Follow the Sunrise

Follow the sunrise path

out across the ocean.

Follow the light streams

beyond the waves in motion.

Follow the sunrise

beyond the horizon

out past the ocean foam

opposite the dunes

where few feet roam.

Follow the light stream

to the curve of the earth

out where the ocean ends

and gives way to new birth.

©️October 10, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

www.robbiepruitt.com

Light Stream

By: Robbie Pruitt

Rainbow light stream

pierced the dark sky

separating earth and heaven

from ground to gray cloud

a light bridge lifting the eye

through shadowy shroud

of rain and mist and light stream

the composition of the eternal dream.

#SpillWords #English #Poetry #poem #shortpoetry

From Spillwords: https://spillwords.com/light-stream/

Shutters

Shutter the windows

and the doors

shut out the light

and the world abhorred

close it out with nail

and with board

shutter the window

and the door.

Open the windows

and the door

fling wide the shutters

to the light of the Lord

open the house

to streams of light

no more shutters

no more night.

©️May 23, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

Shutters, photo by Dave Waldrup.

Asphalt Shepherd

Walking the dark

and hardened road

the long shadows

of death forebode

I will not fear

though evil appear

for the presence

of the Asphalt Shepherd

is abundantly clear

bringing comfort

as he draws near.

©️October 15, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, ESV).

Photography by Hugh Talman, © 2022.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Fall Eucharist

The leaves fall

like crumbs from the table

in the autumn breeze—

with the chill of the air

their colors change

until the tree lay bare.

The table is set before us

as the fallen leaves blanket

the backdrop of autumn

through the windowpane.

Eucharist in the fall

reminds us of life

laid bare before winter

and the resurrection of spring

with all the life that God will bring.

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV).

Photography by Hugh Talman, © 2022.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Confession

Silent witnesses

sit in the stillness

of raw vulnerability

the pouring out of truth

weeping regret

remorse and repentance penitence and pain

and the coming restoration

from the one who bore the stain.

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV).

Photography by Hugh Talman, © 2022.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Poet’s Jasmine

Dew drops off

fragrant jasmine

blooming beautifully

in the fall morning mist

the white flower weeps

at the beauty of the sunrise and the morning light

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Poet’s Jasmine, Just Outside My Door, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

The King’s Minstrel

The King’s minstrel

kneels and plays

for the little girl

as she listens to songs of the glory of the King.

He sings a song of praise

to share the worship of his King

for all the glory that it would bring.

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Fr. Dean Schultz, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Keeping Watch

Kneeling in prayer

in soft surrender

upon the sacred floor

in a sea of outstretched hands longing for God to give us more

of his presence and healing

seeking a word and an open door looking to God to move once more.

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Prayer, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Communion Table

The bread is broken

poured out is the wine

the table set for all to dine

to feast on him together

His holy church unfettered.

His body the bread

His blood the wine

bridging eternity in present time

His life broken and poured—

the feast of salvation from our Lord.

©October 13, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Communion Table, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Palms

Palms waiving

shouts of hosanna ring palms thrown down

at the feet of the king.

Palms resting

upon wooden beam

ripped apart at the seam

of cracked wood

and splintered knot

for all who waived palms then turned away and forgot.

©October 12, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Palms on Table, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Tricolor Creation

God’s eye

is upon His creation

seen through a rose

colored glass eye

it groans in dark shadow

pierced by a trinity of light

keeping watch over the passersby

©️October 12, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Tricolor Creation Rose Window, photo by Hugh Talman.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Provision

God provides

the sacrifice

tangled in wood

caught by branches

mangled in thorn

intertwined in blood

stained thicket and scorn

snagged horns and head

bringing life from the dead

©October 7, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

“Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’” (Genesis 22:8, ESV).

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:13-14, ESV).

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Ascension

Ascended

from the abyss

up from the darkness

remised

into the light

transcended

into bliss

turned back

to what was missed

©October 6, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

Ascension, sculpture by Walter Slaughter. Photo by Hugh Talman, ©1996.

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Light Stream

Rainbow light stream

pierced the dark sky

separating earth and heaven

from ground to gray cloud

a light bridge lifting the eye

through shadowy shroud

of rain and mist and light stream

the composition of the eternal dream.

©September 14, 2022, Robbie Pruitt

From Captions – #Pictures and #Words. Captions is now available for #NationalPoetryMonth! #Captions is a book of #Photography, by Hugh Talman, and #Poetry, by Robbie Pruitt, written and compiled in 2022, and benefitting Forget-Me-Not Ministries. This book consists of 21 color #photographs and 21 #poems in #Ebook, PDF, format.

100% of the proceeds from this Ebook will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries. Make a donation to this #mission, any amount over $10.00, and receive a free copy of Captions - Pictures and Words by emailing robbie@robbiepruitt.com. Or purchase the book at www.robbiepruitt.com and all proceeds will be donated to Forget-Me-Not Ministries.

Donate and find out more about Forget-Me-Not Ministries here: https://www.forgetmenotministries.org

Graven

Jesus lay in borrowed tomb

His body still from the wounds

of suffering, agony, and death

shrouded in cloth and darkness

cold, lifeless, and without breath.

The savior lay in solemn rest

deep within the earthen womb

behind the sealed limestone

His body laid bare and alone

in anticipation of the morning

and the removal of the stone

when the Spirit’s power shone

animating sinew, flesh, and bone

birthing new life in resurrection

defeating guilt, sin, and death

altering history—charting new direction

all of creation breathing Spirit’s breath.

©️April 8, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

“They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:40-42, ESV).

A Collect for Holy Saturday: “O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

Andrea Mantegna, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andrea_Mantegna_-_The_Lamentation_over_the_Dead_Christ_-_WGA13981.jpg

The Finished Work

Knowing all was finished

the thirsty savior

hanging from the tree

from nailed angle bones

and spiked wrists,

his side pierced,

and his crown thorns,

forgave the crowd’s scorn

suffering agony and death

for all to be reborn.

©️April 7, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV).

“Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30, ESV).

A Collect for Good Friday: “Almighty God, we beseech you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the Cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

The Raising of the Cross, by James Tissot, circa 1890

Basin and Towel

Love stoops down

it humbly bends

draped in towel

hunching over basin

it pours out water

over dirty feet

and dirty souls

mingling over meat.

Love takes basin and towel

from the servant’s seat.

Love serves their enemy

and is honored to greet.

Love lingers long

at the lowly task

of hospitality and chivalry

with the loving words,

“If I do not wash you,

you have no share with me.”

Cleansed for eternity

I do for you what was done for me.

©️April 6, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

Washed Feet

Water poured into wine

joy in celebration

from despair to the sublime.

Water poured out

by the hands of the divine

over dirty feet and grime.

Water poured out

into basin from water jar

dried by hands yet scarred.

Water poured out

for purity and cleansing

living water from the spout.

Water poured out

from the side of the savior

for this is what he came for.

To be water poured out

he emptied himself in the flow

a cleansing joy for all to know.

©️April 4, 2023, Robbie Pruitt

God of the Garden

The God of the garden

cultivated Eden’s ground

and man from dust

—freedom bound.

The God of the garden

and rebellious man

twisted in thorn and thistle

at the enemy’s hand.

The God of the garden

lay cool in the borrowed tomb

to set the captives free from death

through resurrection womb.

The God of the garden

cultivating re-creation

new birth and resurrection

new life for every nation.

©️April 3, 2023, Robbie Pruitt