A COVENANT LESSON

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Inside You)

Now listen to words that are faithful and grand,

And let them become your past Covenant Guide.

The people who love have a heart to command,

Because they are moved by God’s Hand on their side.

In trouble – they’re merciful; in blessings – they give,

They set hearts on fire and touch human fates.

In their own secret pathways they choose how to live,

Far away from the praise that the earthly man states.

They gather up treasures in Heaven’s safe chest,

And no one feels damage from love that is pure.

With prayers and songs they fight grief for the best,

And their heavy fight is a cross to endure.

By Goodness they're drawn, and by Faith they are bound.

Along the steep pathway they leave out a trace.

Above all the slanders and hates they are found,

And they always swim where live waters find place.

They are words of the Lord, and they’re white loaves of bread.

A call from Mount Zion smells sweet from their deed.

And bright, holy borders inside souls are spread

Close to the Great King on His Throne for our need.

The people who love are the Seed that is blest,

Which brought to our God the most glorious Fruit –

To manifest Christ at the time of behest

And inside His Love and His Life to take root.

WHEN I IN PEACE WITH GOD REMAIN…

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Inside You)

To lie is something I can’t do,

But follow Justice on my track –

When I in Peace with God remain,

With devils I am in attack.

There is no way on Earth for me

To keep a neutral, passive face.

The Lord accursed the snake to be,

And I don't want that dark disgrace.

As much and closely as I can

To Evil I will stand as shield.

To reconcile the God with man –

This is my bright and open field.

To be the Word for many souls

Became my destiny and sight.

And with a Sword – for sacred goals

To always enter Holy fight.

My hands are heavy with fatigue

From following Christ Jesus' way,

And Aaron and Hur within my league

I seek for brotherly love today.

But in this century they are gone.

They were renowned in ancient past.

And traders in the Temple zone

Are the last Amalek at last.

But God remains my Banner still

And always will be just as grand –

A burning flame my heart to fill,

A Lion in my spirit's land.

I stay His own, by no constraint,

But through Covenant, Choice, and Faith.

Bearing each strike without complaint –

Denied, blasphemed in every breath.

But still Zarephath's widow, kind,

Will give my spirit love untold,

For in her humble mite I find

That Christ is reigning as of old.

What of it? In the future days I smile

From peaks of Holy mountains high…

When I in Peace with God remain,

With devils I am in attack.

THE GREEN MILE (MY CREDO)

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Inside You)

(In memory of Michael Clarke Duncan, who played 

John Coffey in the movie "The Green Mile")

At last this prison lock will have an end,

And far beyond my flying soul will stride.

But let the unavoidable descend

While on my own Green Mile I watch and bide.

Having overcome the darkness, chains, and bars –

To be right there where plague destroys the land,

Where God’s own love seems missing from the stars,

And Mercy has no comforting, warm hand.

Does a bright flash of lightning ever die,

That cuts across the heavens with its ray?

Is it not summer for frozen ones nearby,

And pardon for cold eyes along the way?

While angels dance their waltz up in the skies,

And in their beauty, thrills the moment’s light –

John, is it not worthwhile, before it flies,

To walk my own Green Mile into the night?

And to give everything away – to breath and song.

Left with no single thing. Barefoot and bare.

Even immortalized and ghostlike, strong,

Right at the electric chair's final flare.

At last this prison fades and slips away,

And to the everlasting flies the mind.

While down below – in wonder's overflow and play,

The life from my Green Mile is left behind...

JUDAH BEN-HUR

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Inside You)

(a verse for the movie that changed my life)

The snow-white horses are still racing fast

Before Messala’s chariot of the night.

O, Lord! For just a single moment past

Be in my graying soul a ray of light...

Be like a sip of water in dry heat,

While my heavy chain is burning still on me...

To know, O Christ, You are my safe retreat,

When faith can’t reach my lips to set me free...

Be like a call thrown out of sorrow's span,

Throughout my heavy galley fate and thread.

To house true love instead of vengeance, man,

Forgiving foes from yesterday instead...

Be to me blood from Cross! And be a trace

Along the dusty pathways of Judea...

To remember Bethlehem’s bright star of grace,

Which saved my spirit from the dark idea.

The snow-white horses are still racing fast

Before Messala’s chariot of the night.

An open heaven shines in me at last

With one white hand, pierced through with sacred light.

A TALK WITH AN ANGEL

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Inside You)

“I am watching… You aren't from here, brother!

Where are you from? Just tell me, I pray!”

“I come here from a world like no other.

I’m an angel. From Heaven, to say!”

“And why did you descend in this shade?

Among hovels, where grief has no end…”

“For the good souls my heart is dismayed.

My white feathers to them I will lend.”

“Will each feather suffice for a soul,

So that man turns to God from his track?”

“He must only choose good as his goal,

And his hope will bring all spirit back…”

“Maybe he, just like you, will take flight…

Like a bird in the sky, wild and free.”

“Let him pardon all evil and spite,

Leave his cage and its narrow decree.”

“Give me, angel, a blessing so quiet,

And some feathers – to share your own call!”

“Go to man in the low, destitute riot,

Where the tears of the poverty fall!”

“I will give all your feathers out there,

But will new ones grow back on your skin?”

“Every angel finds temples to share,

Once Christ is beloved deep within…”

“Up above, down below… Eternity stays!

Even hearts can hold God in their zone!”

“Go now, traveler! My feathers will raise

And will wing your bright lyre, alone!”

“Will you come back again? Let me know!

I still want your great wings to behold!”

“Go now! Follow your path down below,

While I hide in the deeds you unfold…”

“I am leaving… The steep path is mud,

But I trust that the Lord sent you here…”

“We shall meet once again in the flood of the beyond –

Bright messengers, winged and clear!”

DOLOROSA IS THE PATHWAY!

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

Though I bow my grey head, full of sorrow and lines,

I abide with the Lord, as His Cross and decree.

Dolorosa is the Path… And it trembles and shines

In my verse born of pain. To the end it will be.

I will probably suffer from the time I have spent,

For the world wasn't won, and no medal I hold.

But why do I need brilliance, when it’s earthly and bent,

Gathering the praise of the mud, vain and cold?

Pilate loves himself now. And Barabbas they raise.

The conscience is washed in the bowl of a king.

I do not want a crown, and I scratch for no praise,

But I pray for my strength till the last day will ring.

Monte Carlo I avoid. And Dubai is no dream.

A too cheap of a snare for the flesh of mankind.

Mount Olivet calls me. Galilee sends its gleam,

And Christ is my Faith, and the Path that I find.

Just to carry one Cross will be a wonder alone,

For which a hundred long years of pure grief are well worth.

I have nothing that’s earthly, but the Lord is my own.

More precious than goods, dearer than life on this earth.

And I pray not with words, but with faith burning high:

God, grant me to walk with Your Son till I die!

Dolorosa is the Path! Dolorosa is the Gift!

And Golgotha is Meaning, the last Gate He will lift!

Let me pass through that Gate. Like a peak without time!

Like a Heavenly Song that my spirit once sang!

And then I will be clothed with Jesus, sublime –

Not in vain was I born, not in vain my life rang…

A CROWN UPON A HOLY HEAD

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

Like a motive, precise and defined,

True in text, though interpreted rarely,

The sharp crown made of thorns intertwined

On Christ’s Head in the art I see clearly.

And I’m filled with a sorrowful word,

From the heavy, dark questions arriving:

Did this Head, of my Savior and Lord,

Deserve exactly this crown for surviving?

Is it not the true symbol of shame

Of an epoch of blindness and hating?

Blackest thorns to my God shall I name,

When on cross my own "self" is abating?

Who will reach out his hands in deep grief,

To tell God with a humble emotion:

"Since Your Love died for my own relief,

Give me all of the thorns with devotion!

Let me feel all the sorrow and loss!

Let this malice pierce into my spirit!

But for You – a crown woven from moss

And sweet flowers will shed all its merit.

May You dwell in the joy of the field!

In delight of the Myrrh and the scent!

And let Heaven's Eden be unsealed,

Making joys for You never be spent…

Your great Mind, ever Holy and high,

Well deserves a bright, radiant crown.

But the thorns – they are mine till I die,

To find hope where Your Throne is set down.

Let me carry this wreath of dismay,

Just as You on Golgotha have borne!

And the heavens above me will stay,

So my spirit implores You, reborn…"

This deep faith has been burning for long,

Lighting fires of truth in my chest.

No sharp thorn can disrupt my clear song,

Nor the godless who put me to test.

I’ve a Holy blue sky far above!

I’ve a King in the Heavenly Story!

And a Crown on a Head full of love

Lights up Zion in gold-shining Glory!

WITHIN THE HEART, THE KING BECOMES A SERVANT!

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

A Holy, high, divine design

Sustains my spirit to this day –

Prepared to serve the multi-line,

Within the heart, the King obeys.

And let no human mind displace

The proper order of the Lord,

For Love, unchanging in its grace,

Is Meaning, Covenant, and Word.

Since God is shining like a Sun

From pages Holy and complete –

He called on you, as He has done,

After He washed His servants' feet.

Let not your spirit fall or fade

When seeing pharaohs on their way,

Who scorned the Prize that Heaven made,

To praise their earthly thrones of clay.

To rule above the slaves in pride

And seek a glossy, greedy gain.

Such travelers to the pit will slide,

And reach it after all their pain…

But you, from Heaven’s Holy Aim,

Do not turn off your watching eyes,

Though narrow is the Path you claim,

And bitter are the evil's sighs.

Because the Lord will open wide

A brilliant pearl gate for your love,

But those who walk in Diotrephes' pride

Will never find a way above.

Remember the most Holy part,

Though temporary grief may string –

Prepared to serve with all His heart,

A Servant is our Heavenly King.

BE A TREE FOR THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

A tree that brings forth Holy Fruit –

Be such a tree with God's bright gleam.

Collect the Everlasting loot,

For earthly goods are dust and dream.

Before the Lord they are but vain.

A shell for prisons made of dust.

But when His Holiness is plain –

Be precious, walking in His trust.

Within the Covenant Book, each day,

A spiritual treasure starts to grow.

And looks from heaven, far away,

Observe your deeds down here below.

Be wealthy in the Heaven’s sight,

Midst worlds of weeds and useless chaff,

For in God's Grace and holy light,

Abides the one who gives on staff.

And when the final line is drawn,

Your share will face no shame or cold,

But in a world unseen, reborn,

Your happy soul He will behold.

Be a tree for the Lord God Almighty!

Seek no reward from human hand!

Leave your traces, shining brightly,

High up in the Heavens' land!

For all the kindness you have sown

Will be your prize when time is done,

If Fruit in sorrow you have grown,

When suffering for the Holy One.

Collect the Everlasting loot,

Though it may cost Golgotha’s smart,

And lightning from the sky will shoot,

To kiss the tree into a Gift of heart…

DOUBTING THOMAS

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

"Rome has crucified Jesus! Heavy darkness fell low!"

Thomas thought in his sadness, under grief’s bitter blow.

"Death has seized Him too early and has torn Him away,

Though in this earthly life He was our light and our stay.

He had promised to rise, over death to prevail,

But for miracles now, Holy dreams start to fail.

Everyone sent by God in this wasteland has died.

Instead of pure joy – only fears I descried.

For without Him we're wretched, left as orphans in grief.

Who will shine like the sun now, to bring us relief?"

A quick lightning flash! Brilliant glory unrolled!

And the Lord stood among them, breaking loneliness’ hold.

And as Thomas perceives Him, shining bright in the skies,

He still rubs with his hands all his tear-weary eyes.

And he barely can speak two or three words with dread,

Burning under his doubt, while his cheeks turn to red.

"Let it clearly be seen that You live in our land,

In the wounds of Your flesh let me place now my hand…"

The Lord looks with pure grace and steps forward with peace,

And from this wretched doubter makes the disbelief cease.

"Come now, place your own finger in My wounds, as you said!

I was crucified there, with deep sorrow and dread!

But the dark power of death over Life has no might,

After Golgotha’s hill I returned to your sight!"

Broken down in the silence, Thomas reaches his hand,

And no trace of the darkness in his soul can now stand.

"I believe, Lord and God! Cleanse my shame and my sin!

For no mortal can shine like the Glory within!

In Your wounds flows the Mercy of the Father above.

To You my soul vows! You are called by my love!

Give the Flock that is faithful that blest, holy thrill,

To believe without sight – and more strongly than I still!"

SIMON OF CYRENE

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

My Lord stumbled and fell to the dust of the road.

A wild soldier kicked Him and yelled through the space:

"Stand up now!" The Cross groaned beneath its black load,

As if it had voices, while tears stained my face.

Above His crushed ribs the whip crackles and flies.

"Stand up, blessed King!" I can hear someone scream.

But all human strength from His bleeding back dies.

My Lord suffers helpless. How moves He downstream?

A sharp glance is scraping me: "Come here! Draw near!

Lift His Cross very quickly! It falls to the ground!"

I run out in horror. Swords, armor appear.

A terrifying look fixes me without bound.

I pull back my chest in a frightened, quick stride,

Expecting the Cross to destroy me completely.

I walk there. No questions. My lips tightly tied.

A miracle! The Cross bears me, winged and sweetly!

Each cut of the blade, every sorrow and sin

Sink deep in a chasm; I walk without fear.

Is it You, eternal Lord, washing within

The stains of my guilt, as You stumbled down here?

How can my voice shout to the world in its daze,

That once Your Blood gushes, it brings Holy Grace?

The path on the hill ends; I lower the base,

The Lord looks in silence, with love in His face.

And letting loose softly His memorable sigh:

"I know who you are. You’re my Simon, anew!

The Cross found you out as the crowds passed you by!

God called you the Faithful, with Love trapping you!"

My Lord breathed His last. After earthquakes and cries,

The Earth hushed in echoes under darkening skies:

"Praise Jesus!"

THE CROWN OF THORNS

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

The crown of thorns is meekly worn,

In silence, quiet, with no spite.

All earthly questions are forsworn –

If you are wrong or you are right.

In worlds of wild and fierce hounds,

With souls that in the pit remain,

Do not expect a hand bounds

To come and save you from the pain.

Remember well the words of God,

Since Adam’s ancient, distant time,

That thorns shall grow upon the sod,

And thistles rise in every clime.

The fleshly nature cannot share

A way to spare you from the hate,

Even when Morning Star so fair

Shines on your forehead and your fate.

With four sharp nails and thorny crown,

For Holy Words that He once said,

The golden crown was handed down

Upon the Christ’s immortal head.

The crown of thorns is meekly worn,

But you just smile with love and grace,

For you perceive why you were born

To face the hardships of this place.

And Christ in you will be revealed –

Upon the Cross, a Rock so brave.

The sacred Meaning is unsealed:

To taste His Crown before the grave!

WOULD YOU DESIRE TO BE A BIRD!

By Yasen Vedrin

(The Bird Within You)

The Earth attracts all earthly matters.

The secular world roars and sighs.

A joyless prison breaks and shatters

Within the darkened, weary eyes.

A tiny spark of thought is needed

To set the heavy heart aflame…

If to a bird’s flight you succeeded –

Look up with faith in His great name.

Through pain, through hardships and afflictions,

Through all the terrors we have faced,

Seek God to guide your convictions,

And wings by Him will be embraced.

To join His flock, so pure and bright,

Of righteous souls that rose above.

And in your soul, it will be summer,

When you are lifted by His love.

For nothing else has any meaning,

No other choice is true or clear.

The world is ruled by serpent’s scheming,

For thousands of long years down here.

The Earth, by demonic poison stained,

Takes countless bodies to the clay.

The mole digs hopelessly, enchained,

To find the Covenant this way.

Alas! From flesh and mortal nature,

The timeless wings can never grow,

And flying to the sky's high stature

Is only wind and mist below.

The wretch must surely face disaster,

Endure the quakes of grief and loss,

Before the grateful heart will master

To look at Jesus on the cross.

This is the only aim worth staying,

In worlds of traps and shadows dim.

If you desire a bird’s essaying –

Accept the wings that come from Him.