.

Land and Lake and Sky

Here standing by the margin of a lake,
I look into its waters, cool and deep,
Then scan its surface, glassy and opaque,
Rimmed by the ancient hills, sublime and steep.

They rise up nobly, shimmering gold and green,
Reflecting beams which, on this summer’s day,
Give all the vale a bright celestial sheen,
And make all earthly shadows fade away.

Except for one cast by a drifting cloud,
Whose rippling shadow moves across the land,
Both peak and pasture briefly to enshroud;
Its stately pace is like a saraband.

I raise my eyes above the heathered hills,
To watch that white cloud float in azure skies.
Majestic, mute, its gilded glory fills
My heart with awe, as teardrops fill my eyes.

It seems I hear a distant chorus sing.
Could these be angel voices from on high?
Or does this wondrous music rather spring,
From realms below, from land and lake and sky?

These three with one voice sing the awesome might,
The beauty, power, and goodness of the Lord,
As on His being they shed their common light,
And witness to His truth with one accord.

I have no need of angels coming down,
To hear their choirs, or see their glowing wings,
I know that God still reigns, for all around
His life and glory all creation sings.

.

.

The Old Man to His Love

Come sit with me beside the fire, for I am tired and cold.
The winter sun will soon retire, for life’s day waxes old.
Here I would have you by my side, to warm me as this day
Retreats, just like a tranquil tide at twilight ebbs away.

How sweet they were, those hours we shared beneath the noonday sun
When having first our love declared, the two of us would run
In joyful rapture all day long through fields of wildflowers,
Our love the theme of every song through time’s swift passing hours.

Think back upon the day God blessed us with a little child;
With joy, I made my arms her nest and cradled her, beguiled!
We saw her grow, throughout the years, more lovely, till the day
She spread her wings; then through our tears, we watched her fly away.

Yes, even now, I still recall the springtime of our life,
That blesséd hour when, filled with awe, I took you as my wife,
Amazed that God in love and grace at last had answered me
By sending me your cheering face, a constant light to be–

A sun to keep my spirit warm when rainfall makes me dour,
A lighthouse in the darkest storm that shines from hour to hour,
A lantern on a darksome road, a bonfire in the wild,
A cozy hearth, where dark and cold alike are both exiled.

Be near me as our eyes behold the embers slowly die.
Until the glowing hearth is cold, still hold me where we lie,
For God has given you my sweet companion here to be,
And when we part, if you should beat me home, there wait for me!

.

.

Martin Rizley grew up in Oklahoma and in Texas, and has served in pastoral ministry both in the United States and in Europe. He is currently serving as the pastor of a small evangelical church in the city of Málaga on the southern coast of Spain, where he lives with his wife and daughter. Martin has enjoyed writing and reading poetry as a hobby since his early youth.

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25 Responses

    • Martin Rizley

      I was thinking of that myself. Basically, the poem expresses in poetic form the same truth expressed in Romans 1:20 and also the opening verses of Psalm 19, both of which affirm God´s revelation of His divine attributes through the work of His hands– “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

      Reply
  2. Mark Stellinga

    Martin, what a wonderful way to start ones day – 2 highly relevant and richly relatable poems exquisitely composed. Great job, sir…

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thanks, Mark, for your very encouraging feedback. I´m glad that you found the poems both “relevant” and “relatable,” and I was able to contribute in some way to your day getting off to a good start!

      Reply
  3. Roy Eugene Peterson

    These are two beautiful poems with deeply seated sentiments that at once dazzle and compel. Beautifully done!

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Roy, I so appreciate your thoughtful remarks. It is certainly encouraging to me that you found the sentiments expressed in the poems “compelling.”

      Reply
  4. Paddy Raghunathan

    Martin,

    These are so exquisite. Congratulations!

    Best regards,

    Paddy

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Hi Paddy,
      Thank you for your enthusiastic feedback. Best regards to you, as well.

      Reply
  5. DONALD PETER McCRORY

    TWO BEAUTIFUL POEMS MARTIN; A REAL JOY TO READ: THE LANDSCAPE PAINTING SETS THE MOOD ( I HAVE SEEN SUCH IN WALES; IRELAND AND IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND.
    NOTHING CAN STOP THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND SO WE ALL NEED TIME TO SAVOUR SUCH MOMENTS AS YOU DESCRIBE AND, INDEED, TO REMINISCE ON THE LIFE WE LEAD.
    I NOTE YOU LIVE IN MALAGA I KNOW THE CITY WELL AND LIVE CURRENTLY NEAR ALICANTE.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Hi Donald,
      Thank you for your very positive feedback. The landscape painting is actually a photograph which I found and sent to Evan along with the poem. In fact, the photograph served as inspiration for the poem. When I saw it, it brought to mind similar scenes that I had personally seen on my journeys to different countries. I find that many of my poems are written as a response to some visual or aural stimulus– such as a beautiful picture, a photograph, or a beautiful peace of music. If you get down to Málaga from Alicante, be sure to contact me– Evan can give you my contact info. We´re practically neighbors!

      Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Hi Donald, Thank you for your very positive feedback. The landscape painting is actually a photograph which I found and sent to Evan along with the poem. In fact, the photograph served as inspiration for the poem. When I saw it, it brought to mind similar scenes that I had personally seen on my journeys to different countries. I find that many of my poems are written as a response to some visual or aural stimulus– such as a beautiful picture, a photograph, or a beautiful piece of music. If you get down to Málaga from Alicante, be sure to contact me– you can get my contact info from Evan. We´re practically neighbors!

      Reply
  6. Jeff Eardley

    Lovely to read Martin, I am choking up . As a long time hill walker in northern England and Wales, I have often hauled myself to many a lofty summit and stood in awe at the beauty of our planet. I can also identify with the Old man as I approach our 49th anniversary and hope the embers keep crackling for a while longer. Well done.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thanks, Jeff, for your comments. I have had the privilege of hiking in North Wales on one occasion, when I climbed Mt. Snowdon during a bicycle tour of Great Britain with a friend. I would love to return one day, as well as see the Scottish highlands, which I have never seen. Cheers!

      Reply
  7. Kate Farrell

    Martin,
    Thanks for your poems. The lines
    “Or does this wondrous music rather spring
    from realms below, from land and lake and sky? seem to echo Seamus Heaney in “The Given Note”
    “…he took it out of the wind
    off mid-Atlantic.”

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Hi, Kate, I will look for the poem you mention. I can´t say that I have ever read any poetry by Seamus Heaney. Thank you for your feedback!

      Reply
  8. Paul Freeman

    Two vivid, thoughtful pieces.

    Thanks for the reads, Martin.

    Reply
  9. Norma Pain

    These two lovely poems have brightened my morning and evoked some emotions in me. I enjoyed them very much. Thank you Martin.

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Norma,
      I´m so glad you enjoyed the poems and that they you were able to relate to them on an emotional level. Thank you for your feedback.

      Reply
  10. C.B. Anderson

    Both are lovely, Martin, but the first was sheer metaphysical delight. It’s always a good day when someone ups his or her game. Am I right or am I wrong? Did not the writing of this poem require an evolution of old ingrained habits?

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you, C.B., for your feedback. I´m sure it is true with all of us that the more we write, and the more poetry we read and discuss poetry in a forum like this, our writing matures in content and form. I think subjectively, however, we are often unaware of growth taking place in our writing skills, so the evolution of “ingrained habits” is perceived by others more quickly than by us. This poem was written rather quickly, but then I spent time “honing” it before submitting it to the website, because of a couple phrases that didn´t sound quite right. Perhaps I am just becoming more meticulous.

      Reply
  11. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Martin, these poems are heart-touchingly beautiful. I am particularly struck by the way you have described the magnificent attributes of true and enduring love in ‘The Old Man to His Love’. While the closing couplet brought tears to my eyes, stanza 5 is my favorite. It says everything… perfectly!

    ‘Land and Lake and Sky’ speaks to my very soul, the closing couplet especially. I am certain today’s world would be impossible for me to endure without the gifts you mention. Martin, thank you!

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you, Susan, for your remarks. I think that, for myself, as well, there are few themes as “heart-touching” than that of the power of love enduring through all the changing seasons of life. And along with the gift of love, there is the gift of this magnificent world that surrounds us which bears witness to God´s grandeur. These two gifts, neither of which can be bought, prove the truth of the old maxim, “the best things in life are free.”

      Reply
  12. Margaret Coats

    Martin, both poems seem so carefully and beautifully worded that I am surprised you say at least one was quickly written. But then meticulous honing can do wonders to achieve splendor like what you have produced here. Most enjoyable!

    Reply
    • Martin Rizley

      Thank you so much, Margaret, for your feedback! Although it is possible to tamper too much with a poem– some things are best left the way they are first written– it is also true, as you say, that “meticulous honing can do wonders.” I think it is good to trust in that little instinct when something doesn´t sound quite right and keep “honing” it until it does.

      Reply

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