Trade my forgiveness worn legs with You
Where I wish for bread of life, up from death
My only vision I pray forgiveness, cannot withstand
My anger down, my death unfurled to Thee
Day often long away, I wish for light of day
Lay down first drink, first bottle You are found,
Now my only thought white pine out my window
In front of home. More my essence divine I’ve spent
Too much lost my daughter , particle of disbelief;
Creeps night away, hope found in new day
Yet my daughter slipped away–my anger; I weep.
I cannot walk into Prairie, run into ground
Within white privacy fence, wrath of disabled
Lain at feet of of Him, wish oh, miracle
This witness, abandoned land where house
Found on swampy land, upon which faith–
Homes unveiled, give up old prairie village
First steeple removed for lightening death
Then water removed for lots, vision oh Wind
Pumping from eternal well spring too much water
For neighbor’s land finally loved in spite of me.
His Love, God’s love, aquifer down into loam,
Eastern South Dakota, once in this time, suspect
Yet given over to sump pumped out for Hartford
Homes she made on Mary Lane I cried from vision
Our own home without old crab apple, lilac bush
Removed from edge, corner of my soul cry
For American warren of sin, this removed
In Grace where wonder meets what’s left of soul
Stands for witness–never spoken, implied
In S curve of my spine, I cannot fall in night
Can walk Upon my artificial knees, one to last
Twenty years, new to last thirty-five more
Years, He hears my voice sing quietly inside
Acceptance, I love Light transforming
From another Stone, Rock found in soil.
Eternal White Pine, crossed before our yard
Upon Fathers Day, gift to me from family never
Known His passion from my child, my wife limits
Me for she is no more given over, given, away
Through His risen person, I find Grace, want
Her in my arms–I’m quiet so I wait eternity
For her, church as I walk from church surgeon
At my feet I find wonder to walk this mile, she
Is there in spite of my anger–transformed,
From father, now other Father greater gift
My sin removed from my brother’s weary
Life again, They cannot rise with Him as Light
New–summoned yes saved, flesh removed,
But I lost all, my family gone I weep, I gnash teeth
Though free to dance before the cross of Him
I’ve lost all, for Him but weep for family gone.
C2018