When Fire Meets Flesh
There is holiness
in the heat
that pours
through the sky
with beams of light
from heaven.
This sun
is no fireball
of hell,
but a sure sign
of hope, health,
and harmony
in the hour
of happiness
and hallelujah.
Sweat out the toxins
under the sweltering
solar burst
that is sent
from the love
of God’s good graces,
and allow
the sweet kiss
of absolution
to tan wanton skin
with a shine
that shimmers
brighter than gold.
Igniting Intention
The only regret in life
I could possibly imagine
would come from squandering
the gift of light
that pulses within my soul.
Poetry is just a language I use
to fallibly express
the ineffable emotions
that long to be birthed into form,
and so I know for sure
that the written word
is but a single spoke
on the much larger wheel of action
that can only be turned
by forever placing
one foot in front of the next.
You don’t always
have to bust through a wall
when there are other routes open
over and around it
that can more easily be accessed
by using the wisdom gained
from lessons learned in the past.
Constant, continual, progressive,
evolutionary
movement forward
is the holy key to unlock
the gates of heaven
here on earth.
Mind, body, and spirit
triangulate the vision
when three eyes become focused
on the destiny
that finally arrives
once fate and freewill
have been balanced
into a perfect rhythm
of harmony and accord.
This is not a prayer,
but a promise.
This is not a hope,
but a hallelujah.
This is not a dream,
but an awakening.
This is not a posture,
but a privilege.
This is not a choice,
but an acceptance.
(originally appeared at Dissident Voice)
Slate
Wipe me clean
without Clorox or bleach
just simple honesty
Sanitation is next to salvation
in some circles
Sacred vowels
squeak
ooh and ah
before sighing
Little spaces in the corner
dusted off
brought to surface
made to shine
Lord, help me find
the right words
to tithe
All I have
left to offer
are my dreams
(excerpt from Poison in Paradise)
Scott Thomas Outlar hosts the site 17Numa.wordpress.com where links to his published poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and reviews can be found. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Scott serves as an editor for The Peregrine Muse, Novelmasters, and Happy Hour Hallelujah. His latest book, Poison in Paradise, was released in 2017 through Alien Buddha Press.