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83

Written when I walked alongside a suffering friend…

                 **A Time to Weep**

β€œWeep with those who weep” Romans 12:15

Has my heat dried up to numbness
from the constant pain you bear
Has my mouth succumbed to silence
wearied from repeated prayer
Do I turn my back in safety
from the anguish on his face
Oh God, I need your mercy Lord
Your grace, please Lord, your grace.

Have I ceased to lift the burden
of you to the Lord in prayer
Have I steeled myself to face you
with the pretense not to care
Do I shut my understanding
so my soul need not embrace
Oh God, I need your mercy Lord
Your grace, Lord please, your grace.

Let me be a faithtful servant Lord
and journey to the end
Let me weep before your throne God
in petition for my friend
Let my sorrow match his anguish.
Let our voices cry as one.
Let me weep with those who weep
until the time to weep is done.

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84

Lousy Lagomorphs

A legion of long-eared Lagomorphs lounge loitering on my lawn,
statues of fur, a leitmotif emerging every dawn.
Their languorous life seems locked in loops of eat, and sleep, and spawn,
Like uninvited relatives, they pilfer till all’s gone.

Hard fixed betwixt kind clemency and eradicating force
I acknowledge either path embarked would surely bring remorse.
Paralyzed, I can’t assault nor tacitly endorse,
I contemplate my future of more lagomorphs, of course.

kp

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85

Written during Covid

                                           The Christmas Grinch

A meager fare when I compare the meal to Christmas past
No turkey stuffed to feed our lust for lunches that would last
β€œA turkey is too big” she said, β€œfor we are only four
and we should toast our chicken roast and not bemoan for more.”

So I obeyed as I surveyed the table that was set
No almond beans from Auntie Jean. I sighed with deep regret
The gravy from an open can. I mourned my Grandma’s scratch
No garlic mash from Cousin Nash, whose spuds no one could match

In muted tones we hid our moans to ponder as we ate
the bedlam noise of childhood joys we used to tolerate
A thoughtful lull hung over us as we became aware
No silly jokes from Grandpa croaked while reigning from his chair

No little ones in gleeful runs were darting here and there
No Uncle Russ to make a fuss and flash a warning glare
that made the children halt their fun and promptly take a seat
And though they tried they could not hide the wiggle of their feet

The table cleared our father cheered as mom brought out the cake
A store bought fare, she hadn’t dared to try her hand to bake
For Auntie Jen’s desserts were such that legends were made of
It wasn’t great, but we all ate to show our mom some love

I looked around until I found the manager scene displayed
My spirit fraught as my heart sought to grasp what this conveyed
It was a scene I knew so well, but now it seemed to speak
With searching eyes to realize, I set my heart to seek

No lit decor, but hay strewn floor beneath the starry skies
In poverty His sovereignty was veiled before our eyes
A sober scene of quiet joy. It’s scarcity astounds
No feast was laid before the Babe. No merriment was found

Awashed in shame that I’d complained and grumbled in my heart
And wanting peace and strife to cease; His grace to me impart
I raised my voice. In song rejoiced. A carol of this night
Dad looked on and sister shone and mother’s eyes were bright

And so we all in joy enthralled were singing of His birth
With voices one in rev’rence sung proclaiming our Lord’s worth
I closed my eyes to seize the words, of this 'O Holy Night
Despondence gone my heart was drawn to His eternal light

No lit decor, but hay strewn floor. No feast before the Babe
No joyful throng of children’s song. No preparations made
No presents wrapped beneath the tree in shiny bows adorned
No family friends to Him attend, and yet the Child was born

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86

An old poem by an unknown poet

WOULDST thou be chief? Then lowly serve.
Wouldst thou be up? Go down.
Yet, go as low as e’er you will,
The Highest hath gone lower still.

To love’s most lowly offices,
Dost thou, in meekness, stoop?
The Christ, thy Master, thought it sweet
To wash His dear disciples’ feet.

Wouldst thou be in the kingdom great?
Be here a little child.
Jesus was one, and never more
His childhood’s humbleness forebore.

Wouldst thou command? Obedient be.
Jesus obeyed to death:
Even the death upon the cross,
With all its shame and bitter loss.

E. B.

Humbly Submitted
KP

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87

Inspired by a painting by Ron DiCianni by the same name as the poem. It’s beautiful! I can’t copy it here but you can look it up.

               Simeon's Moment (Luke 2:25-32)

On calloused feet and sandals worn he walked the cold, hard stones
Around the temple’s outer court and mourned his aging bones
The time he thought, it must be near for flesh was growing weak
Years had passed and yet he knew. He’d heard the Spirit speak

For on that day so long ago, on knees with grieving heart
He cried out to the Lord of hosts, β€œMy God, Your grace impart!
For Israel’s sins have weighted her down. Your glory we’ve defaced.”
Was then he heard the Spirit speak, β€œYou’re eyes shall see His face.”

β€œA body I’ve prepared for Him. A virgin shall conceive
And you my servant, Simeon shall see what your heart seeks.”
The time had passed in months and years. All trace of youth was gone
But strength survived from joy to come and spirit carried on.

He turned the corner of the wall that led to David’s gate
But there he stopped. The Spirit spoke, β€œInside the Child awaits”
With quickened step he hurried past the men who came to pray
In wondrous joy and growing awe, he swiftly made his way

And there! Asleep! In Mary’s arms! The Child! The Savior’s face!
And Simeon’s heart so filled with joy he thought his soul might break
In breathless wonder he approached and beckoned she release
the child of glory to his arms. God’s offering of peace

He clasped the infant to his breast and trembling arms wrapped tight
around the Babe the Lord prepared to be the Gentile’s light
For here against his sobbing breast he held the promised Child
The glory of all Israel. The Savior meek and mild

β€œOh Sovereign Lord as You have said, my eyes have surely seen
so now Your servant may depart with peace within my being
For here’s the Child that You prepared. All nations in His sight
He’ll pierce the darkness with Your truth. The world’s received her light.”

88

I had to look up what a lagomorph is haha. But even not knowing, this was fun to read!

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