I thank You, Lord
that You didn’t leave my heart
to die when it
was lost in the dark.

I thank You, Lord
that You pursue me
when I scorn You,
when I turn from You.

Thank You, Lord
for showing me
there’s a light at the tunnel’s end
when I lose hope.

A momentary flicker,
a broken shaft of light.
Do not tease me with the stars
when I’m surrounded by the night.

Hope that once shone clear
is shrouded in the mist.
Cold and barren now,
land the sun once kissed.

Pain is like a monster,
raising up its claw.
Penetrating deep
a heart whose wounds are raw.

Confusion rears its head.
Conflicted reasonings grow.
Shame prevents the heart
from feeling love’s warm glow.

A momentary flicker,
a broken shaft of light.
Do not tease me with the stars
when I’m surrounded by the night.

Autumn’s breezes blow at eve
Autumn’s breezes blow at eve
as warm weather birds take their leave.
as warm weather birds take their leave.
Autumn’s birds blow at eve
as warm weather breezes take their leave.

Winter’s blizzard whirls at night
Winter’s blizzard whirls at night
when shining moon is all our light.
when shining moon is all our light.
When winter’s moon whirls our light,
blizzard, shining, is all at night.

Today’s blow ends as sun fades at eve.
Autumn’s birds race all light.
Summer’s breezes take their leave,
as warm weather moon is shining
when our blizzard whirls at night,
winter’s breath upon my face.

through darkened night.
On they went,
and never was their courage spent,
though fog now cloaked their sight.

Sweat beaded
on broad foreheads, ‘neath their helms,
as they walked past trees, past the elms,
wishing the humidity to go unheeded.

And now they’ve reached -
the tower high,
reaching up toward clouded sky,
and pray t’will soon be breached.

Sentries guard the doors,
tall, silent danger,
unaware of each hidden stranger
as they gaze across the misty moors.

Swords hang at armored sides,
providing comfort as they surround
the great stone tower, without a sound.
On this their captain prides.

Soft lantern light
creates dancing shadows on the ground.
Flickering, disappearing, rising o’re a mound,
breaking through thick dark of night.

They smell the sweat
that drips down brows
as they take care not to arouse
enemies not yet met.

At a signal from a stealthy hand
hearts pound, excited yet wary.
And now no longer do they tarry,
as forward moves this intrepid band

Swords are taken
from sheaths, by gauntleted fingers.
Nowhere is one who lingers
as fears must be forsaken.

Breaking through the silence’s reign -
a great shout to intimidate.
Soldiers no longer have to wait,
praying courage will not wane.

Guardians start.
Alarmed, they reach for hilts.
Complacency wilts,
leaving each heart.

The first blood falls
to marshy land,
and its owner will no longer stand
as others are haunted by his calls.

Opens the door
to the tower’s insides.
And sword collides
with sword, now harder than before.

Silver blades
glint in firelight
from lanterns bright
as another life fades.

Sweat mixes with blood
as they fight, tenacious.
Their spirits stand firm, audacious,
but flinch as life pours out, a flood.

They will not be swayed,
and move in, closer to their goal,
each hardened soul,
as swiftly moves each silver blade.

Now guards lie prone -
life gone, spirit fled,
and warriors file past the dead,
and walk upon the stone.

The tower is won,
a step in war.
But hearts are wounded by the gore,
and many hope it has not merely begun.

Haunted eyes -
witnesses to the truth,
many still not past their youth,
as in their ears echo death’s cries.

Now they take care
to choose their fights,
to weigh the worth of bloody nights,
and shiver now in humid air.

The lives of those
who fell that night -
did they not feel they were as right?
And now each life no longer glows.

Take care to choose your battles.

God upholds us when it’s hard to stand
and catches us by the hand.*
Every moment we live
He’s at our side,
calling us to Him
to be His bride.

—
* Alternate version: God upholds us in hard times, and doesn’t mind our pathetic rhymes