Illuminations: A Book of Poetry

By Joseph Shenk Hertzler

Illuminations
features topics of nature, religion, and memories. Joseph Shenk Hertzlers
insights into and perspective on everyday occurrences are a clear statement of
his beliefs and faith.

Joseph's deep
religious and spiritual convictions of his Mennonite heritage and pacifism
radiate from his poetry. Many of his poems contain imagery that highlights his
love of gardening and passion for birds.

Poetry
summoned Joseph to write. His eloquence in combining words to describe and tell
a story was put to use for many years writing sermons, entertaining friends and
family. Poetry gave him freedom to explain his surroundings, experiences and
learnings. During winter months when gardening was put on hold, writing poetry
allowed him an outlet that tantalized and challenged his mind.

The tradition
of Southern storytelling shines through in the Collective Memories and
Remembrances sections. His boyhood along the Warwick River in Virginia and in
central Florida provide material for amusing tales.

Josephs
poetry illuminates life in its many facets, including death. Illuminations overflows
with his humor, wisdom and incredible insight into the world we all share and
together call home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 13, 2003
• ISBN: 9781410752970

Joseph Shenk Hertzler

The author, Joseph Shenk Hertzler, utilized his writing abilities by writing sermons while pastoring in Virginia, Iowa and working at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Indiana. Over the years he used his creativity in many art forms including oil painting, gardening, landscaping, sculpture (see front cover), raising many birds including exotic pigeons and peace doves. He participates in a poetry group, affectionately called Dead Poet Society. Joseph is an ordained pastor with his M.Div. He worked at AMBS as vice-president of development for 26 years and is currently retired. Joseph, fifth of six children, spent his childhood in Newport News, Virginia and central Florida. He is married and has two daughters. He currently resides in Goshen, Indiana.

Book preview

© 2003 by Joseph Shenk Hertzler. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,

or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4107-5297-0 (e-book)

ISBN: 1-4107-5298-4 (Paperback)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2003093048

Edited by Teresa Hertzler Jantz and Julia Hertzler

Cover: Mary’s Halo, sculpture by Joseph S. Hertzler

Photograph by Mary K. Hertzler

1stBooks-rev. 10/03/03

Table of Contents

Dedication

Nature

Illumination

Gardening Illusions

Aerated Catacombs

Love Affair

Cat Claws

Dandelions

Flags Of Fortitude

The Red Hibiscus

Lunar Reflector

Within-Without

Walking on Clouds

Leveling

Fireflies

Anticipatory Lessons

Arthritic Farm House

Deer Tracks

Disrobing

Frozen

O Taste And See

To Back Into Joy

The Tree

The Next Generation

Family

Collective Memory

Delivered

The Blessing

Going on Seven

Choosing Up Sides

In Preparation

Hertzlers and Shenks

Names On Loan

Dictionaries

Travel

Crustaceans

Conquering the Eel

Of Sound Mind

Maturity

Anticipation

Pomp and Circumstance

From One Foot

Nativity

Julia

Tardy Amendment

Dignity Intact

Full-Length

Open Window

Loneliness

Read Me Like A Book

Thursday’s Ritual

Making Do

Blue Mason Jars

Collapsing Upward

Religious

God So Loved the World

A Modest Proposal For Peace

The Loft

Maneuvering Room

Kudzu

Penitence

Courtly Dove

The Apple

Agreement

Ourselves Too Seriously

Out Of Wedlock: 1948

Jesus Judiciously Jumps

Untitled

To Ricochet Heavenward

Their Lot

Applied Theology

In Joseph’s Carpenter Shop

Lord, Is It I

Tough Pacifists

Slow Death

Petty Sins

Continuity

Sweet Revenge:

The Other Side

The Quiet In The Land

Ask Them

Endangered Species

A Quiet Testimony

Pregnant Silence

The Seer

Cheek To Cheek

Twelve Disciples

Peripheral Vision

Remembrances

Captain Jack And A Hundred Swamp Cats

Who Is To Know

Artistry

Ten Years Old And Growing

Non-Smoking: 1944

Goatburgers

Less Than Humane

Swear Not At All

Judge Not

Mulberry Island: 1945

The Bell Ringer

Frontal Attack

Cornered

Collective Memories

Homemade Jars of Jam

Temporary Cleansing

Riding Toward Home

Superiority

Home Alone

Fiasco in Florida

Closing the Back Forty Gate

Smelling Out Your Own Kind

A Strand of Hair

The Reunion

Reflections

Self-Sufficiency Short-Lived

Amber Night-Lights

Insomnia

Tension

Scuffed

Maybe The Mail

Ca’wd, I Never Have (Chagrined)

Serious Business

Gallows Humor

Descending

Winning Without Entering

Avoid Perfection

Ink Thoughts

A Seminal Thought

Feedback

Double-Jointed

Paper Thoughts

Even Webster Equivocates

These I Can Do Without

Bone of Contention

Glassed In or Out

Pinned Down

Unnoticed

Please Erase Me

Like John Henry

Sparring

An Ode to Compulsion

Oddly Solitaire

Difficult

To The Aft

Still Unlearned

Metaphorically Speaking

Act Your Age

Mortality

Red Zinnias

Alzheimer’s Song Of Silence

Thin Oatmeal Mush

I Need Love

Immortality

Uncomforting Comfort

All Flesh Is Grass

The Earth Must Wait

The Eulogist

Instinct

Wildlife

Rapture

Connecting Sounds

Ask The Road Runner

Weather Reporting

Inherited Space

Greyhound

The Weather Vane

Roosters Don’t Crow

Rumination

Ruby-Throated

The Starling

Bravery

The Ultimate Insult

The Uneasy Truce

The Monkey Sock

Gently Stinging

Doves: A Necessity

About the Author

Dedication

To Mary, Julia, and Teresa

Nature

Image301.PNG

Illumination

I believe

therefore

I see

I keep needing

to be reminded

comets

moons and stars

shine

as brightly

at midday

as in a crisp

midnight sky

Gardening Illusions

The garden isn’t exactly right

a little off-balance

too crowded

lacking a focal point

perhaps a red Japanese Maple

Gardeners are like that

seeking perfection

of garden and gardener

forever planting and transplanting

over here and over there

Gardening is serious play

mixing onions, parsley and red beets

purple irises and white peonies

assigning periwinkle the task

of smothering out the chickweed

Gardeners are like that

illusions of perfection

looking outward, inward and beyond

If not this season

perhaps the next

Aerated Catacombs

I walk the air

two inches above the frail tilth

listening

as earth worms

build their aerated catacombs

rich castles

of fertile castings

an aid to earth’s

thin skin

a mandate to feed

the hungry hordes

Love Affair

I have a perennial love affair with flowers

an on-going dance with perennials

a spring ritual of reproduction

replenishing the world with splashes of rainbow

an amorous display

unashamedly public

inviting bees to feasts of nectar

lifting my spirits with fragrance

to soar with butterfly to yet another