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Poems

Inspirational verse submitted by readers.

A Reader's Prayer

Dear Father-Mother God, Focus me only on what You impart, To be and to see Your dear child in my heart. Let me be the wonder of pure, selfless love, So my only work is impelled from above.

The Spirit Speaks

Hold your peace, The Spirit speaks, The voice you seek Silently thunders! — Steve Okwor.

THE SAVING CHRIST, TRUTH

The knight in shining armor stands— around his feet the shattered remains of the error I'd been fighting. And on his sword, held high, one word engraved— TRUTH — Marjorie K.

PRAYER FOR HAITI

During a Wednesday night testimony meeting in our church, my mother expressed gratitude for articles in the Christian Science periodicals about praying for Haiti, following the January 12 earthquake there. I wrote this poem while riding home in the car.

Guarding My Sheep

It is night and all are quiet in their beds And I am on watch over my sheep. I have a new threshing instrument with teeth, To make the mountains small and the crooked way straight.

ETERNAL LIFE

A man walks down a sunlit street and enters a theater dark; he dons a costume, plays a part, and hopes his character makes a mark. The play could be a comedy, a tragedy, or farce; the actor gives with all his heart in the plot of this life's cast.

Moses

I led old Jethro's flock to a sheltered field— Green against the wilderness beyond. Tall shrubs gave welcome shade from which I watched The hungry sheep crowd to crop lush grass.

THE SHEPHERD'S SONG (PSALM 23)

In my darkest night, when I thought I was all alone I closed my eyes and felt the fear circle round. But then something moved, like a murmur in a nameless crowd And I heard Your voice calling my name out loud.

FIRST NIGHT ON A TALL SHIP

Psalm 139:9, 10 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. My son is on a ship tonight just where, I cannot tell He's keeping watch and peering at the inky, sequinned swell.

Tender Mercies

I awake each morn to a brand-new day, Singing Halleujah! as I go on my way, For my heart is fixed on this one guarantee: The Love that is All holds me tenderly. REFRAIN: Tender mercies, oh tender mercies, Tender mercies are holding me.