's abyss,
eternities with words as brief as this.

Photo: flickr - Lynn (Gracie's Mom)

---

D&C 88:6-13

He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

Unto the Least

Unto the Least
by Gideon Burton
after Matthew 25:35-40

Unto the least of these as unto me:
the hungry, thirsty, those who are estranged;
the naked, sick, or those in custody;
all souls distracted, desperate, deranged.
To him a loaf of bread, a plate of meat;
to her a cup of cool and quenching water;
to them an open door, a ready seat;
a shirt for him, a dress for this one's daughter.
An hour spent beside the sick in bed;
a visit to the prisoner in jail;
a healing word where injury was said;
encouragement to those who try but fail.
     Provide for them and you provide for me:
     as you come unto them you come to me.
  

---

Matthew 25:35-40:
"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

I, Nephi

I, Nephi
by Gideon Burton 
after 1 Nephi 1

Well taught, well tried, well fed by the divine,
I make a record, true, by my own hand.
My father trembled as the heavens shined,
and tasted God descending, brightly grand.
He shouted to Jerusalem, "Repent!"
He named their evils, spoke what he'd been shown.
He joyed in God, although his strength was spent.
He prayed for them until his spirit groaned.
For nothing. He was threatened, mocked, and scorned
(So much within so little space to tell!)
No matter a Messiah would be born;
He was rejected, threatened, as their anger swelled.
     I'll tell of our deliverance from this hate,
     For tender mercies follow those of faith.

Photo: flickr - zoovroo

In Weakness, Strength

Recently I completed years of service as the leader of my LDS congregation. One of the themes of my ministry was the consecration of our weaknesses. I found that as people were candid about their needs (of whatever sort), it made possible the strengthening and unity of the whole since it gave occasion for people to serve. I've always loved the candor and spiritual passion of St. Paul and the admirable way in which he owned up to his shortcomings. When writing to the Corinthians, he confessed to some troubling personal weakness, a "thorn in the flesh." And this passage has become, of course, one of the greatest New Testament lessons about God's grace.


Here is my imitation of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, followed by the original verses from the King James Version.

In Weakness, Strength
by Gideon Burton
after St. Paul

Unmeasured comes the flow of revelation.
(A thorn was given to me in the flesh;
it buffets me, deflates me as it crests)
Unmeasured comes this harsh and thick temptation.
Three times I've asked Him, pleading on my knees,
that this could pass, that I escape its grasp.
"My grace," He answered as my hands unclasped,
"It is enough for thee, enough for thee.
In weakness is my strength made manifest."
And so, infirm, unwell, I know the Christ.
Reproached, cast down, distressed -- all one device
to toss me headlong to my Savior's breast.
     How weak I was in weakness, but no more;
     for I am strong when weak before my Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)

7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Feel free to copy, imitate, remix, or redistribute this poem as long as you give proper acknowledgment of authorship. Photo: flickr - Leia Speia