Beyond the Looking Glass

She speaks but he may not understand,
He may feel his needs are misdiagnosed,
Like foreigners whose dialect are much different,
Yet what they possess inside is both complimentary and necessary for the life of each other.
He must learn that her words are deep expressions of her heart,
Her thought sets the compass of how to find her.
That she cannot help but be in tune with not only herself but also the world around her,
In his arms is where she would find serenity from it all,
If only he would be still enough to listen not just with his intellect but also with his heart.
She must learn that emotionally he needs her so,
That her words can be as sharp as a knife or comforting as the warmth of a blanket,
Although he is strong, he wonders if there is a place he may also rest in the safety of her lap…that, he may quite the demands of life and thoughts of his mind.
Each day these couples arise,
Getting ready for work, school or for their job,
Needs needing to be translated and addressed but due silent frustration and lack of understanding, they turn desperately to their own tribe.
The glass between them means they see but can not feel,
Sense, but can not touch,
Behold, but can not hear.
Like foreigners whose dialect are much different,
Until they learn to patiently, work with one another, seek to learn each other’s language,
That the essence of love is experienced daily, beyond the sphere of a demanding life.

By Savaslas Lofton

He Held Her Once in Summer

He held her once in summer
The stars swarmed in admiration as they danced in celebration of their love
He remembered the fragrance of her skin as she whispered she would one day return forever
That night they danced, seemed like forever under the full moon
Nightly he would return to the place
He could still feel the tenderness of her hand as he recounted her promise
The vivid picture of the deep cavern in her eyes, the warmth of her cheek…her words of life kept him awake in anticipation of the day they would one day be together again
Nervous of her journey, mission as a physician to a war tattered country Mimicked the struggle deep within him betwixt supporting her passion to go and begging her to stay
His words became few as a result of her absence
Sleepless nights failed to keep him company, though comforted by each love letter he read over and over until memorized
Three days before her arrival
His heart sank within him
Difficult to swallow, he gasped for air
Frozen by the image of her face on CNN
Her presence was no more as he learned of her death
His knees buckled, thrusting him to the floor
An excruciating pain traveled throughout his body as if he had been struck by lightening
He sat in silence, hiding his face in his hands…recounting the promise she had made, when he held her once in summer.
By Savaslas Lofton c. 2011

A Mother's Love

Mother’s Love

Tender and true
The love of a mother’s touch
The warmth of her kiss makes living in a world of chaos total bliss

The lessons she teaches are words of wisdom that shall never fade
Along with her smile like a thousand sunsets
Rays of sunshine when feeling down
Giving no reason to frown with a bowed down head

Love overflowing
From a well that never runs dry
Even though at times tired and weary from life’s travels
She meets at the threshold of the doorstep with open arms

A mother’s love
No true definition
No word that is able to do justice to the sacrifices she has made
The battles she has won
Protecting her own
Graceful as an eagle that has conquered the height of many clouds

She is a loving mother
A supporting friend
A person of legacy for whom inhales and exhales the gift and treasures of life.

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2010

4 Basic characteristics a Christian Woman should always look for in a Christian Man

4 Basic characteristics a Christian Woman should always look for in a Christian Man
Written by: Savaslas Lofton, featured in March 2007 issue, www.wowmagazine.org
www.savaslas.blogspot.com

How many of us know or have witnessed single, beautiful and faithful Christian sisters, helplessly fall into the trap of a risky relationship that has caused unnecessary pain and suffering? Perhaps you may know of someone who may be in this same type of relationship today. Many single Christian women desiring a meaningful relationship who have been hurt by past experiences have either lowered their standards to mediocrity, or have given up all together. With this said, age and experience alone, are not great qualifiers for determining if one is really ready to settle down. One common truth remains, that deep in the same heart of these devoted sisters, the desire to love and to be loved yet remains.
Therefore, God has placed in my heart at least four basic characteristics I believe every Christian woman should always be able to observe in a Christian man. These four basic characteristics are as follows:

#1 Prophet
Please understand that before I get into this specific characteristic, I am not implying that his calling has to be that of a prophet, however, I wanted to explain how much the characteristic of a prophet should parallel that of a potential husband. One particular duty of the prophet in Biblical antiquity was to declare the Word of God as it was delivered to him concerning the past, present and future, or all three aspects at the same time. One of the Hebrew words for prophet is chozeh which is interpreted one who has vision. Therefore, there are at least three questions concerning this topic that you should consider:

(1) Has he communicated to you God's vision for his life and what steps he plans to take to bring the vision to pass?
(2) Does he speak God's Word about matters more than his opinion?
(3) Does he seek to protect, by either words or action, the purpose and destiny God has placed inside of you?

These three questions, although the list could go on and on, are extremely important. By saying I do, you are in essence granting unto him access and permission to speak into your life physically and spiritually. What he speaks in the midst of adversity is just as important as the words that he declares in the midst of opportunity. Always remember, that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks according to Matthew 12:34. If he speaks life and only life; which is God's Word in the midst of circumstance, then you know that he rules his own spirit and is capable of loving you as he loves himself, because he bridles what he speaks.

#2 Priest
Is he an intercessor? How often does he sincerely commune with God; and if so, is he obedient to the voice of God? Would you say that he considers prayer a high priority in his life?
These are important because if he can not intercede and seek God's face during both peace and adversity, how will the family know which direction to take? One of the duties of the priests in the Old Testament was to be responsible for entering into the Holy of Holies on behalf of the people to bring back an answer from God. Seeking God involved both direction of the people and instructions of how they were to remain under the wings of God's protection. The man is responsible for covering the family by praying and seeking God's face for direction and instruction. One of his responsibilities in marriage is to be the "husband" or "house-band" to surround the family with arms of spiritual and physical security, and support. He seldom moves without putting into practice Proverbs 3:5-6, where the Bible explains to trust in God with all of his heart and lean not unto his own understanding, but in all of his ways acknowledge God so that his path; which includes the path of his family, would be securely directed by God.

#3 Poet
Most women enjoy a man who is very intimate with words. One who compliments her on her hair, sends a note with a rose to her job, who seeks daily to find encouraging words to say, and knows to listen when she needs a listening ear. He is the type that understands how much she enjoys being pursued. He showers her with love and communication that quenches her curiosity of wondering if she is ever on his mind. He may not posses the ability and speech of a Solomon in the Songs of Solomon or a William Shakespeare; however, he is forever finding new ways to effectively communicate to her the deep desires of his heart concerning the advancement of their relationship.

#4 Protégée
Are you able to trace his spiritual lineage? Meaning, does he communicate to you who it is that spiritually motivates him to become a better man? Does he have a mentor or someone that he looks up to for wisdom in his life (especially when it comes to career and finances-this is also very important)? Is his life submitted to the Pastor whose church he attends? Does he love and embrace the ministry? Serving under the Pastor and ministry (if done correctly) keeps a man humble, sensitive to the spirit of God and his Pastor. In addition, this will make him accountable for his actions both positive and negative. With a proper balance of serving the ministry, it should be a plus for providing positive family influence, as well as wisdom concerning direction in important matters.

Prophet, Priest, Poet and Protégée; all of these characteristics can not effectively be in action without an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Therefore, a Christian woman should not look for "validation" but "confirmation". A man can not "validate her" only "confirm" who she has already been created to be.

I Close My Eyes to Remember

If ever was my sight to leave
I would be content with colorful images of your beautiful face
For they are forever etched in my mind
The euphoric smell of your hair in my nostrils abode like the sweet smell of lavender, honey, and myrrh
Captivated by the expression of your thoughts like warm rays of sunshine
The flowing motion of rain
The stroke of your finger tips as you caress my back…pulling me close
You into me and me into you
Lovemaking as brush strokes and patterns of words until we intertwine completely engrafted
Ascending upon the dew of pillowed clouds
Experiencing the breeze of autumn
A kiss in summer
An embrace in winter
I remember when I gazed into your eyes
My knees buckled beneath me
I surrendered my strength
At one stroke of your hand
As I closed my eyes
Imagining us as doves as we soared as one upon skies of love

By Savaslas Lofton
Copyrite Mar 2010

The Lens of a Father

The Lens of a Father

Statistics are against me
The government tries to replace me
And it’s hard for a man to stand sometimes
But nothing can keep you away from me
I have scars…
And if you take a closer look, you will see the whips I’ve had to endure from the pain of my past.
But that doesn’t matter now my son
At the end of the day
Though earlier, I may have cried
Tears flowing down from my eyes
Disappointed I may have let you down
You won’t see that…but a glow and sparkle in my eyes as I lay you down at night for a peaceful sleep...and I smile.
When you grow older
Maybe we can sit down over a cup of coffee as I tell you my life’s story
Hoping what I have shared would supply you strength and wisdom
This is my legacy to you.
That though you may often stumble during life’s journey
Get back up
And though at times you may want to quit
Find the strength to carry on.
To me son
Being your father isn’t about being perfect or getting everything right
But about me passing from this life
Knowing you knew me and I, you
To know I loved you and your mother with all that was within me to love
I gave my all.
Let this lens of life given to you
be to you as gold.
After all, one day you will become a man and maybe even a father one day
and you will remember your father’s wisdom and love
To pass it on to your sons when I have waltzed away upon the wings of the wind
Knowing this…I will always be with you.

By Savaslas Lofton
c.2009

Never Look Down

Raindrops in life don’t always feel light,
Sometimes they come hard and feel like razor blades against my skin,
Ricochet by the wind like a bullet from the caliber of a gun,
But, grandmother always taught, no matter the cost…never look down.

Busy city streets,
Taxi’s passing by as swift as the smoke from a cigar,
I’m mistaken at times as one for easy sex as if I’m some rap video chick…despite my brief case and swagger,
Called out of my name for the refusal to give in to the pressure,
Being a black woman doesn’t automatically mean I am easy…I must maintain my identity,
Grandmother always taught, no matter the cost…never look down.

For she said…a woman who can tell you more about what lies in the dirt than what lies in the skies where eagle’s wings fly…may not necessarily know their truth self-worth.
In spirit…she would add as she smiled,
I look at the scars on her face from segregation in the 60’s, for not bowing down to the low state of men,
Thinking her position was either lying on her back, or serving in the kitchen.
Grandmother taught me…never look down.

I’ve learned to appreciate the value God intrinsically placed in the whiteness of my smile,
In the deep caverns of my eyes, in the texture of my skin…holding myself close like a warm cup of mocha when the weather’s chill rest upon my window seal.

No matter the cost…I won’t look down.
I will hold my head up high and not let either failure or what other people say or think, be the modern day noose around my neck.

I am free both in body and in spirit…no matter the cost, I will never look down.

Written by Savaslas Lofton
c.2009