A Song of Hope

Where is here? oh, I am here;
I sit with friend confusion near.

And dancing glass on slipping sand,

I wonder, searching, heartache-nursing,

How long can I make weirdness grand?

And make a weakened, fearing thing

To be unbroken as a ring?

Or take the twisted, further twist,

With hopes of having it get kissed?

"And is there," says one in exhaust,

Within a stormy, lonesome night,

"A God who listens to the lost?"

His eyes so searching out their sight.

"Is there," with my fingers crossed,

I ask in thoughts now glowing bright,

"A Jesus for the hearts of frost?

A true and perfect love of right?"

I need a God for I am lost,
And fully wound and passion tossed;
If I could only know the cost.

If my dancing pulse could rest in love,

And feel his comfort still this fright.

If my heart could mingle with his own,

To guide me through this lonesome night.

"Oh please," I cried from Sorrow's womb,

"Where is the way for we the lonely?

Is this the life that I must hate

To win that good Eternal fate?

Then lead me to my earthly tomb!

But still I fear you; take me slowly."

And silence fell, and silence landed,
And breaking silence I demanded:

"I so believe! But still I grieve!

Let firmer faith clothe me in ease;

In your good peace let worries cease,

And no more let me cry and writhe!

"Another thing I ask with pleas:

Clear the shroud; make plain your way;

In ignorance I drift afraid,

My feet have surely gone astray."

Bring the day, Lord, bring the day!
I call, I cry, I plead, I pray!

For this stormy, lonesome night

Has taken happiness away;

This night of years and heartfelt plight

Has stolen happiness away;

This tragedy, this endless blight

Has ripped the curtain from the play!

So bring the day, Lord, bring the day!
Give the laborers their pay!

Gather all the poor around,

And all the lost who have been found;

Call up your angels, shed the ray,

And merrily announce the day!

[1993]