CCM Retro Fan

Here's a Polaroid picture

Of me stretching in the morning sun

With my portable Walkman,

Ready for my Lake Hollingsworth run.

What will it be today?

What will I play?

Russ Taff, Kenny Marks, Geoff Moore,

   White Heart, and K.T.,

David Meece, Imperials,

   DeGarmo & Key,

Petra, Rich, Maranatha!,

   and Phil Keaggy

Twila, Randy, Michael W.,

   and Amy.

I was a dreamer, a wide-eyed mixtape man;

Wild and free, a music-with-a-message fan.

A mixed-up piano-playin' PK kid,

Singin', playin', jammin'—that 's what I did.

Always a seeker of truth, but sometimes a wayward fool,

Back in the eighties when CCM hits were cool.

This Year's Model, Big Picture,

War of Love, Warrior Is a Child,

Beat the System, and Medals.

Amy's Unguarded album was wild!

Play me a melody.

What will it be?

"Stubborn Love," "Learning to Trust,"

   "In a Little While,"

"Let the Whole World Sing," "Friends,"

   and "Stay for Awhile."

"Cornerstone," "Lamu," "Runner,"

   and "Not Gonna Bow."

 "We Are His Hands," "Wings of Love,"

    "Look Who Loves You Now."

I was a dreamer, a wide-eyed mixtape man;

Wild and free, a music-with-a-message fan.

A mixed-up piano-playin' PK kid,

Singin', playin', jammin'—that 's what I did.

Always a seeker of truth, but sometimes a wayward fool,

Back in the eighties when CCM hits were cool.

I'm still a dreamer, a wide-eyed mixtape man;

Wild and free, a music-with-a-message fan.

I'm older now—much older—yeah, that's true,

But something about those old songs is still brand new.

Yeah, I'm still longing for truth, and at times I'm a wayward fool,

Lost in the eighties when CCM hits were cool.

David Acosta © 2025

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

Are we on the verge

Of planet Earth's rebirth?

Will Heaven and Earth converge?

Turn our deathly dirge

Into a song of mirth:

Peace and love in a wild upsurge.

When will it be?

When will we see. . .

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

On Earth as it is in Heaven?

Is it far away,

Or will it happen soon?

Let all nature say,

"What a wondrous day!"

Hearts expectant, commune,

And ponder it now as we pray:

When will it be?

When will we see. . .

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

On Earth as it is in Heaven?

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

It will be magnificent, my friend;

Oh, unlike anything we have ever known.

A new beginning after the end:

Death, the last enemy, will be overthrown.

How beautiful!

How wonderful!

Thy kingdom come

(Oh, let it be, Lord),

Thy will be done

(We long to see it),

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

(Heaven on Earth, yeah!)

Thy kingdom come

(Oh, let it be, Lord),

Thy will be done

(We long to see it),

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

(Heaven on Earth, yeah!)

David Acosta © 2025

Laxatives, I'm Counting on You

 

(This is my parody of "All I Want for Christmas Is You.")

slow section

I consumed too much this season;
Piled the food up, yes indeed!

Second helpings for no reason;
Ample samples, that's my creed.

I need some relief, you know,

Something that'll help me go.

Constipation blu-u-u-ues!

Laxatives, I'm countiiiing ...

O-o-o-o-o-on ... youuuuu, yeah.

[Let's pick it up a bit here...]

I consumed too much this season;
Piled the food up, yes indeed!

(That's right) Second helpings for no reason;
Ample samples, that's my creed.

I feel bloated, and I'm cramping;

I'm so blocked, I can't think straight.

Santa Claus, please give me something

To make this big round gut deflate.

I need some relief, you know,

Something that'll help me go.

Constipation blues!

Laxatives, I'm counting on you

(to save me).

Oh, why'd I eat so much this season?

I look like a beached whale in the snow.

(And I...) I'm expanding, constipating

Underneath the mistletoe.

Belly's bustin'; it's distended.

Just like last year, I got sick.

(Why) Why'd I say yes to deep-fried fruitcake?

Feels like I'm carrying a ginger brick.

Yeah, I need some relief tonight.

I'll pop a couple, then I'll sit tight.

What more can I do?

Laxatives, I'm counting on you

(to save me)!

Oh no!

My celebration became

a gluttonous affair.

I should have known I'd be needin'

some intestinal repair.

I feel my stomach turnin',

My bloated bowels are burnin'.

Santa, come New Year's Day, I'll turn a new leaf.

In the meantime, I need some quick relief.

Oh, I really lost control this season;

My gut feels like a nuclear core. 

(I) I've gotta figure out a way to end

This nasty intestinal tug-o-war.

What's the hold-up? I don't know!

Cryin' and cursin' cuz I can't go.

Constipation blues!

Baby, hand me those chalky chocolatyyyyyy...

(Oh) soooft...chewwwws

(Ooh, baby!)

Fetch me some extra-strength laxatives soon, baby.

Gentle and effective soft chews, baby.

Speed up the process, and I'll thank you, baby.

David Acosta © 2025

It's That Unsightly Wet Stain We All Fear

It's that unsightly wet stain we all fear.

Freshly showered and ready,

But soon you'll be sweaty;

You'll stick and you'll smear.

It's that unsightly wet stain we all fear.

It's the mug-muggiest season of all.

Take a walk if you wanna

Slow-cook in a sauna,

Drip like a wax doll.

It's the mug-muggiest season of all.

If you fear dehydration

Or quick suffocation,

You're certainly safer indoors.

If you dread perspiration,

Heed my exhortation:

Deodorize your leaky pores.

It's the steam-steamiest time of the year,

So wear breathable underwear,

Act like you don't care,

And carry a spare

For that unsightly wet stain,

Yeah, that irrigated terrain,

Oh, that unsightly wet stain. . .we all fear.

David Acosta © 2025

Correspondence

Cursive versus print: what was your preference?

Brevity expert, or detailed describer?

Pedestaled ego, or modest deference

To your reader, your word-nectar imbiber?

Private thoughts enthusiastically revealed;

Feelings unguarded, and words without fetters;

Tears and fears mingling with ink, folded and sealed;

Regrets and yearnings, expressed via letters.

David Acosta © 2025

Are We What We Are?

Are we what we are,

Or what we once were?

We had wandered far,

Caught up in the whirr

Of a rainbowed cloud—

Every hue and shade!

Part of the in-crowd,

Vanity-arrayed,

Till our dreams dispersed

Like scythed blades of grass.

Truer colors burst

From the looking glass.

Are we what we are,
Or what we shall be?

Save your au revoir

Lifeless, shadowy.

How can we adjourn

As we homeward go?

Let us gladly yearn

For fair lands we'll know

When this path obscured

Yields to wondrous light.

Remain reasurred

By forthcoming sight.

David Acosta © 2025

Real

You wouldn't go for a virtual walk, now,
Would you? 

You wouldn't partake of a virtual meal,

Would you?

You wouldn't be someone you're not, now,

Would you?

You wouldn't settle for something less than real,

Would you?

Then again, you could sit there

And scroll, and type, and wonder why

Your life is going nowhere.

Can you tell the difference

Between real and artificial?

Is it safe enough behind that lonely screen?

Does your friendship make sense?

Is it mutually beneficial?

Wouldn't you rather be known, be touched, be seen

As you really are? No pretensions:

All your flaws, facets and dimensions.

Just power off for a while; you're aloud to.

Do it.

Get to know the world within and around you.

Do it.

If you spend your life living in a box you'll

Get stuck.

The things you long to do and see await you.

Good luck.

Then again, you could sit there

And scroll, and type, and wonder why

Your life is going nowhere.

Can you tell the difference

Between real and artificial?

Is it safe enough behind that lonely screen?

Does it even make sense?

Is it mutually beneficial?

Wouldn't you rather be known, be touched, be seen

As you really are? No pretensions:

All your flaws, facets and dimensions.

You wouldn't settle for something less than real,

Would you?

David Acosta © 2025