Dry Bones

Sorrow and heavy heart

Dry bones carry me through the day,

As I search for ease from this pain I only find dust to drink.

Days before the oil of gladness flowed, anointing me in mercy for the coming storm.


There is no joy in the 'prodigal son,' and no rest from worry.

There is forgiveness for the child now man,

But the closed door of my hovel will only open to a sober hand.


A heavy knowing blots out the sun

streaking my face with sheets of rain

and

stinging my soul with sleet like pains.


Words of stone
I cannot lift.

So, at the cross
I lay them low,

Then look upon this embittered child.

My silence forms a wall of stone,

but nurturing within is the seed of hope.

 

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This could've been written for any number of parent-child relationships within my very broken family. As everyone knows, after abuse follows substance abuse. I've seen this play out in so many arenas, where a parent has to do the "tough love" thing, but always in the spirit of hope (great ending). Your poem unfolds so gradually, I'm kinda dying to know where it's going the whole time, until I get to V2 & it feels like everything splits wide open with all the imagery your brief words incite (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

We've gone down this road before. He'll do good for a while but then when he falls beware.

[Lorry]

A kid is for life, not just xmas. And they will do their best to shorten it, make the grey appear prematurely and break our hearts., but they are always our baby.
So many beautiful and heartfelt lines that its impossibel to choose a favourite line. Superbly written.

[Cherrie Palmer]

:) thank you Lorry

[Dave Brown]

I feel for your pain which is shared by so many.
A close friend's son is also currently on an even keel but as you well know, it is a difficult thing
Best wishes

[Cherrie Palmer]

It is, and to add to his turmoil we are raising his daughter, which only multiplies his emotions.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The title upon which you have draped this deeply sad piece is so apt. The words feel so real and blunted with such pain as only a parent can hold.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I know more about the topic than I want to.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I do understand. My son went through a tough time. My heart goes out to you Cherrie.

[Cherrie Palmer]

On one hand he's come along way. He's beat the hard stuff, which left him on the paranoid side of life. That too is better. If he lets that frame of mind loose I remind him I won't live with crazy, and he puts that rabbit back in the hat.
So from time to time he has a wild episode and we kick him to the curb, and because he wants to be a good dad he regroups and tries again.
This last time I didn't think we would let him come back, but that revolving door is well oiled.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A husband rather than a son then? Very hard.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and i wish that the seed will sprout peace and he will return to someone who will no longer bring pain...
one of my dear friends dealt with this situation for years...and the ending of the story was tragic...
even seeing it coming...it is still hard to accept.
j.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Thank you, and we seem to be back in a even keel (knock on wood).
I hate to here that your friend went through this.

That's so true knowing the facts cannot prepare you for the outcome.