When Words Meet Truth

When Words Meet Truth

(“There is no night dark enough, no shadow deep enough, to hide those who do evil.” Job 34:22 [The Message])

Oh Lord, I am just a poor man who
carries his life in a kerchief with holes
in the fabric.

Oh Lord, I have wondered as far as I can see,
why the efforts of goodness sometimes are lost,
buried, faded and dusty as moths.

Oh Lord, I have often wandered as far as I can walk,
slowly looking back to the sun above trees,
seeing jigsaw pieces between the branches
and asking the same questions again.

Oh Lord, I am just a poor man here
carrying my doubts, stubble and bruises
in the fabric dusty as moths.

Oh Lord, I puzzle at the words concrete,
and place the pieces along the corners
where word and reality meet.

Oh Lord, I am just a sinner who
likes to think He loves You more
than the carelessness that comes,
morning to midnight,
knocking at my door.

Oh Lord, I often saunter, glancing over my back,
and wish all the evil lit up the night like fire
and clouded the day like smoke. I am neither
more evil
nor
more saintly
than the paths I remember. But I often desire
to tender

My poor resignation to ask questions that
would not get me fired.

Oh Lord, I would rather be a poor man,
a pauper, who does not need to alter
his speech and hike; but only walks
as close as joy, up as truth, without
mincing down the honesty of questions
when words meet truth.