Rutherford County native Darren B. Rankins recently released his new collection of poetry, Pure Thoughts Vol. 4.
Rankins said his excitement about poetry really took off after participating in the 1994 MTSU Poetry Slam. He would go on to start the Pure Thoughts business and website, offering inspirational plaques and Christian T-shirts as well as photography services and poetry books.
“It has been a daily challenge to spread the Word of God, but I remain committed to be a blessing to those I encounter,” Rankins said. “Continue to pray for me that God will continue to give me insight to design and put forth His Word to glorify Him.”
He continues to design T-shirts, write poetry and find new ways to share his creativity with the community.
Darren B. Rankins shared some of his poems with the Murfreesboro Pulse:
Love Is
Love is like a mirror
reflecting space and time.
Love is like the ocean deep and wide.
Love is like a diamond
with many sides.
Love is like a castle
with many rooms to hide.
Love is like a distant rain
that draws me nearer.
Love is like the perfect grapes
that make a perfect wine.
Love is like a circle
that embraces my thoughts.
Love is like a fallen star
that brighten my darken path.
Love is all that it is and will be.
___
I Wonder
One late evening in the midst of a beautiful ocean view, an elderly man sat staring outward his beachside window, watching young kids surfing and
other activities that kids do.
As the tide suddenly came rolling in, a spectacular wonder happened. The elderly man found himself riding
the waves of the great ocean.
This ride wasn’t easy for the tide caused
his body to bend and twist, and he
continued to fight to stay afloat.
When he finally reached the beach he returned to his own body.
He wrote in his journal,
“If I could live my life all over again,
I would accept all the bumps and bruises.”
___
Spring
While meditating, I witness the sun
bursting through soft fluffy clouds,
giving warmth to this great land.
With these hands I felt the land
giving birth to all the seeds planted,
producing rainbows of color
throughout the hillsides near and far.
___
Desert Heat
This air, so very, very dry like desert winds, lacking to cool the sweat from my forehead. Standing in the middle of hell’s fury without peace of mind, only in a passing hurricane could take me to a far away land.
Closing one’s eyes to see the twilight in the night’s skies while many go swilling past.
Just to open my eyes and realizing that time has stood still for the last five days.
___
Love Hurts
I kneel to pray with a cramping belly
And too ashamed to stand on my own.
Thoughts of falling rain that sound
like drummers beating their drums.
Now as lightening flashes
across the evening sky,
I pray Oh, Lord for this pain
is too much for me to bear,
Please release me from these chains.
___
Tree Marker
A trip to the woods
seemed to be a great idea.
Long hours alone away from the big city
could make a world of difference in my life.
My first day there I ran across a tree
with a half of a heart carved on it.
The same for the next six trees.
Until I got to the last tree
and the carving read:
“If you have reached the seventh tree,
then you are asking yourself why
on the seventh tree the heart is complete.”
Well for the last six trees
our Love wasn’t complete.
___
Find Pure Thoughts Vol. 4 on IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble and Amazon; learn more about Darren B. Rankins, view his photos and order products at purethoughts.info.
