Speak Lightly

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
     Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my savior and my God.

Psalm 42:5 (and 11!)

Favorite Psalm (of many people, I'm sure). But then I have to go and write appalling poetry about it. Why, O why? It's wordy, it's dashed off, it has no set form...just sort of sprawls. But I post it here anyway, for my own peace; my mind won't let it alone!

David, turning, said to David,

"Why so downcast? Why disturbed?”

David, darkly, said to David,

“Do you not hear my enemies?

They ask where is my God, they mock

my faith – they voice my secret fears

which spring up, overwhelm, and drown –”

David, chiding, said to David,

“Doubt the dark and not the things

you know are true in dark and light.

Remember: put your hope in God.”

David, sighing, said to David,

“I dare to ask the question, too.

Where is my Lord, where is my Strength,

Where is my Hope in which to hope?”

David, softly, said to David,

“Hush, listen, I say again –

and will always say in such times –

remember: put your hope in God.

Thoughts are heavy in the dark --

allay them all; speak lightly to yourself.”

Technorati Tags: Poetry, Writing