A soldier's life is to take life, Be it by bullet or by knife. The alleged purpose is to preserve life, In the middle of all of war's strife. There are the quiet moments of observation, Of looking out into the depths of God's creation. Wasn't God, who dwells somewhere above, Supposed to be about nobler things like love?
Stretched out by the fire under darkened skies, The soldier takes it in with his own eyes. Everything, it seems, is a wonderment To be caught up in the respite of puzzlement. Why and how did he taste victory today When so many lives were simply cast away? Is there a god or isn't there? This is not something to be decided in moments of fear.
It's an inanity that some divide others by skin, Speculating about the gates of Heaven and who gets in. Maybe there's no worse hate than racial animosity. But to hear some folks talk, such talk is pomposity. In a soldier's experience, it's a man's character and soul. Merit, skills, and loyalty are the counted coup that console. It's the steady gaze that tells of a companion's loyalty. The things that matter most are those of integrity.
A soldier longs for homecoming and love's embrace. It gives him comfort to feel sweet moments of love's trace. Promises are made about killing no more - And wanting no association with this thing called war. Strikes of luck, like games of cards, must be well played, And taken only when the winning hand is displayed. It's a huge discomfort suffered at the hands of the creator, Too late, only because the other man is a born cheater.
Freedom is freedom, even won in the black of night. Sometimes, it must be won in ways less than right, And then the soldier finds himself on the run, Full of harsh regret over what he has done. Once sweet freedom has somehow been won, The soldier's life surely must begin as it's begun. A simple life tastes as sweet as freedom. It's worth a life's wages in this soldier's kingdom.
“Where an excess of power prevails, property of no sort is duly respected. No man is safe in his opinions, his person, his faculties, or his possessions.” – James Madison
Facing down the gates of Hell, I found a better place to dwell. My shame was provided healing, And now I'm blessed with a new feeling.
My heritage from God is in my veins As I praise His, the holiest of names. I've finally done one thing clever, As I kneel before the cross, now and forever.
His is the kingdom in this eternal hour. I am blessed t know His holy power. Jesus, our savior, causes Satan to cower. I am blessed by His eternal power.
Forever, I take part in His story, Amazed by all that is His glory. I've put on a blessed attitude, As I witness this with obedient gratitude.
Rolling thunder displays His universe, As I lay my pen to humble verse. My soul sings in my humbled tone, The Lamb gave all, and I'm no longer alone.
It is finished as He said. My burdens are lifted, and I have a clear head. My savior has healed my broken soul, With His love, He did console.
State clearly within this proclamation, I offer up the best of my humble adoration. His is the love, the light, and the truth, I wish I had known from my youth.
He has risen on that Resurrection Day. I am blessed to have found His way. And so with eyes of blessed love, I share God in all He's given from above.
(c) June 8, 2026 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Self-actualizing people are those who have come to a high level of maturation, health and self-fulfillment… the values that self-actualizers appreciate include truth, creativity, beauty, goodness, wholeness, aliveness, uniqueness, justice, simplicity, and self-sufficiency.” – Abraham Maslow
The times of the Judges were a redemptive cycle of strife, Brutally reflective of that time's strident life. In Ruth, Naomi is crushed and lost without pity. She was compelled by hunger to quit Israel's Jewry.
Crisis was averted in this harvest of a story. The road walked taught of God's bleeding victory. Israel and Moab were locked in steadfast enmity. Since the days of Moses, each was the other's enemy.
It came down to how each defined the other's morality, And as always, that came down to a remembrance of infamy. Bitter and lost inside the downside of emptiness, Naomi became Mara and was caught up in all of this.
Rolling like a hitched wagon lost on the edge of survival, Hope was all that awaited at Bethlehem's arrival. Ruth chose to walk the path of faith and love. She sought and fought for these things from above.
Moab fed the fires of its idol as a wrong-minded nation, Giving up its sacrifice as the wages of its manipulation. Even false believers will follow their God into the unknown. We do this in full faith of God's truth shown.
Boaz loved her first for her behavior and reputation. Ruth's character was impeccable by faith's foundation. Treating well those who could offer her no benefit. This was the actual tell that informed the needed fit.
Life and love come down to well-lived intentionality. It's about living the righteous life in all actuality. We evidence this by acting with forthright initiative. As our soul dances a joyful hallelujah in our declarative.
The kinsman redeemer pays the required price. Boaz, then Jesus, made the necessary sacrifice. In doing this, they showed conflict's resolution, And did so through righteous contribution.
(c) June 7, 2026 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
“Love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Chords splash down the hallways Reminding me of my earliest days. All the records with wings on, They don't require another time zone.
Leading the procession down the crosswalk, They were bent over in the doubletalk. Walking back into the places called home, There's zero chance of crashing alone.
If the walls could sing, The sweet memories they'd bring. Striking yesterday's passages for tomorrow, Built in sunshine has no time for sorrow.
The magic that was heard happening here, There's not a chance that it will ever disappear. Dreams like this are born to never die. It's a spirited thing with no question why.
The walls are filled with the past's vibration. It fills the heart with magical inspiration. Saint John's Wood, Studio Number Three, Abbey Road captured Elgar's waxen symphony.
If the walls could sing, The sweet memories they'd bring. Striking yesterday's passages for tomorrow, Built in sunshine has no time for sorrow.
In this studio, like almost no other, A waxen disc would become the mother Of generations of music through rock ' n ' roll. In came Cliff Richard with an easy stroll.
Rock ' n ' roll was once dismissed as strange, But t filled the world with its musical change. Along came the year of 1900 and Sixty-Two And a Liverpool hit was made from "Love Me Do."
If the walls could sing, The sweet memories they'd bring. Striking yesterday's passages for tomorrow, Built in sunshine has no time for sorrow.
In a zone of pleasure that pleased you and me, There was a new sound in the music industry. Shaking it up with a bit of twist and shout, There were newish vibes that came to remove all doubt.
There is a bit of soul in every given note. You can hear it reflected in every chorus they wrote. An aura of happiness lived in every song. Every note found a pocket to belong.
If the walls could sing, The sweet memories they'd bring. Striking yesterday's passages for tomorrow, Built in sunshine has no time for sorrow.
(c) June 6, 2026 Michael Doyle All Rights Reserved
Heading out of Australia to escape this Aussie winter. First stop Japan, then UK/Ireland and if work doesn't call me back, onto Chicago. I will make it up as I go along
ALOHA PROMISES FOREVER 