Stephen R. Clark
@stephenrclark

#Writer #Christian #Introvert

"Departure rehearses death." ­ John Updike
Leavings

I.

Gomer left Hosea
Panting after adulterous lovers.

The prodigal left home

Tramping after cheap thrills.

And I walked away from You

Into adulterous and apostate imaginations.

Lives like table scraps,

Leavings to be disposed of,

To rot, to decay,

These departures led into dying.

The death of dreams and hope,

And self.

II.

Like Gomer on the block

Shackled by her own disillusionment;

Like the prodigal among swine

Groveling in senseless despair

After feeding his soul on garbage;

I came seeking undeserved mercy,

Knowing in some deep memory

That You would still be there

To buy me back from my demon master.

Not with silver and barley, but blood,

And heal my fragmented being,

Clothing me in the many colors or Your love.