Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer

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bsquirrel

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-01-03

Posts 7855

0 posted 2003-03-31 01:21 PM

Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer.
For giving no buffer from the pains
and chills of age, for breaking rage
upon me like a sea I need to feel the salt
burning my lungs -- drown me in the reeds.

Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer.
It is your will. Your will is good
and burns so brightly through the woods
as animals scatter. The storm
stays back -- I hear the houses fall.

Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer.
My hope to join you by your seat,
to learn defeat and not repeat
what I have learned since I have come
to know this place -- of suffering grace.

Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer.
The sky is bright and clear, the clouds
are black and quicken fear. I do not
know why I'm here. Any longer.
Oh Lord, I thank you for letting me suffer.

Stella was a diver and she was always down.
Interpol

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

1 posted 2003-03-31 01:28 PM

geezzzzz Mike..I am wondering why I have to suffer and here you are being thankful...
M

KristieSue

Senior Member

since 2003-01-31

Posts 1460
PA, US

2 posted 2003-03-31 01:38 PM

wow....hey Dixie has this anti-depressant....

I guess if you want a positive outlook for everything, you've got it :-)

good job...

Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it is learned ~ KS

regards2you
Member Elite

since 2002-10-01

Posts 3940
California

3 posted 2003-03-31 01:47 PM

Oh Lord,

I thank Mike for this poem which touches deeply.

Hugs, Pat

..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons..
"Desiderata"

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

4 posted 2003-03-31 02:56 PM

smile...you know this get into EVERYTHING I believe, (okay, so I have trouble practicing what I preach) but yes, it's OPPORTUNITY. As thought it were an act of trust, that you we can handle the next step of temperance.

Richard Pryor has spoken of a similar gratitude which touched me deeply as well.

I have said it before and I will say it again. You are a genius mikie. But not an egomaniac, but a genius with gentle heart and spirit to grow. And you taught us all with this non-preachy point of wisdom.

I kiss you thanks for this.

Balladeer

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-05

Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA

5 posted 2003-03-31 03:13 PM

How could we celebrate freedom from pain without knowing pain? How could we survive without having body pain sensors to clue is in to what can hurt us? Pain serves it purpose as with everything else....nicely done, Mikey

wranx
Member Elite

since 2002-06-07

Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn

6 posted 2003-03-31 05:55 PM

This is surely a psalm squirrel dude.

Damn, but it's good!

bsquirrel

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-01-03

Posts 7855

7 posted 2003-03-31 06:05 PM

Thanks, everyone. These ideas came to me while reading a criticism on Dante, and feeling some post-hospital jitters.

Mike

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

8 posted 2003-03-31 07:37 PM

Mike - I am beginning to understand your writing - this scares me . . . this is just lovely - your heart shines through in this one - as it has been lately - reading Dante huh - I am halfway through . . . loved this - in its misery . . .xxoo

Ringo

Member Elite

since 2003-02-20

Posts 3684
Saluting with misty eyes

9 posted 2003-03-31 08:46 PM

Mike,
This is very thoughtful, and very instructive. it reminds me of one of my favorite song lyrics:
"You have to lose to know how to win"
(Aerosmith- "Dream On")
Outstanding job.

Imagine all the People living life in peace...
John Lennon

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-18

Posts 7350
the ass-end of space

10 posted 2003-03-31 09:54 PM

Don't have the words to say how much i love this

bsquirrel

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-01-03

Posts 7855

11 posted 2003-04-01 01:11 PM

Thanks for the comments, everyone. And littlewing, it was a criticism on the second part of the Divine Comedy, which deals with Purgatory. I guess in the book, sinners gladly suffer because they know it's god's will -- and the critic made a little aside that that's a completely different view than the way people view faith today. I'm not sure I agreed with that critic's point. Hence the poem.

[This message has been edited by bsquirrel (04-01-2003 01:12 PM).]

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