Poetry

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THE OLIVE PRESS

Was the daylight filled with sunshine
Was the darktime filled with stars
When first I slipped from out this mortal frame.
Can the images be decided
In a moment or a sigh
Or measured out in agony and pain.
I can't understand today's wind
For it blows from back beyond
A horizon much too near and far away.
I can only say I've travelled
To both worlds beneath my feet
And above my grasp
Illusions come to play.

Why does each day seem so like
The day that's gone before?
As I sit on the edge of my bed
And think, to face one more . . .
No, I can't face one more;
For I've faced it, Lord
A thousand times before.

My all suffiency in Christ
I know Him, sometimes close.
But in these deep times
Of melancholy,
He's less real and more like a ghost.

So maintain by faith, I'm told and tell others
Words so easily rolling off of my tongue.
But I'm back on the bed
Facing another dead day
And my lust for life seems to be done.

I recall younger days
And excitement at being
Just the being, was oh, quite enough.
But now I feel old
And aware of all vanity
As the wise man has said, life is tough.

Take away all the lies and hypocrisy
Take away all the phony charade.
If I'm empty
Then I'm empty for reasons
I'll not know
On this side of the grave.

So like Job I feel just in self-pity
But the knowing it's such doesn't stem
It from choking the life from my being.
Oh, to laugh
Oh, to feel
Oh, to end.

SELAH . . .

Not alone in the dust and the ashes
Not abandoned to fear and to flight
Risen up from the dark night's temptation
To His beacon of love's holy light.

So begone, all you legions of demons
That would seek my destruction through lies.
For the truth of God's Word
And His Voice that I've heard
Makes the sound of the evil mere noise.

I await You, Oh Blessed Redeemer
For in spite of my failure of faith
You have seen me through stormtide and tempest
And renewed me with power and grace.

In the lessons I learn through the learning
There is one that is painful at best.
But I think I appreciate greatly
When to a measure at least, I am blessed
With an insight
Into Your great sufferings
How You cared, how You live, how You give.
You have held me
And have not forsook me.
By Your mercy, I breathe
By Your Body, I feed
Blessed Jesus, it's Your life I live.

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