The inspiration for this poem comes from knowing three good priests at the end of their lives. Two are old and infirm. The other is battling cancer - and it seems to be getting the better of him.
So I thought up this poem:
As He Lay Dying
As he lay dying, priest wracked in pain,
The thought came to him once again,
“my life is ended, I long to see your face,
Now send four men to take my place.
I have no children to call my own,
Your altar is now my only home,
I tried to be a channel of grace,
So send four men to take my place.
I held You in my trembling hands,
Now I am weak and cannot stand,
I held the savior of the human race,
Now send four men to take my place.
The world, flesh, and devil deny,
That serving You could be a joy,
They laugh and even spit in our face,
So send four men to take my place.
For the prodigals all coming home,
And for those who thought they were alone,
I tried to be your reflected face,
Now send four men to take my place.
In joy and sorrow, life and death,
I brought Your people a living breath,
A weak and stumbling channel of grace,
So send four better men to take my place.
I shouldn’t set my sights on four,
Your grace is calling many more,
Forget my plea, and in its place,
Send thousands of men to take my place.
SMD
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2 comments:
I think you have the wrong label underneath this post. It should say 'good poetry.' I'm definatley linking to this post, and emailing this poem to my good friend Fr. Fryar. I know he will love it.
Wonderful stuff! I wish more people would find your blog. I find both merriment and truth in it. I especially loved the saga of the Roman Sacristan (what could be the reason?). My day is not complete without reading SSD.
Donna
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