Requiem
It seems a trivial thing, in view
Of earthquakes shaking far and near;
Hundreds of thousands starve and die
While I sip coffee here.
It seems a stretch to call this ‘hard’
When off in Thailand girls of eight
Are raped and kidnapped from the streets
To serve a cruel fate.
But still, I cannot seem to shake
This numbing sadness from my bones;
The world seems bleak and empty
And my pillow is a stone.
Unanswered questions I hurl out
Into a cold and silent sky
I think of all the prayers and tears
And all I ask is “Why?”
It’s not for me, you understand,
Although I feel this parting ill;
But I am not an orphan and
My love is with me still.
It seems a heartless providence
To strike down one so young, yet wise
Beyond his youth, while many seem
True wisdom to despise.
And yet you hung with outstretched arms
Your body torn by nails and spear
So I will sit beneath your cross
In hope that you are near.
©Tim Chesterton
Sept. 2nd 2011
For JJW
Ah Tim, you made me cry. ‘Weep with those who weep.’
Did providence strike Joe down? I can’t believe that. It was the disease, the cancer, that struck Joe down. It’s natural and human to ask why, but we probably won’t get an answer. We go on in great hope that God is near, that God will never leave us or forsake us.
Beautiful powerful words.
Take a look at my blog =)
I’m sure you’re right, Mimi, but there are times…
Take a look at mine too. Especially the posts to do with Joe Walker. It might give you more of an idea of what the poem is about.
John Piper has spoken of the idea that Christ’s sacrifice as a human on this Earth required a platform of death and suffering. From that perspective, it is quite something to think of JJW and others sharing in the sufferings of Christ as part of the continued foundation that need be laid for Christ’s death and resurrection to take place.
Beautiful Requiem.
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Thank you, Leslie.