Rags for Garments

A Poem by Nobodyknows

A Master a truest form

Placed on me clothing

Of the finest silk and cotton

I was bestowed in wonder

I looked at the horizon

And saw my Masters enemy

Dressed in the most beautiful garment

And I looked at my own clothing and saw rags

I left my Master

And ran for the enemy line

“I want to join you”: I said

‘Prove yourself and give us your clothing’

I did not understand why they wanted rags,

But I gave it to them and they gave me garments

The most beautiful I have ever seen

I was in the vineyards of Timnah

I drank and was merry

My days with my Master were long forgotten

I gave away all my secrets to my enemies

And I was brought down to my knees

Poor, hungry and abandon I was left for the wolves

Mocked by outsiders

“Look at the Master favourite”

They mocked and laughed at me

And I started longing for the days with my Master

One of His riders came to me.

He asked: “Were you the Masters favourite?

The one he dressed in finest silk and cotton?”

“Yes”: I replied

“Then why are you wearing rags?”

“I think you are mistaken sir, you are the one wearing rags and I beautiful garments.”

The rider looked at me puzzled and rode off.

As he went, I saw that he was wearing fine clothing.

I looked down at mine and saw rags

“Rider! Rider!”

“Take me with you. I want to be in my Masters favour again

And wear His fine clothing”

The rider came back to get me,

On our way fear kept into my heart

Will He forgive me? I have done so much to hurt Him.

I had everything one could ask for

And still I desired other things

I was the unfaithful; servant.

The unfaithful son.

The unfaithful wife.

Will He ever forgive me?

But as I stood before my Master

I knew He saw my heart,

My thoughts

And my sin

I begged Him forgiveness

He lifted me up,

Put a ring on my finger

And gave me garments of finest silk and cotton

The night a great feast and was merry

My Master understood.

I had seen rags for fine clothing.

© 2012 Nobodyknows

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TLK

These are beautiful, spare, and simple words. I assume that English is either your first language, or that you started learning it early, as it is very good. There are a few small problems that I noticed on my first excited read through:
"My days with my Master was long forgotten" -- should be 'were'.
"longing to the days " -- should be 'for'.
Also, I suspect 'timnah' is a place name from the Bible, and therefore as a proper noun should be capitalised ("Timnah").

Many things make it clear that this is a Christian allegory. What I like about it is that it is it talks of God, doubt, and redemption in normal terms that could apply equally to many people regardless of their attitudes towards religious belief. The idea that you can be fooled by fake substance -- the rags that look like fine clothing -- is a very powerful one. I'm sure that every reader who understands this aspect of the poem has their own ideas about why the narrator was tricked in this way.