Carl Martin Johnson
Poet, Author, Slayer of Dragons
© Carl Martin Johnson, All rights reserved
IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS
By Carl Martin Johnson
He answered duty’s call.
Put himself in grave harm’s way.
We didn’t see him fall,
Or the price he had to pay.
When they play our nation’s song.
When the flag flies overhead.
His love of country is so strong,
He is grateful that he bled.
Our sons and daughters fight our wars,
Or we would have no nation.
Inside and out they bring back scars
That we must soothe with celebration.
Extend the honor they deserve.
Thank them for their deeds.
They showed us their nerve,
Now let us attend their needs.
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A REASON FOR MY BIRTH
By Carl Martin Johnson
There is intent for each man’s birth,
A reason we are on this earth.
Each of us must prove our worth,
Or hide our face in shame.
Cowardice we must detest,
We must stand firm in every test
Tame dragons sent before we rest,
Or hold ourselves to blame.
So when we sleep deep in the ground,
Eternal peace at last we’ve found,
Our souls will be no longer bound,
And Death release us from Life’s claim.
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TIME’S FRENZIED DANCE
By Carl Martin Johnson
Time leads me on a frenzied dance,
Seduces me to follow,
To live my life in a hurried trance,
With all its meaning hollow.
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THIS MOMENT
By Carl Martin Johnson
I’ll hold this moment in my heart,
This small instant of my living.
It is a very special part
Of what this life is giving.
In this second I feel blessed.
Good fortune must have found me.
Hope rises in my chest.
Cheer is spreading all around me.
I know it will not last.
Life also will bring pain.
But I’ll pray it not leave fast,
For it may not come again.
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REFUGE IN MY DREAMS
By Carl Martin Johnson
I take refuge in my dreams,
Seek solace in illusions.
Though nothing’s as it seems,
I love my kind delusions.
Reality can be bleak,
Weighing hard upon my heart.
The comfort that I seek
My waking mind cannot impart.
But the real world I endure,
So, dear God, make me strong.
Because one thing is sure,
I’ll be in Your dream before long.
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LIFE MUSIC
By Carl Martin Johnson
I hear Life’s music playing.
It fills my heart with cheer.
The silent words are saying
All Creation holds me dear.
Like a mother’s lullaby,
The beauty does not cease.
With soft notes flowing by,
It gives my tired soul peace.
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CLEAR MIND
By Carl Martin Johnson
Sometimes I clear my mind
To let pure life flow in.
After that I find
Fresh thought can begin.
That’s when angels whisper to me,
Their sacred secrets share.
I know they may speak through me,
So I treat their words with care.
If I am very still,
I catch a glimpse of God.
That takes words beyond my skill,
For I am far too awed.
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ANGEL’S TOUCH
By Carl Martin Johnson
I felt an angel’s touch,
A caress deep in my soul,
Prying back grief’s icy clutch.
I was torn, it made me whole.
And I smelled sweet angel breath,
Spilling soft across my face,
Assuring me there is no death,
Only changing of life’s place.
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SEE WHAT’S TRUE
By Carl Martin Johnson
Let not sight obscure your vision.
It’s not your eyes that see what’s true.
Look inside for your decision.
There you’ll find what you should do.
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HOPLITE AT REST
By Carl Martin Johnson
Every time I breathe,
I give thanks that I’m alive.
My sword sleeps in its sheathe.
No more killing to survive.
My shield I use for shade,
No lance point to deflect.
My short dagger’s blade
Is rusting from neglect.
I watch my children play,
At night embrace my wife.
If the gods grant me my way,
This is how I’ll live my life.
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GREEN LEAVES TO GOLD
By Carl Martin Johnson
Green leaves turn to gold,
Then fall to earth as bright bedcovers,
The trees stand naked in the cold,
Like sad dejected lovers.
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I SEE BY STARLIGHT
By Carl Martin Johnson
I see best by starlight.
Life is lovely in its glow.
Deep into the far night
I see things I want to know.
They illuminate my soul,
Sparkling jewels gleaming,
Chasing shadows to make whole
What was hidden in my dreaming.
So I await the night
For my vision to grow clear.
Only then will mortal sight
Show what I hold dear.
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TAKE SHELTER IN THE NIGHT
By Carl Martin Johnson
Take shelter in the night.
Let its dark arms surround you.
It will hide you from the fight,
And the madness that’s around you.
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PERFECTION OF MAN
By Carl Martin Johnson
There was one Perfect Man.
The rest of us must try.
We must do the best we can,
Lest our young species die.
Pray it be our fate to grow,
Evolving birth to birth,
So one day we will know
Our purpose on this earth.
Of all things ended or alive,
Man is the chosen race.
We must more than just survive.
We must strive to touch God’s face.
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FLY HIGH!
By Carl Martin Johnson
Fly high!
Your soul has wings.
Beyond the sky
Your spirit sings.
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WHAT IS MY MOTHER NOW
By Carl Martin Johnson
What is my mother now?
How do I grasp her being?
I must envision her somehow,
But her new form has no seeing.
My mind cannot let go
Of her soft arms, kind and warm.
They’re no longer there, I know,
But a spirit lacks their charm.
I pray that she’ll forgive
If my memory keeps her whole.
For as long as I will live
I’ll feel her body and her soul.
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