The Answer

I am between writing projects at the moment, my liturgical poems on hold for a month until the last day in the calendar that I have yet to write about – Ascension Day at the start of May – and being yet to begin my Christian poets project (which you can expect to see me begin this week). So, in the mean-time, here is another one of the poems I am writing for my memoir project on the Psalms. This one is loosely based on a section of Psalm 119 – the beautiful passage in verses 41-48. It has been a very comforting passage through some dark times in my life, so here is a poem which expresses some of what it means to me.

The Answer

 

The taunter has his night-time lies

That speak of depths of dark in me

Which I can only vaguely know

Yet sound as nails at night.

 

And in the day-time he has ways

To catch me with my thoughts, alone,

Amidst the crowd or in my head,

The stillness of deep dread.

 

And in all my vast stores of words

And arguments I have none left

To say that he does not know me,

That what he says is lies.

 

For when I answer, thoughts like vines

Arise and tangle me in me,

And when the word of truth is near

The vines snatch it away.

 

So only this can I reply:

That there is love, unfailing, rich,

And promises of salvation

Surer than my fears.

 

When it comes, and it is near,

Then I shall answer him who taunts

And will hold firmly to the word

Which holds me in its plans.