Words for Living

By Ethel L. Jones

The Book of Genesis gives us, The Story of the Creation. This author gives us the deeply moving poem, After the Creation. No Man, and, My Black Mind, are equally compelling in Words for Living, a book written for all of us who live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 22, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453584828

Ethel L. Jones

The author, Ethel Jones, is overdue in publishing some of her many writings of essays and stories. Th is book of poetry began when every morning before leaving to teach her third graders; she strategically began placing little rhymes for her own children to read before leaving for their perspective schools. Th e title, “Plain Talk for Plain Folks”, was considered for the book because each poem carries a message and it is desired that the message be understood by the masses. Noting that the poems fell under eight headings, which include, “Praise”, “Inspiration”, “Women”, “Family”, “Love”, “Social Issues”, and, surprisingly, “Death”, “Words for Living”, became the better choice. Besides writing, Ethel also has a natural ability to work with drama and training others to recite passages. Th is innate talent was recognized and widely used throughout her twenty-four years teaching. She was usually the director or had some intricate part in all of her schools’ productions. Of the schools attended, Savannah State University, Fort Valley State University, University of Hawaii, and Augusta State University, none was attended for writing. Each was about improving or advancing in other areas of Education. However, because she loved it, Creative Writing was probably one, if not the most enjoyable subject in Mrs. Jones’ classrooms. Many who have read some of the author’s writings have said that she should publish her work. Her self-evaluation is, “Some pieces, I am very proud to say that I wrote. But if I have talent, it belongs to the Lord, so, for that reason, perhaps I should publish”. “See Me”, “No Man”, and “I Will Not Let You” are three of several poems within the book which bring out the natural dramatic spirit of the author. Th ey are bound to incite those who love to recite poetry and make others “think”.

Book preview

 I

Words of Praise and Thanks

as There Is a God

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To my husband, Harold V. Jones Sr., who kept telling me over and over that I needed to gather up my poetry and share it with others. I probably would have never done it without your insistence. Thank you for your confidence in me.

There Is a God

In an instance, the sun became as an eclipse, giving way to the blackbirds in flight. From the birds that flew at such synchronized speed, it was evident that they had somewhere to go and a predetermined time to arrive there. Each was ascending, soaring into its own space and flapping its wings to the silent beats of the wind.

Who keeps them from flying into each other,

where not one falls or bumps into another?

Who points out food in a particular place,

and shows them water after their hectic pace?

Who shouts out the order to, let down,

yet there’s no pileup when they touch the ground?

They cannot stay long, and this they seem to know,

but who calls out that it is now time to go?

And for that formation back to the sky,

who tells them who’s first or how high to fly?

Man spends a lifetime just trying to learn

how birds know when to follow the sun.

There is a God for birds, the same God for man;

the birds just believe and respect his command.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow or reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt. 6:26, NKJV)

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well (Luke 12:29-30).

Between Me and You

Jesus, there have been so many things

Just between me and you

There have been so many troubled times when you

have brought me through

You’ve been better to me than I’ve been to myself

You have faithfully loved me like no one else

I just want to recall one time when I was driving

on Roadway 225

Lord, I cannot thank you enough for keeping me alive

Out of nowhere, I was headed into a tree,

a tree among trees as my peripheral noted three

As always, I called out to you, asking you,

begging you, to please tell me what to do

You answered with a clear voice within my head

It is just as clear today as it distinctly said:

"My child, you’re not yet hurt, now put on the brakes!

Again, put your foot on the brakes, that’s all it takes!"

The next thing I knew, people were around my car

They were all saying, "How lucky you are,

you must be blessed or have a special star!"

The man who hit me said he had fallen asleep,

That he worked too many hours during the week

Lord, I know you were working from up above

Showing me and blessing me with endless love.

Between me and you, it has always been that way

Between me and you, that’s the way it will stay.

Only God Can

I see lights in the huge buildings so high

Skyscrapers that seem to touch the sky

What is going on in the rooms up there?

I silently think as I sit and stare,

Man can make structures as tall as can be

But only God can make a sea

I see birds circling the bright blue sky

There’s food below; they seem to cry

How can they see from a distance so far?

I quietly think as I look in awe

Man can make airplanes, boats, and trains

But only God knows to send the rains

I see flowers blooming all over the land

Some growing in water, a few growing in sand

Who thought of all these radiant colors

Where each is different from all the others?

Man can send a rocket straight up to the moon

But only God can part the night from the sunny noon.

Thank God

Count each of your blessings one by one

Praise God for everything that he has done

Thank him for opening your eyes to see

that fine person he wants you to be

Count your blessings; your Father loves you

Believe him for the things he said he’d do

We’ve been blessed with an equal good

Go, pursue it as you should

Thank God for that talent that’s still within

Refine it and share it with other men

Jealousy, hate, and the refusal to forgive,

They must be dealt with before one can live

Then thank God for your blessings, one by one

Thank him.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation,

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song (Ps. 95:1-2).

Open My Eyes

And Jesus addressed him (Bartimaeus), saying, What wouldst thou have me do for thee? And the blind man said to him, Rabonni, that I may see (Mark 10:51).

Lord, although I am not visually impaired,

I still have blindness that has to be aired

There is a rage within me; I’ll call it, hate

I must lift from me this tremendous weight

It limits me Lord; it holds me down

It sets my face into a scowling frown

Of my neighbor I have jealousy

I must shake my ungratefulness out from me

As I spend my time gloating over his goods,

I don’t see my own blessings as I should

Sometimes I fail to show my fellow men love

I forget that you see me from up above

So, Lord, open my eyes, enable me to see

I must bless others if you are to bless me

I often hold grudges within my heart

I must forgive and make a new start

Life is too short and days too few

To allow one’s past to rule the future