A Journey of Discovery and Deliverance –
I wrote this poem last year for my daughter, Jenna, to perform at ACE’s Ozark Regional Convention. She did quite well. Well after the convention, she recited the poem during a church service and it was quite moving. Reading it here won’t be nearly as good as hearing her recite it, but it will have to do for now. Enjoy. –JR
Out on the open sea,
I was meant to be.
To ride the daring wake,
To brave the midnight break.
My ship, the Zephyr,
A beauty to behold,
Majestic and proud her mast,
Sleek and strong her hull,
My pride,
My transport,
My transfer.
A grown up lass,
I believed me to be.
Self sufficient, proud,
Take care of myself, you see.
I was right to do exactly as I please.
No more rules, laws lorded over me.
A girl should have the right to choose,
How she lives and her own life views!
I, ready to launch, to sail,
My destiny to find.
For one evening, just a fortnight ago,
I met an old sea dog
Down by the salt weathered pier.
He had beckoned me close,
To fill my ear…
With tales and fantasies,
Of an isle grand across the sea.
Where every desire is fulfilled,
And every freedom be.
The weathered pirate had said:
“You can be free from this strait and narrow way.
I have found a place, fair and fancy.
Listen to what I have to say!
You sail to this isle,
And happiness you will find!
Everyone lives as they chooses.
Quite free of “don’ts” and “do’ses”
In splendor and wealth,
Live all on the Island.
No lack, no need,
All happiness, smiles, and…”
He went on for another quarter hour.
With his toothless grin,
And sweaty attire.
He promised my journey,
Just beyond the horizon,
Just a days few…
As the seagulls a flyin’.
His words stirred me from within.
Every word I thirstily drank in.
This was where I longed to be.
Where I would finally be free!
I was so excited!
I proclaimed as I laughed out loud:
“Good bye, old fashioned life of mine!
Good bye, days of truth aligned!
Good bye, regulation and rule!
Good bye, taskmasters, old and cruel!”
So I raised my sail and set my course,
Leaving behind,
The stifling crowd,
For a land of freedom, fun, and wealth,
Sunny skies and ne’er a cloud.
But, alas, I must have misheard,
That old buccaneer’s words.
After a weeks worths of sailing,
Had come to naught,
No island, no riches, no landing spot.
But a ghastly reef that scraped the Zephyr’s hull,
That gifted me with a gaping hole.
Taking in water, my ship porous like a sieve,
I bailed and I wailed,
But found no reprieve.
The salty seas bubbled in,
Reaching up to my knees.
Mixing with my tears,
Drowning out my pleas.
Though none was near to hear my petition,
I cried out in deep contrition,
“Oh God, please hear me now!
I, a fool to pursue the life of ease.
If you can, would you save me…please!!!”
In an instant, all was calm.
Safe from danger, out of harm,
On a sandy white beach, I found,
By an act of mercy,
The Zephyr had run aground.
Before me stood a Man in white.
A lantern in hand,
A soft look in his eyes.
The Master of this Land,
No doubt.
“Daughter, You are safe here,
Most definitely.
But one thing you must do,
Irrevocably.
Burn the ship.
Burn the sail.
Burn the mast.
Burn the boom.
Burn the hull to water the waterline,
Burn it all…and become mine.
Burn the Zephyr till naught remains,
That life is gone.
Be free of your chains!”
I winced and withdrew,
As He had called out the name,
Of what my soul loved most,
My ship and life’s flame.
I ratcheted up foolish courage,
To volley a reply,
“On the contrary”, defiantly said I:
“The Zephyr brings me freedom,
The horizon calls my name.
To sail and discover,
Riches, leisure, and fame.
Not bound by chain,
Nor fetter I,
A free thinker,
Progressive,
With an open mind.”
His eyes piercing, probing, seeing, loving,
Sunk through mine to my very soul.
His words, though kind and gentle.
Scorched through me like a blazing inferno.
“Daughter, behold your hands,
And your feet.
For your bondage
Is quite complete.”
I opened my mouth,
To defy…
To deflect…
To deny…
Contradict…
Conflict…
State my case…
His statements falsify.
But I could not. For it was true.
I glanced down and it came into view.
A slithering indelible fetter, a shackle, a chain,
Enslaving and holding me fast.
Paralyzing, rendering me numb,
Forever captive, to its massive weight succumb
Finally realizing my bondage,
I crumpled to the sand.
Helpless…
Strengthless…
Breathless…
Hopeless…
Utterly hopeless.
I again heard his voice…soft, gentle, sweet.
Pleading, almost begging, reasoning with me.
“Burn the Ship…”
“I can’t!”
“Burn the Ship…”
“I won’t!”
“Burn the Ship…”
“NO!”
“Burn the Zephyr…be mine.”
With a final heave,
To rebel…
To repel…
To quell…
To curtail…
The desire that began to swell,
Deep within my aching heart,
To say “Yes.”
To yell “Yes!”
To scream “YES!”
To surrender to His onerous request.
I knew I must…
I knew I should…
I knew right then, I knew…
No fight,
No attempt at flight,
No inner might,
Would keep me from succumbing to His glorious invite.
From chasms within,
At my very core,
Came a soft whisper,
Nothing more.
“Yes. Yes, to your way.
Yes, to your will.
Yes, to You.
I say…Yes.”
My chains shifted, just an inch.
Granting freedom enough the lantern’s
Handle to clinch.
Then, with strength not my own,
I flung it,
Towards my ship.
My Zephyr…
My pride…
My main…
The source of my binding chain.
The flicking flame lit the sail, sped down the mast,
Spread across the boom, engulfed the hull,
To the waterline, at last.
From my weeping heap in the sand
I could see,
The Zephyr was no more.
Also gone was my chain
There I lie a free girl on the shore.
Said the Man in white,
“Welcome, my dear child.
Here ends your quest.
You’ve anchored your soul
In the Haven of Rest.”
And there I remain,
Until this blessed day.
Free of my wanderings,
And free from my chains.
–JR