Walls

A wall that's built
On lies and guilt
Is hardly a wall at all.
Stones soon will tumble
And cement will crumble
And surely, it will fall.
A Judas kiss
Begins with bliss
And seems like a supporter;
Holding the bricks
Are concealed tricks,
What some assume is mortar.
But if rain drips,
The stones will slip
For lack of a foundation;
No longer will
This 'wall' be still
A mask of adulation.

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

we rise up

with heavy hearts and overflowing souls.
we rise up
with blindfolds, our feet knowing where to go.
we rise up
slaking our thirst and surrendering our fears.
we rise up
out of the ashes and through the tears.
we rise up
against the known and the unknown.
we rise up
to stand for the fallen and alone.
we rise up
with hope and overwhelming grace.
we rise up
ready to take our place.
we rise up,
o sons of God,
we rise up.


© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

April 5, 2011

"How insignificant I seem,"
said the little seed,
"Why do I compare me
to the olive tree?
Nothing comes easy,
not even melodies.
And honestly,
I don't need your sympathy.
Farmers sow and reap -
they like what they see -
but I'm painted in ivory.
My envy screams like a cacophony
but You resist the urge to leave.
You stop and look at me,
the lonely little seed;
You rest me on Your knee
and tell me how I'm lovely.
Then You plant me by the sea
and I have life, suddenly,
like You've handed me an eternal key.
I begin to grow and spring
from the dirt and soiling;
I shower down my many leaves
and they drift off in evening breeze.
I am not an olive tree,
for I have been made differently,
but I am slowly blossoming
into who I was made to be."

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

Black Socks and White-Woolen Locks

I am a wolf in sheep's clothing
Passing by the watchmen, on to the herd
Disguised in determination
Waiting for one to be lured
Out by curiosity, or a mere distraction
So I can soon follow that lonely lamb
And satisfy my unending hunger
But suddenly, I hear a crying Man
He's calling out a name
One I do not recognize
And that measly morsel turns around
Leaving me to wallow in my demise
Where the Man now lays His head
I would not think to enter
For I am a god in my own mind
'Pride' some call it (I'm my own center)



[The thief's perspective from John 10.]

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

Dust and Ash

Oh, how I can taste
Your sweet, saving grace
As it flows like raging rapids
Through my soul; I no longer feel trapped in
This grave that I've made -
In my bed of contentment.
I was a slave bound in chains,
But in You I am resting.
I drink Your words like water;
They refresh me, along with Your other sons and daughters.
I am but clay in my Potter's hands,
Being molded and matured to become a new man.
I am transformed with a naked heart;
Lord, You've been with me from the start.
(My name is Dustin Ashe and here I lie
Dead to the world, but fully alive.)

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

An Excuse Overcome

The sun is setting
And the stars are ready
For this day to come to an end
An overtaking night sweeps in
The clouds communicate
Their laughter turns to rain
Gravity pulls the water down
But in stubbornness, turns it back around
A voice is carried down the river by a chilling breeze
Are You its owner, speaking out to me?

I hear You, oh I hear You
But I'm not as obedient as the trees that grow toward You
I need You, You know I need You, Lord
So I'll take that piece of wood and move forward

The buzzing bees and chirping birds ensure
That all is well, yet we still endure
The pain of the day and the cricks in our necks
What's next? Glasses and specs?
The morning grass is wet with dew
And each seed sprouts in the golden hue
I suppose I can't complain
After all, You've given me a name

I hear You, oh I hear You
But I can't speak as well as my brother before You
I need You, my God, I need You
Torn, I'll take up this piece of wood and move forward

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

July 1, 2010

I want to be holy, but my faith is weak.
I want to be set apart, but unwilling are my feet.
My inclination is to choke, but my desire is to grow.
What is relevant in all I know?
I may be silent, but at least I'm real,
Attempting to reflect the things I feel.
Oh the taste, the taste of Your mercy is bittersweet,
Receiving grace instead of what is truly my defeat.
I want to cry out Your name, but I've lost my voice.
In the end, this is my choice.
I know I'm meant for something more,
But how do I follow the One I adore?

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

Monster, pt. 3

The buzzing of my fan ensues,
White noise to block you out;
My eyes glance around the room,
My heart is beating doubt.
A single lamp is flickering,
I clench a pillow to my chest;
My thoughts cannot stop bickering;
Will I ever find rest?
Footsteps resonate from down the hall
And my pulse is gaining speed.
The rhythms sync, then suddenly halt;
I've sunk down to my knees.
Under the door, a shadow lingers.
My hands clasp together,
Finger intertwined with finger,
And I begin to finally remember:
The door is locked and I hold the key;
Sorry, Monster, for you cannot enter.
Because of Him, I am now free.
Of my life, He is the center.

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

Monster, pt. 2

If I could sleep the day away
My dreams would provide some escape
From a painted reality
To what's really inside of me
I passed you on the street
Choking on words stifled behind my teeth
My smile, acing as a disguise
Unable to reflect my inward demise

This suffocating "day-to-day" is wasting away
To something smaller than rot and decay

If you could see through the surface
You'd be the only one
To know what you're really dealing with
The monster I've become

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

Monster, pt. 1

My thoughts echo in this empty room
As my spine chills from my heart-shaped tomb
I dream to be awakened from this nightmare
Until then, my eyes stare
From far away to a world unknown
A place I long to call my home
I remain planted like a seed among thorns
Dry, choked out, and longing for more
My apologies are only apathy replaced
Attempting to fill this forgotten space
There's one way out, but no way in
If I leave, I'll never see this place again
My monster screams for me to stay
And so I leave with no delay

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi

April 22, 2009

This blog is solely dedicated to my poetry. Not all of my poems have titles, therefore I will just post the date it was written as the title if it doesn't have one. Any blogs other than poems I've written will be few and far between. So, without further ado, here is the first poem in this voyage.

Glance at the past but do not hold onto
the fact that you have let it control you.
There is still time for you to change your mind,
this burning agony of "feeling fine."
The present is what you want it to be:
a thought, a smile, a move makes history,
though what you do now may not only be
faded action turned to memory.
The future is what keeps us going on,
with hope that what is now will soon be gone.
Look forward with a mindset of the Truth
and let it affect everything you do.

© 2011 Kaeli Riccardi