Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.

– Robert Frost –

Katie’s Poem

I’m still here
I stepped into the shadows
I haven’t gone away
I didn’t want others to see the face of sorrows
I’m still here
It was so much easier than I could convey
I just didn’t have the words
But I’m still here
The pain was too much to bear
I took time to sit and watch the birds
I had to let my soul repair
However, I am still here
Occasionally, a tear will slide down my face
And I still feel like my heart is on its last beat
But I am still here
Then I try to remember God’s wonderful grace
And tell myself that I am complete
I am still here
I am a child of the Most High
Despite all my failures and my hurt
I will not listen to another lie
This is where I will assert
I am still here

In Loving Memory of Katie Knox
4/15/2025

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/katies_poem_1724416

The Forgotten

Who are the forgotten?

Those hidden in the shadows of others.

The poor,

The broken,

The widows,

The orphans,

Those not wanted by others,

Those that are cast aside,

Those overlooked,

Some people

see the forgotten but rather not.

Some see the forgotten and just say, “they are just too lazy”.

Some see the forgotten and feel like they are not worth the effort.

Who are the forgotten?

The child standing in the corners of left behind.

The mom that has been pushed down in the muck.

The dad, just trying to fight his way out.

The girl that was beaten and abused.

The boy that was ripped apart with mean words.

The soldier fighting a war that wasn’t theirs.

The addict that was looking for an escape.

Who are the forgotten?

They are hidden in plain sight,

Right there in front of your face,

Even within arm’s reach,

Hidden in your shadow.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_forgotten_1632993

Face to Face with Time

I came face to face with time
It was all sublime.
Nothing was as it seemed
For I thought “surely it must have been dreamed.”
I was shown the past, present, and future.
Then I heard the words, “are you ready for an adventure?”
As I stood there looking into the face of time
I heard bells begin to chime.
He spoke, “What do you see?”
I see destiny.
As I came face to face
I could see His grace.
There is so much more than meets the eye.
Yes, to sanctify.
But there is so much more,
Not only to restore.
To be set free from sin and death,
But to breathe His breath.
To walk in the elegance of His Bride
And from His Kingdom to preside.
As I stood with time face to face,
I was shown the human race.
From the first to the last,
Seasons went by fast.
What began as perfect and undefiled,
Turned dark as they were beguiled.
Down through the ages,
I heard the voice of sages.
Curtains rose,
And curtains had come to a close.
From the great flood,
To the shedding of His Blood,
There is a sound going out across the land,
That our Father God had planned.
Kings rise and fall
But only one will forever rule them all.
There will be a great division,
Everyone will have to make a decision.
Choose this day whom you will serve,
No one can merely stand and observe.
We are called to fight
And not by sight.
Put on your armor
And don’t listen to the voice of the charmer.
Keep watch and do not slumber,
Be ready to be counted in the number.
In the twinkling of an eye,
We will be caught up into the sky.
We have a supper to attend,
So with the things of God do not pretend.
For those left behind
There will be no place to hide.
As I stood face to face with time,
I saw justice being served for every crime.
Then I turned to look
At all those that had their names written in the Book.
All the tears had been dried,
And we will be with Jesus forever by our side.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/face_to_face_with_time_1694277

For the love of salt and sea

For the love of Salt and Sea
A man,
Standing tall and feelin free.
With his old raggedy clothes,
Pipe
And his sunburnt nose.
On the bow of Ole Navy,
Just watching,
And waiting for the Jubilee.
With a voice that is raspy,
Calling out
For his old dog Scrappy.
The sun will soon be risen,
nets to be lowered,
boats could be seen on the horizon.
For the love of salt and sea,
A man,
Whose home was never in Tennessee.
Bent to touch waters of blue,
A smile,
A rendezvous.
A knowing,
His days were coming to a close,
Peering deep, forgoing.
For the love of salt and sea
A longing
Now a spirit set free.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/for_the_love_of_salt_and_sea_1655608

A Hurtful Word

Oh, the pain of a hurtful word,
To the heart everything becomes so blurred.
Once the dart has been thrown,
And from the heart you can feel it groan.
What should have been a sunny day,
Now has been turned to gray.
No more can I hear children laughing,
Instead old arguments rehashing.
All my emotions, laying ripped to shreds on the floor,
the agony I feel all the way to the core.
I have always heard that time heals,
I do not know; I think it only conceals.
Oh, the pain of a hurtful word.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/a_hurtful_word_1294543

The Lifting Of The Veil

The lifting of the veil
a revealing of all that was concealed
some see beauty, others bewail
regardless of feelings all will yield
the separation has begun
from the goats and sheep
everyone get ready for the arrival of the Son
some will shout for joy, others will weep
a metamorphous is taking place
the Bride is making herself ready
we are about to gaze into His face
for some the price will be too heavy
prepare the way
for the coming of the King
there is no more delay
the trumpets are sounding
and the veil is lifting

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_lifting_of_the_veil_1749667

The Happy Face

All everyone saw was my happy face,
But inside was a heart as delicate as a thin glass vase.
Surrounding this glass vase was a cage,
The vase was full of pain and filled to the top with rage.
All the years of not being able to express the mental anguish,
I felt like I had begun to vanish.
Who am I, I wondered?
All through life I blundered.
It felt as if no one even cared,
With every hurtful word to every physical hit, I became more impaired.
The more I became hidden,
I felt forbidden.
Always hiding in the shadows,
Clinging on to my sorrows.
Not belonging,
The inevitable, I felt like I was only prolonging.
UNTIL …
In the far distance I heard a sound,
I tried to run, but I had been found.
A voice, He called my name,
The closer He came.
I tried to hide in the darkness,
The closer He came, I felt so worthless.
Hiding behind years of shame,
Only, I am to blame.
The closer He came bringing a light of love,
There was such a peace that radiated from above.
I didn’t have the strength to stand,
Curled up on the floor I felt a hand.
With just a whisper He told to me arise,
With tears in my eyes,
And my stomach in knots,
He began to wash away all my dirty black spots.
One by one they fell to the floor,
To be remembered no more.
My name He called and said, “follow Me”.
“I have so much for you to see”.
He took my hand,
And I began to understand.
He loves me more than I could possibly comprehend,
He gave me a key to unlock the cage of everything that was penned.
I unlocked the cage to my heart,
With the strain of all the ugliness, the glass shattered and flew apart.
He looked at me with a loving smile,
And said, “I make all things new, and you are worthwhile”.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_happy_face_1608145

Sands of time

Life starts out with a slate so clean,
As the sands of time begin with a trickle
It begins with a word and then a wound unseen
More words, then everything turns physical.

As the sands of time begin to flow
A heart begins to bleed
Hanging on to a hope for a better tomorrow
Trying to come to grips, it’s not guaranteed.

As the sands of time begin to pour
The cuts are much too deep
Slicing all the way to the core
Made to feel less than and cheap.

As the sands of time begin to drip
No matter how hard you try to hide
Something inside begins to flip
A part of you has died.

As the sands of time begin to pour
You begin living in reverse
You sit up straight, take a deep breath, and open the door
You take a step, all the things that held you tight begin to disperse.

As the sands of time begin to flow
God had reached down, you began to be healed.
You came to realize that you did grow
Like an onion, layer by layer, you were peeled.

As the sands of time begin to trickle
You are free to be yourself
You have overcome every obstacle
And there, as an open book lay on the shelf,

Pages are clean
A story unwritten
It’s up to you to write the next scene,
Or leave it just sittin.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/sands_of_time_1645074

Phoenix Rising

Today, I felt as if I stepped off a cliff.
Am I just a waif?
For so long I have been in bondage.
And I have seen the carnage.
the pain and agony,
and people looking down at me from the balcony.
Today in my silence
I felt a surge of defiance.
Just as the phoenix rising
I will no more be compromising
Shackles and chains are broken
No more soft-spoken
Let the weak become strong
For I do belong
I am one of the chosen
I am like Lozen.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/phoenix_rising_1456038

Home

As I stand on the rocky shore of the bay
I look over to the distant bank
Not to look back in want
But to look back in remembrance
Of what I had left behind
To remind myself
of how far God has brought me.
I turn to look toward the future
With great expectations
I move with new hope and vigor
To what is to come.
I stand with a smile
Across my face
And a new song in my heart
Because my God is leading me to my home
In a land beyond anything I could have ever
Imagined
And my journey is almost over.
I smile because I can now see
The bright light of my home waiting for me
And hear the music of celebrations
Welcoming not just me but all those that have traveled
These long hard roads and overcame the struggles
To arms opened wide and kisses of loved ones that have
Gone on before us.
HOME

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/home_1742340

The old tattered book

There on the shelf among all the other books,
Was one, a book that was old and tattered.
By the cover, nothing could be told by the looks,
Inside were written words of a life that was shattered.
Pages were torn,
Some had sentences that were unfinished.
The pages talked about a life of great scorn,
Of a person that was diminished.
On pages written describing such grief,
One would think it would have been the end,
But no, what happened next was beyond belief.
More than a simple mind could comprehend.
The book was not what it seemed,
It was a book of destiny.
Written within the pages were things long dreamed,
Was a Scripture, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Psalm 139:16

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_old_tattered_book_1645980

The Old Suitcase

There it was, just tossed aside.
The old suitcase
No more wanted or needed.
But left.
In the dust and dirt
On the attic floor.
Remaining unopened for
Many years.
It held the memories,
of years gone by.
Lost loves,
Trips long taken,
Some good,
Some bad.
Trips taken,
Business or pleasure.
Car or train,
Bus or plane.
The old suitcase,
Waiting to be packed
And repacked.
Just waiting.
One mile or a million miles,
Always the same.
Always waiting.
People pass on,
Time slips away,
Things Like the old suitcase
Get tossed aside only to remain unopened.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_old_suitcase_1576331

Rumor Has It

Rumor has it that this world is going to implode,
People are going to get everything that they are owed.
This world is so full of hate,
Some people say that it doesn’t matter at this rate.
Everything that used to be bright and sunny,
has been turned ugly by the love of money.
People, where is the love?
There is no need to shove.
No natural affection,
Only hatred that has spread like an infection.
Everything has been divided into black and white,
Contention mounted to bring about a fight.
People have been misguided,
This world is so lopsided.
How can this be fixed, what it will it take?
We need a Savior, and that my friend is not a mistake.
And out of this bleakness,
We can have Jesus.
In this world of darkness, He is light.
To the enemy of this world, He is kryptonite.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/rumor_has_it_1436486

An Unfinished Work

The pages lay there empty,
The work unfinished,
Words left unsaid.
The books were not written,
Life felt somehow incomplete.
With the feeling,
Time was coming to a quick close,
A voice whispered in my ear,
“I AM not finished yet.”
There is more for you to see,
What you think is the ending,
Is just the beginning.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/an_unfinished_work_1645987

What Next

Where did the conversations go?
We use to spend hours on end just talking.
Time spent would just flow.
And we had fun just walking.
Now we barely even crack a smile.
For your gaze is always turned to your phone.
And I feel as if I am not worthwhile.
Even when we are together I feel alone.
I stand here wondering what I did wrong,
I know you will be quick to tell me I am to blame.
It was me all along.
Not a second goes by without somebody calling my name.
What next?
Where do we go from here?
I guess the only mode of communication is by text.
Nevermind, the notifications you just don’t hear.
I would ask you that question.
However, you don’t acknowledge my voice.
I seem to always give you the wrong impression.
And you will tell me it’s my choice.
Alright, now what?
My choice, really?
Sharing is caring… u.k … pop pop and Jojo… that’s my thought !!!
Catch you later, silly

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/what_next_1588356

Maybe I Was

I was angry
Yet then again, maybe I wasn’t.
I was hurt
Then maybe I really wasn’t.
All the mixed emotions.
I drug that closed book around,
Trying to peel it open.
Knowing I wasn’t meant to.
You warned me,
Time and time again.
All the while letting me know,
Softly telling me
Some things are better left alone, unread, unknown.
All the pain I felt, yet didn’t.
Tears leaking from my eyes,
Yet,
I wonder.
why?
Was I angry?
Maybe I was, then again,
Maybe I wasn’t.
Was I hurt?
Maybe, just maybe, I was and then again,
Maybe I wasn’t.

@ Deborah Seale Schnadelbach 2024

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/maybe_i_was_1622250

From the Dawn of the Ages

There stood from the dawn of the ages,
The Son of God in all His Glory.
Opening and closing the curtains upon the world’s stages.
Telling a redemption story.

Mercy and grace,
Mixed with Blood and tears.
Being poured out upon the human race.
Between the cheers and the fears.

LOVE
On the cross of shame held Him there.
Father God had to close His eyes from above.
All of humanities sin, He had to bear.

As the Blood ran down the cross,
It flowed through time and space.
What the enemy meant for loss,
It was in reality, God’s Grace.

Mortal man’s sin and shame,
As a free gift remove.
Only the name of Jesus can one proclaim,
And by the Blood, Father God will approve.

In the Spirit there is no distance,
No place where you can ever go.
For with God’s love there is a persistence.
And He will defeat your every foe.

For He has a love like no other,
So rich and deep.
So much more than a mother,
When you feel the Truth, you can’t help but weep.

So come one and all.
It doesn’t matter what you have done.
Whether great or small,
Don’t walk to the cross …. RUN !!!!

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/from_the_dawn_of_the_ages_1583702

Wings

As I laid there looking up at the stars,
I felt sad and all alone.
The sting of old scars
made me realize that you were already gone.
No matter what I said, I was to blame,
yelling at me about my upbringing.
All I have left is your last name,
and a heart that was crushed and bleeding.
As I laid there on the ground,
with my heart all torn to pieces.
I heard a familiar sound,
He said, “ as you let go, the pain decreases.”
I made up my mind,
all determined and true.
I was leaving the past behind,
and moving on to somewhere new.
I got to my feet,
wiped the tears from my eyes,
was more determined not to accept defeat.
I was through listening to the lies.
As all my chains were breaking,
I had gotten my wings.
While you were sitting in the dirt shaking,
I took flight and now my heart sings.
I hear a voice calling out
“come up higher“
With His voice there is no doubt,
Jesus is my only desire.
He is calling to His Bride,
All spotless and white
Get ready to ride,
I AM making everything right!!!

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/wings_1644431

A Blade of Grass

So small
insignificant it would seem
Alone
Waving in the wind
From the view
point
Of the dirt
Looking up
Wanting to be
More
Never realizing
Just how
Important
A blade of grass
really is
If only a blade can
Look from above
It would see
All the
Blades surrounding it
Never alone
Always holding
The earth
together
So the
Pressures from the
Elements
Don’t wash
Away
No matter how
Insignificant
You may feel
You are needed
And wanted
And you my blade
Are holding
Your spot on the earth
To keep it from
Washing away.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/a_blade_of_grass_1560357

The Tethered Flight

You lift me gently out of my cage
Into the palm of your hand
You smooth my feathers with such tenderness.
Up into the air, You raise your arms
In a swift motion, you release me to fly
I believed I was free
If only for a brief time.
Up into the sky
Until
My foot is tethered to what is behind
I am being pulled
Back to earth
I descend
Lower and lower
Back into my cage.

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_tethered_flight_1542693

Poetry

Katie’s Poem

The Forgotten

Face to Face with Time

For the love of salt and sea

A Hurtful Word

The Lifting Of The Veil

The Happy Face

Sands of time

Phoenix Rising

Home

The old tattered book

The Old Suitcase

Rumor Has It

An Unfinished Work

What Next

Maybe I Was

From the Dawn of the Ages

Wings

A Blade of Grass

The Tethered Flight

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