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© Carl Martin Johnson, All rights reserved

Speak Soft Life
When I Wake I Will Be New

WHEN I WAKE I WILL BE NEW
By Carl Martin Johnson

When I wake I will be new.
Life will begin again.
Only one thing will be true:
Great happiness I’ll win.

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THE SOUL INSIDE ME
By Carl Martin Johnson

Inside I feel the rumbling,
The soul straining to be free.
Round and round it’s tumbling,
Hungry for eternity.

In this corpse incubating,
Longing for rebirth.
I must endure the waiting
While learning here on earth.

 

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I SEE YOU IN THE DAWN
By Carl Martin Johnson

I will see you in the dawn.
You will not go away.
Our love will carry on,
Though your body cannot stay.

Our spirits are united.
That love will endure.
What mortal passion has united,
Remains immortal pure.

Wait for me where you are,
In God’s special lovers’ place.
We will dwell on a bright star
In eternal soul embrace.

 

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THE MOB
By Carl Martin Johnson

Rumbling like a hungry beast,
Sea of maws open cruel,
Slavering, yearning for the feast,
Blood lust the Devil’s fuel.

Faces that once had smiled
Now torn with hateful rage.
Eyes and mouths spread wild
Like tigers in a cage.

Soon this horde will burn,
Ravage, beat and kill.
A single man may learn
But this swarm needs a thrill.

Apart they will feel shame
When the vandalism’s done.
It is the mob they blame.
But they all sinned as one

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YOU ARE KIN   
By Carl Martin Johnson

We are soul kin, you and I.
We share this time on earth.
True, not the day we die,
Or the moment of our birth.

But, the air that you exhale
Likely I’ll breathe in.
We don’t walk the same life trail,
Though I may step where you’ve been.

All humans are related,
Those here after and before.
But you and I were fated
To be united a little more.

 

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HIDING WORDS
By Carl Martin Johnson

Tonight the words are hiding.
They are tired of my abuse.
All my begging and my chiding
Proved to be of little use.

After they have slept
I pray they come to play.
If they see how I have wept,
They may even stay.

 

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I DON'T THINK I'LL DIE
By Carl Martin Johnson

I don’t think I’ll die.
It doesn’t sound inviting.
So I’ll live forever, at least try.
Though death might help my writing.

 

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DEMON GALE
By Carl Martin Johnson

Blow hard, Demon Gale.
Dislodge me if you can.
Against my strength you’ll fail.
You have met your match in Man.

You cannot loose my stand.
My feet are firmly planted.
I have at my command
The will that God has granted.

So, foul wind do your best.
Here I shall remain.
I can withstand your test.
Rage your gusts in vain.

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THE WHALER
By Carl Martin Johnson

Gray green in the ocean mist
The weathered hull emerged.
The vessel seemed by demons kissed,
From all God’s graces purged.

Her spreads of canvas tattered now
Where once billowed full white sails.
No one could imagine how
She once chased great whales.

On her deck a ghost crew stood,
Vacant eyes looking out to sea.
All their souls were gone for good.
All damned for eternity.

From the yardarm the captain hung.
His hat firm on his head.
He could not hear the watch bell rung.
His soul had long been dead.

The still ocean began churning,
And the huge black monster breached.
Eyes bright red coals burning.
Lucifer’s silent sermon preached.

He charged those who had sought him.
They made no move to run.
Long ago they fought him.
It was the whale who won.

Endless times would he devour
In revenge for all his kind.
It was he with Satan’s power,
Who his hunters’ Hell designed.

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DEMON KISS
By Carl Martin Johnson

There is spice in a demon’s kiss,
But you will taste no love.
The wondrous flavor you will miss
Comes only from Above.

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I SAW MAGIC
By Carl Martin Johnson

 

I saw magic in the sky.
It was there for just a second.
From the corner of my eye,
I thought that it had beckoned.

 

I looked back again,
But it had disappeared.
Then I found it deep within,
Not gone, as I had feared.

 

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TASTING SECRETS IN THE WIND
By Carl Martin Johnson

I taste secrets on the wind,
Blowing past from magic places.
Heavenly flavor that they send
Has angel breath’s sweet traces.

I hear them with my soul,
Full of loving, soundless phrases.
Every word a poem whole,
Ripe with beauty that amazes.

They invigorate my being,
Purify my mind,
Allow me to be seeing
Wonders before I could not find.

Their sacred chants I’ll not reveal.
Their trust I’ll not betray,
Lest new wisdom they conceal
In breezes blown my way.

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WAS DON QUIXOTE MAD?
By Carl Martin Johnson

Was Don Quixote mad?
Or was it all the rest?
Don’t you find it sad
That none joined him on his quest?

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CLOUDRIDERS
By Carl Martin Johnson

If you want to visit,
You can find me on that cloud.
Not so far up, is it?
If you make it, you’ll be proud.

Together we will ride,
See all the earth below us.
We will be the guide
For all who love and know us.

We must be careful not to fall.
Cloudriders cannot be weak.
We must be paradigms to all.
Be the perfection that they seek.

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GREAT GOLDEN SUN
By Carl Martin Johnson

Great golden sun, caress me.
Soothe me with your rays.
You, God’s torch, please bless me.
Hold me inside your blaze.

With your hot energy infuse me.
Make me stronger with your light.
So Heaven High may use me
As a soldier in God’s fight.

 

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SPEAK SOFT LIFE
By Carl Martin Johnson

Speak to me Life, but soft.
Whisper secrets in my ear.
Carry me aloft.
To Heaven lift me near.

Let me feel God’s breath,
Warm across my face.
There will be no death
While safe in His embrace.

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All MANKIND IN MY HEART
By Carl Martin Johnson

I hold all Mankind in my heart,
Those loved and those I hate.
We are all of each a part,
Awaiting the same fate.

Let me put revenge aside.
When wronged, let me forgive.
Soon we’ll all have died.
‘Til then together let us live.
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EMBRACE GOD, DO NOT KNEEL
By Carl Martin Johnson

Embrace God, do not kneel.
He did not create you slave.
No fear do you need feel.
Let your love for Him be brave.


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LOOK AT MY LIFE
By Carl Martin Johnson

Look closely at my life, young man.
I was once like you.
Every race there was I ran.
Not a thing I wouldn’t do.

I had no fear of hurt or death.
Never shirked a fight.
I ate life with every breath,
Charged boldly into night.

But I met defeat at last,
By an enemy much stronger.
It was Time who ruled my youth had passed.
I was invincible no longer.

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WAITING FOR THE FIGHTING
By Carl Martin Johnson

In the black night I lie here,
Listening to the sound
Of battle, seems close by here,
And I flinch at every round.

It will reach me soon.
In this one I might die.
I wish there was a moon
That I could tell goodbye.

I’ve been through this before,
But this night I’m near sure.
I feel my end in store.
My luck just can’t endure.

I wish I’d had a son
To carry on my name.
Tell the medals his dad won.
Brag about my fame.

I’ll pray I die well,
Hiding all my fear.
So my brothers cannot tell
My cowardice is near.

I try to think of happy things.
That only makes me sad.
If that’s what memory brings,
I wish mine was bad.

Once adrenalin gets flowing
I won’t think at all.
If I’m scared, it won’t be showing.
I’ll just fight until I fall.

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ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PLACES
By Carl Martin Johnson

All the people, all the places
Burnt into my heart.
Every breath I took left traces.
All now of me a part.
 
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SOMETHING GOOD IS COMING
By Carl Martin Johnson

That’s not thunder in the sky.
Something good is coming.
Perhaps it is God’s cry,
Or Michael’s legions drumming.

Electricity sparks the air.
My body hums in tune.
I don’t know when or where,
But something’s coming soon.

I feel the joy it’s bringing.
It will lift my heart and mind.
The universe is singing.
This time Life is kind.

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TO BE A MAN
By Carl Martin Johnson

If a male would be a man,
He must perform heroic deeds.
Doing all he can
To follow honor where it leads.

His life may well be hard.
The dragon he’ll face alone.
But he is Mankind’s guard.
The duty is his own.
 
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IF YOUR SOUL UNITES WITH MINE
By Carl Martin Johnson

If your soul unites with mine,
What being will we breed?
Will it be closer to divine?
More fitting to God’s need?
 
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I’LL FIND YOU, GOD
By Carl Martin Johnson

I’ll find you God, don’t hide.
After all, you made me.
I need you at my side,
While doubts and fears pervade me.

One day I’ll see your face.
That is my goal, dear friend.
I know your warm embrace
Is the beginning, not the end.

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COME, DEATH
By Carl Martin Johnson

Come, Death, I defy you.
Take me if you can.
Your triumph I’ll deny you.
After all, I am a Man.

My life’s the price you seek
To enter the other side.
But I will not go meek.
This Man has too much pride.

I will fight to my last breath,
Though the battle you may win.
You’ll not forget my name, Death,
And the Man that I have been.
 
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AM I
By Carl Martin Johnson

Am I truly being,
Or do I only dream?
Is this world that I am seeing
Just a ripple in Life’s stream?

Will I wake as something more,
Or rise as something less?
Whatever is in store,
I pray my Lord will bless.
 
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GENTLE SPRINGTIME BREEZES
By Carl Martin Johnson

Gentle springtime breezes
Blow new souls through the sky.
Should you find one that pleases,
Don’t let it pass you by.
 
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BLESSED
By Carl Martin Johnson

I am gifted lovely things,
Though often I ignore them.
I miss the bird that sings,
And I cannot restore him.

If I’d think of how I’m blessed,
I’d be happy all the day.
All the beauties on my quest
Would sweep dark clouds away.

I should stop and just be still,
Let Life’s joy surround me,
Feel Pure Being’s thrill.
Give thanks that God has found me.

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I SAW GOD THIS MORNING
By Carl Martin Johnson

I saw God this morning.
He was smiling in the dawn.
Then He vanished without warning.
But He’s never really gone.

I feel Him now inside,
His smile still warm and bright.
It fills me with great pride
To be worthy of His Light.

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WITH MY VERSES I'LL SEDUCE YOU
By Carl Martin Johnson

With my verses I’ll seduce you,
Both your body and your soul.
But our Father will excuse you.
It was He gave me control.
 
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AT THE END
By Carl Martin Johnson

Well, now we’re at the end.
About to turn the page.
I’m glad you’ve been my friend.
Glad we’ve been together in this stage.

Past the gate I will look for you.
Once more we will embrace.
I will still adore you.
I’ll see Heaven in your face.

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The Soul Inside Me
All Mankind In My Heart
I See You In The Dawn
Embrace God, Do Not Kneel
Look At My Life
The Mob
You Are Kin
I Don't Think I'll Die
Waiting For The Fighting
Hiding Words
Am I
I Saw Magic
Demon Kiss
Come, Death
I'll Find You, God
If Your Soul Unites With Mine
The Whaler
To Be A Man
Demon Gale
Something Good Is Coming
All The People, All The Places
Gentle Springtime Breezes
Tasting Secrets In The Wind
Blessed
Was Don Quixote Mad?
I Saw God This Morning
Cloudriders
With My Verses I'll Seduce You
Great Golden Sun
At The End
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