[Written over a period of seven years, this poem has probably been re-visited fifty to seventy-five itmes. The voice and tone changes throughout the poem, but that's the point...]

Originally published at: http://www.horsesense.ws/thistooshallpass.htm

This Too Shall Pass

Once more last night she proved me wrong: "Our love could calm a hurricane,"

But could not long endure the pain of droning doubt's incessant rain.

A song extolling Love's sweet toil seduced me with sublime refrain.

But since she left, a stinging prod Love weilds, its awful fury bared.

And while I tossed in anguish, caught in Lostlove's hopeless tangled coils

My Angel fled. Life's torments drove her out in fear, tho' once she'd dared

A Love as deep and steep and broad as Sea and Sky and Soil.

A love, I thought, which reach'd the stars, yet would not reach for me.

Then summoned by Love's vicious bar, I blessed my cruel despair.

For locked in pain of loss remained this relic:

"Once, she cared."

And not a man was looking,

and not a soul could see

this wretched hulk come rest and sulk upon her empty bed.

And not a man was looking,

and not a soul could see

The searing twisting anger, except for God and me.

And whether God was looking,

or whether passions free

of Judgment's cost, or if Mercy's lost, acknowledge tragedy;

Or in His perfect Wisdom, and faithful Charity

He left me drained and chained to drift self-pity's shoreless sea.

This morning, when she rose alone,

shampooed her hair

and curled it wet,

And drank a cup, and lit one up

(while waiting for her hair to set),

And watched TV and smoked one more

and checked to see

what time it was,

And dressed and prissed and prettied-up

(like women do, for men to see),

And while she hunted up her purse,

wrapped on her coat,

tracked down her key,

Did she miss this morning's terse

reminder-in-a-kiss: "I do"

My God,

are we not one

but two?

Sweet Jesus,

have I ceased to be?

Six years of winter pass and still

the pangs are keen enough to kill.

And every day I rise to know

the pain yet flourishes, yet grows!

In each day's vast uncharted course,

beneath its grinding calloused heels,

The loneliness abates not, worse:

Each new day yet new pain reveals!

I need a hope, I need to see

a light beyond, where I might be

a free, unfearful man,

a rested soul.

For sin is more than hate and lust;

more unbelief, unfaith, untrust.

Hosea's YAHWEH,

lead me fast through this infested forest.

Cast Your Wisdom,

reach a lifeline,

mildly, gently,

teach Your troubled child

the vanity of pain's morass;

There's You to gain,

All this shall pass.

~Mark A. Rector

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