A Mother's Song in the Night

Pictures in my album,
Pictures on my wall—
These are only shadows—
They cannot speak at all.

What do I want with pictures?
What do I want with sight?
What is the restoration
I'm crying for tonight?

I'm crying for true communion
The father with his son—
The work of the Holy Spirit
To make our family one.

Come to the Table children!
Come take the wine and the bread—
The blood will bring the healing
So nothing needs to be said.

Away with your many reasons,
Your desire to be wholly right;
If you're wholly dead in Adam,
Come walk with Christ in the light.

Mar. 3, 1989
 

FAMILY PORTRAITS

Our Daddy

Oh let the children shout
For no one else about
Is quite so sweet as Daddy
Daddy, sweet-heart Daddy.

In all the private places
He makes those funny faces,
'Twould scare the straightest laces;
Daddy, funny Daddy.

With every kind of noise
He intrigues his little boys
And gives them many joys;
Daddy, happy Daddy.

And there's many an astonishing quip
As quick and sharp as a whip
Proceeding from his lip;
Daddy, witty Daddy.

He's handy with the paddle.
For Daddy's in the "saddle"
And mischief must "skee-daddle",
Daddy, pungent Daddy.

But best of all there's love
As gentle as a dove
Proceeding from above;
Daddy, loving Daddy.

Mother

As flowers in the sunshine,
    As green leaves after rain,
As ripples on the water,
    Or as waving stalks of cane,
Comes the sound of Mother's laughter
    Full of music soft and free,
Spreading Joy, like little wavelets
    All embracing with its glee.

As magnet leaps to metal
    So our Mother seeks the Light,
Eager with a thirst for knowledge,
    Keeping young with questions bright.
Bravely risking new adventures,
    Making friends with graceful ease,
Forming words quite unfamiliar,
    Taking notes of all she sees.

Like a judge, her sense of justice
    Gives her strength to stand for truth,
Mixed with love and deep compassion
    Reaching alike to age and youth.
Firing up with indignation
    At the cruel and the strong;
Speaking out with stern persuasion,
    Taking sides against the wrong.

Little Mother, little wonder
    That your courage was a rock;
Heaven's grace has proved sufficient
    Unto one who learned to knock.
Unto you, in deepest trial
    He became your holy rest--
Proved his faithfulness completely,
    Took you in his tender breast.

June 4, 1966

Grandpa

Let all the children gather round
    For Joys that never fail,
For Granddaddy is launching forth
    On another amazing tale.

Into the land of make-believe
    With one fantastic dip
The plane takes off like a magic rug
    On a most dramatic trip.

With children perched on every chair,
    And a baby on each knee
Granddaddy takes them with startling ease
    Out of the land of sobriety

The words pour forth in a cheerful stream
    Leaving all reason behind--
The colorful thoughts with abandoned glee
    Send ripples through each mind.

Their faces bright with expectant smiles,
    The children almost pop
When the story drops with sudden descent
    And comes to a flourishing stop.