Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Hound of Heaven

He put a hound on you - I asked Him to -
an animal with gasping, wild breath,
and groping teeth and lunging, starving eyes,
and he will catch you, it's as sure as death.

Two miles from town and by the clock of night
1:00 in the morning, we found prints of yours
tracking the snow with frightened sneaker-feet
and followed them right to the bolted door.

By windowlight I saw your silhouette,
made out your shape, your blackness, in that room
"Snap leashes! Subject bolting for the door!"
and all His dogs came raging after you.

We watch you jerk through darkness from the steps,
and hurtle over winterfallen white
after you they come like bullet bursts
and howls curdle blood and chill the night.

Your sleeping days are over - you will run,
your sitting-down time gone - you will pound feet.
We love you and the only way to show
it, is to free you from your sultry peace.

The world rolled out before you - you have room
Press hard heels into firm dirt - you can run,
You have a lifetime to attempt escape.
Go for it - let us know when you are done.

You will not tear forever over fields,
and up the rocks and crannies of the walls
You will not run the circle of the world
unending - someday you will trip and fall.

You will wear tired and you will miss steps
someday toes slide and you will feel the ledge
His hounds will find your flesh and meet their teeth
through frenzied skin, and drag you from the edge.

I told Him softly, “I have one I love,
one distant and one orphaned from the day.
Maybe you could send a couple dogs
To take him down and bring him in someday?”


by Bryana Joy

(all rights reserved)

3 comments:

Rebekah said...

Very well done! The poem has a pleading voice woven throughout the narration and the imagery was very vivid. Very well done indeed! :)

To the KING be all the glory!
Rebekah

Unknown said...

Bryana, ‘simply’ I love it - the power of your words - for here is [illustrated] our God's redemptive love with a real bite.

Status: Possibly better than J.R.R.Tolkien's very gripping large book print "The Lord of the Rings'. Much easier to read and what awesome images you project.

You have a great gift with 'words' and I will suggest you are blessed to reach others [God's prime pen speaks].

Did you score a major in English (not that I really care on and measure of earthly scores)?

Write with all God's purpose, you will affect many lives!

Peter

StrongJoy said...

@Rebekah and Wings Over Earth -- What with the holidays and work around the farm here, I haven't been able to get back with you two, but thank you both for your kind words. I'm so glad you liked the poem!

On the issue of majoring in English, Peter, I've actually been homeschooled all of my life. I've read a lot of poetry and the classics, and I believe that these things have helped me to develop my writing skills.

Thanks again for the encouragement!

Seize the Day!
-Strongjoy