Poetry

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A shepherd’s hook
stood in the corner of the empty office
a reminder of the role
the reason for this room,
in the corner of the building
it called to be used
to have sweat and dirt join the clean wood
to be used in the field, in work,
to guard and lead and protect
the members of the flock

A memory of the old shepherd
and those for whom it is more than metaphor
reminding me of the cane
in the corner of the new house
at the close of “Miracle on 34th Street”

A reminder that believing is seeing,
that He will always be their
he will remember the covenant, his promises
that the Good Shepherd is always watching
watching over us
His rod and his staff
are there to protect,
give us safe haven in a troubled world
a symbol, indicia
of his love, our joy
like the bow in the sky
and the bread and wine
in remembrance
of the hand of the master
the staff to ward off enemies
and the hook to bring them and us home

July 16, 2006 14:17
Genesis 8:12-17, Psalm 23:4, Matthew 28:20, and John 10:11.

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