About The Author
Because people sometimes like to know a little about the person behind the website I have put together a brief picture. Please note this does contain a degree of Christian content.
I am 59 years old.
I was born in New Zealand and I still reside in New Zealand.
I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
I met my wife when I was 17, and she 15. We married in 1971, and have
been together ever since.
We have 6 children — four boys, twin girls. Their ages — the boys
37,35,28,26, the girls 22.
I am a pacifist by stance*; am against competitive sports*; have the artistic temperament; am a vegetarian; have a strong empathy with the underdog; love animals, music, art, books, and the magic of language.
I abhor violence; cruelty; deceit; pornography; intoxicating beverages; non-medical drugs; the killing of animals for sport; vivisection; the death penalty; the abuse of position, power and privilege; bigotry, prejudice, and persecution of any kind; the violation of human rights; the repression of liberty and freedom in any form; the abuse of our planet; the excesses of liberalism and the evils of fanaticism; same-sex sexual activity; occult practices, territory, and its influence; and the militant, flag waving, foot stomping, 'Rambo' style Christianity that’s intoxicated with its own beliefs and power rather than with the gentle and humble ways of Christ.
I was raised a Christian; wandered away from my faith and my Lord; slowly returned; later became seriously committed to the Christian walk and my faith; and have since applied myself to in-depth biblical study, something that I believe is a necessity for every Christian.
My Christian beliefs are built firmly upon the Bible and the Bible alone, not the church that I and my wife attend.
I’m not conservative by nature, but conservative by belief and choice regarding my Christian walk — the result of what I believe is the restraining and transforming influence of the Holy Spirit upon my earthly/worldly nature/behaviour, and the result also of my greater understanding of the holy/righteous nature of my God and His desire that I emulate His nature and abide by His will in all areas of my life. Due to such necessary pruning, ones tastes, desires, and actions naturally become more conservative and temperate.
My desire is to always put God first in my life; to be a better Christian, husband, and father; to have a greater love for, and be a greater blessing to, my fellow man; that love motivate all I do; and to work for the protection of the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the disabled, the hurting, the misunderstood, and the minority.
I do not believe in ‘church unity’ but the unity of all believers. In other words, I believe Christians of all faiths should be treated as brothers and sisters in Christ, shown unconditional love, acceptance and respect, despite their differing beliefs. I believe the same love and respect should be shown to every human.
I believe passionately in the complete separation of church and state (Mark 12:17). I also believe that a political-religious system will soon dominate the world scene prior to Christ's soon return, with ultimately dire consequences; a New World Order, a wolf in sheep's clothing, one preaching love, peace, and harmony [fuelled by terrorism, calamities, lawlessness, etc], and one that will fool most of Earth's inhabitants. Those who forget the past are bound to repeat it - hence the "image" [copy] of the "beast" [a historic persecuting power] mentioned in Revelation 13:11-18. This territory is covered by a few of my poems.
*Regarding 'competitive sports', see my secular poem "Competitiveness"
and my Christian poem "The
Folly of Winning".
*Regarding 'pacifism', see "The Pacifist" further down the page, as
well as my Christian poem "Pacifism,
My Take".
ABOUT MY POEMS
When I first began penning poems, I knew nothing about poetry. In fact, I still don't know much about poetry. When I first began penning poems, I hadn't even heard of a rhyming dictionary, and remained unaware of such, until many poems later (a hundred and fifty or more). When I finally purchased one, what a difference it made! It has been such a help.
The more poems I pen, and the more skilled at poetry I become, the more disappointed I can feel about previously penned poems, hence why I sometimes go back through them and make improvements, when I’ve the time or inclination. That’s the trouble with artists! They’re a fussy lot. However, given that I originally knew nothing at all about poetry, it may be warranted. It will take a long time for me to go back through all my poems, so, if you spot something wrong, or that could be improved, please let me know.
That my poetry is largely didactic, I attribute more to accident than design. That's simply how my poems began, and that's the way they've remained. Perhaps that's my particular style. I guess my poems are somewhat more designed for the serious thinker. And certainly for the receptive and inquiring mind. I try to pen my poems as simply and succinctly as I can, but given the serious in-depth nature of many of the topics, I’m not sure that I’ve truly succeeded. Due to the sense of urgency that has been propelling me, (given that this earth is clearly on borrowed time, the worsening state of Christianity and society in general, current threats to freedom of expression, etc), I have possibly not spent as much time on my poems as I should have, often producing 2 to 4 poems a week.
When I pen my poems, I put a comma where I pause. You may not wish to pause where I do, but if you do pause where I do, you’ll be reading them like I read them. Perhaps I don't always get my pauses right; more so in earlier poems, I guess. My poems are best read slowly, but you can read them any way you wish, of course.
Poetry can be a difficult thing, in the sense that people can interpret a word, line, or statement, etc, differently to what was intended by the poet. I try to do my best to minimize such happening, but I don’t know whether such is totally possible. If you think I could have worded something better, etc, please let me know. Otherwise, I may never know. You may not just be helping me, but also the next person that reads that same poem or poems, so I’ll thank you in advance.
There may be poems that express things you don’t agree with, but I’m sure there will be poems that express things that you do agree with, and perhaps you might like to use those ones, particularly if they'll benefit someone else. Please take time to check them all out. There are many different topics, and in some cases, the same topic from a different angle. Currently, if you read ten a week, it’ll take you nearly 14 months. Oh dear.
Ironically and intriguingly, I'm still not a great fan of poetry. It has simply become the vehicle for the things I wish to express. Do I enjoy penning poetry? Somewhat. Certain poems more than others. The light-hearted ones more so, I think. A completed poem certainly leaves me with a sense of achievement/fulfillment.
Oh, by the way: The odd Christian poem, regarding things of a prophetic nature, intentionally leaves the reader with a little bit of homework to do.
The Pacifist
Someone who believes that violence is:
The way of weakness, not
strength.
The result of failure, not success.
The path to estrangement, not reconciliation.
The partner of crime, not law and order.
The creator of misery, not happiness.
The perpetuator of evil, not good.
The consideration of fools, not the wise.
The outpouring and outcome of hate or anger, not love and peace.
The violator of rights, not the protector of.
The debaser of offenders, not the uplifter of.
The lover and promoter of weaponry, not the reducer or destroyer of.
The raider of marriages, families, and communities.
The tool of bullies, dictators, warmongers, and despots.
And is something to shun, never embrace.
A DICTIONARY SEARCH:
Pacifist:
One who opposes war or other violence.
Pacifism:
The belief that peaceful methods should be used to settle differences
among nations. Opposition to war or violence as a means of resolving
disputes nationally or personally.
If we were all pacifists, there’d be
peace and harmony,
As violence would be abhorred, and war unnecessary.
Disagreements and disputes would be settled thoughtfully,
Because no one would raise a hand, rely on weaponry.
You see, pacifists do not initiate or
perpetuate
Any violence or wars; nor such even contemplate.
They consider life sacred, treat all the same, live in peace,
And if we all lived that way, war and violence
would cease.
Violence is a sickness that has
plagued society,
And until we all refrain, earth won’t be violence free.
Hence, all should be pacifists, preaching peace and harmony,
And working side by side ’till violence ceases to be.
Yes, if we all became pacifists, war
would simply cease to be,
Violence would disappear, and we’d all live peacefully.
We’d destroy all the weapons that line pockets, kill and maim,
Be the generation that war and violence overcame.
By Lance Landall
The worse the man, the better the soldier.
Napoleon Bonaparte
(1769-1821)
It’s Very, Very Scary
This world is full of baddies, there are meanies everywhere,
Big bullies beat and bop you, kick your shins and pull your hair.
It’s very very scary, I just don’t know what to do,
Will someone please cuddle me, hug me tight? I don’t mind who.
There are lots of scary sounds, lots of rushing here and there,
And, people who glare at you, or, who at you oddly stare.
It makes me feel uneasy, even queasy, deep inside,
Will someone please cuddle me, ’till these fears inside subside?
There’s such a lot of shoving, and often you’ll hear a growl,
Many seem to be frowning, there are some who even scowl.
Others get very angry, even insults throw your way,
Will someone please cuddle me, tell me everything’s okay?
There are lots of arguments, there are fights and scuffles too,
There are people throwing things, even shaking fists at you.
There is yelling and screaming, big children who cruelly tease,
Yes, it’s very, very scary. I WANT A CUDDLE! Pleeeeeeeeease.
By Lance Landall
Wellington
(New Zealand)
Wellington — a city of many moods, New Zealand’s capital,
A sophisticated cultural centre, where the arty dwell,
And where a beautiful harbour reflects all its different moods,
Its diversity, vibrancy, colour, exotic sounds and foods.
A seaside city, houses dotting hills and shoreline, engagingly,
Many nestled midst native bush, where one can trek enjoyably.
Yes, the home of seascapes, landscapes, a city of many features,
Tunnels, cable cars, buses, trains, planes, shipping, scenic drives,
beaches.
Shopping, entertainment, big city life with a touch of country,
A city with it all, astride New Zealand’s midpoint, and proudly.
A territory where a treasure trove of elements combine,
Sultry summer breezes, fresh equinox winds, ample rain, sunshine.
A city that’s full of intriguing nooks and crannies, scenery,
One surrounded by stunning hill-top views, flourishing greenery,
And teeming with friendly people, a hive of activity,
Buzzing with excitement, fervour, flowing with creativity.
It’s the departure point to New Zealand’s South Island, via
Cook Strait,
The sea dividing the North and South Islands, which ships navigate,
And from which they leave Wellington, New Zealand’s hub, with its big
heart,
Where one can explore, dream, reach for the stars, and enjoy a fresh
start.
Yes, I’m in love with Wellington, contemporary and bold, yet,
Connected to its past, a blend, an architectural duet.
A place with an intimacy, a warmth, a beat that one can feel,
And which the hearts of all who visit or settle will subtly steal.
Wellington — I’m under its captive spell, addicted to its
charm,
Bewitched by its sights and sounds, its picturesque harbour, whipped or
calm.
How could I leave, and where would I go? For truly spoilt I am, and,
Because I’m proud of Wellington — on her behalf —
I’ll duly stand.
By Lance Landall
PHOTO ALBUM:
Siamese brothers San-Yai, and Simba.
