Paved With Petals

In June I went whitewater rafting with family and friends. In the most dangerous part of the river, the raft I was on flipped over. It was quite scary to be under the water in a place where I knew people have died before, and not know if any of us on the raft would reach the surface again. Thanks be to God, we all survived, but I realized how much I've taken people for granted. Every person on the raft has had an impact on my life, and life would not be the same if someone had drowned. Since then, I've determined that I am going to appreciate people more, and be more thankful for them.
This poem is about taking people for granted, and the decision to do so no longer:

Paved With Petals

When you had paved the path with petals
I’m certain I was very glad!
But time eroded gratitude,
’Til I was dull to all I had—

In time I wrongfully assumed
That roses cover every road;
It wasn’t ’til I traveled far
I saw the beauty you bestowed—

And now I’m coming home again,
To lovely paths with petals paved;
I crown each piece with smiles of joy,
And thank you for the gifts you gave.

(c) 2005 Benjamin Graber

More poetry...

To read more of my poetry, you can visit the following sites:

http://home.neo.rr.com/thegraberclan/Fts/morethanconquerors.htm - I am the editor of "More Than Conquerors", a Christian poetry eZine. We welcome anyone interested to subscribe. We also encourage any poets who are interested to share their talents.

http://people.lulu.com/users/index.php?fHomepage=81560 - My first published book.

I have a few poems posted on www.poetry.com

With the help of a friend, I am also working on a new website. Hopefully it will be finished within the next few months.

The Flight of an Arrow

The majority of the poetry I write is rhymed and metered. But every once in a while I try my hand at free verse, if I think it fits better with the idea I have. Here is the latest free verse poem I've written:

The Flight of an Arrow

Steady, ready to go
Wherever I am sent,
He pulled me to his ear,
And I heard him whisper
“Fly!”
And I was released;
A fog of uncertainties
Seemed to dampen my flight,
But the arm was true,
And I carried on.

Dreams of striking crows,
Or piercing the armor
Of some nonexistent foe
Were on my mind,
But I, the arrow
Had a future determined
By the bow
And the arm that was true,
And I carried on.

And the arm and the eye
Had an aim that was true,
And when I was embedded
In the center of the Father’s will—
The bulls-eye of eternity—
I knew the arm was true,
And I had been carried on
To what was best…

(c) 2005 Benjamin Graber

This poem used a new metaphor to explore a fairly common theme in my poetry: God knows best, and He is always faithful to work everything out for our good. He never misses His aim.

Contentment

Contentment

To watch the valley from the mountain
And revel in the view
Instead of seeing someone there
And wishing it was you.

(c) 2005 Benjamin Graber

This is the shortest poem I've ever written, but I really like the metaphor. Too often we look "out there somewhere" for happiness, not realizing that God has us where we are for a reason, and we can be perfectly happy in His plans for us.
This poem sprang from some of the things God has been teaching me the past few months. I tend to dream, like most young people, and can become discontent when I don't see my dreams come true. But I've been learning that God's dreams are much better than mine, and I can be content with whatever are His plans for my future.

Channels

Channels

It seemed that I would flow forever
In every well developed rut,
Unable to escape the known,
New channels through I could not cut—

I underestimated you—
You dig new channels with your spade,
And beckon me to follow you
Through each adventure that you made—

The choice still lies with me, I see,
To drift along the ruts of men
Or flow your paths with peace in hand,
Defying every lion’s den.

(c) 2005 Benjamin Graber

This poem was written in response to the awesomeness of seeing the Holy Spirit really moving in my life the past few months. Some of the ruts in my life I had been caught in I have been able to break out of because of the Holy Spirit's power and leading. I want my entire life to be defined by the Holy Spirit's leading instead of the ruts of the habits of selfishness.

Design Yourself A Rainbow

Let me start by sharing the poem that I wrote in January of 2003, which inspired the name "Climbing Rainbows":

Design Yourself a Rainbow

Wisely choose your colors
Of a thousand different hues
Creatively paint your path
Full of reds and greens and blues

Let your greatest dreams take flight;
Design yourself a rainbow:
Passage to another world
Yet to which we cannot go!

And although your colors shine,
They’re not most essential,
But instead, if you could reach
Far beyond where others will—
Bring back a piece of heaven,
And your priceless work of art
Will be sure to touch a heart!

(c) 2003 Benjamin Graber


One of the greatest functions of poetry is its ability to serve as a conduit to share inspiring truths. Poetry touches the heart and inspires the soul in a way that prose cannot. This is one reason I love poetry so much.

Welcome to Climbing Rainbows, the blog dedicated to exploring life through poetry!
I hope that this site will be an encouragement to all who visit.

Benjamin Graber