Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Sewing (02/22/07)
-
TITLE: Prison Clothes | Previous Challenge Entry
By Edy T Johnson
03/01/07 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The laundry is where I am serving my sentence
with mending piled higher just waiting its turn.
From early till late now my needle wends sewing,
repairing the breach my primary concern.
With each little stitch in the fabric I'm thinking
about those events that bring damage to bear,
how minuscule threads work to bring things together.
It doesn't take much to fix garments to wear.
So, here is a split in the seam of these britches.
Apparently someone was too big to fit.
It's easy to tackle before all unravels.
Quick work is accomplished in just a brief bit.
But, what happened here? Someone must have been fighting
to leave such a rent in the shirt in my hands.
My threads cannot bridge such a gap, I am certain.
I must find a patch that will meet these demands.
In sadness I'm staring at cuffs and a collar
so long in the wearing the threads have grown thin.
Is this worth repairing, these rags for discarding?
Or, can they be salvaged like souls plucked from sin?
My mending reminds me of lives spent in prison.
Some puffed themselves thinking the law won't apply.
While others in rages attacked their tormentors,
still more simply wore out from burdens to die.
The wages of sin, so they tell me, is certain.
This awful employer pays death to us all.
Who'd serve such a master? Or, so I am thinking.
Is there any choice, any plan or recall?
Our hope only lies in what comes in hereafter,
when prison breaks open declaring us free.
Meanwhile, in the laundry I'll tend to my mending,
the least I can do since the One died for me.
Joel 2:13
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
[New King James Version © 1982 Thomas Nelson]
Isaiah 58:12
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
[Revised Standard Version © 1947, 1952.]
1 Peter 4:8
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.
[Revised Standard Version © 1947, 1952.]
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This poem is really great! I can't believe I missed it, as I actually read quite a few entries this week. I especially like the final two stanzas, but your rhyme and rhythm were perfect all the way through. This is a winner in my book!