Poetry

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I had a bag of people
Strapped upon my back
It weighed me down and caused me pain
And pushed me off God’s track
The bag was made of heavy cloth
No rips or tears or pulls in kind
It kept the people safe and warm
And trapped within my mind
The people I had stuffed and shoved
Into my massive pack
Did me wrong and hurt me fierce
And stung me on attack
And when I saw someone new
Willing to befriend
A cage of metal bars
Encased myself within
The prison of bars and locks
Was of my own devise
Detaching myself from another
Keeping me locked in lies
My makeshift wall of poles and rails
Let slivers of self seep through
And allowed another to gaze
Upon my heart so blue
“I have not the strength,”
I would quietly say
“Nor have I the room
In my bag today
I beg of you,
Go away, leave me be,
Let me alone
Don’t pray for me
You’ll be like the rest,
I know it true
You’ll hurt me and leave me
Then what’ll I do?
I’ll be alone once again
To fend and fight for my soul
And to cry in my own distress
And feel far away from whole
And you’ll have to join the others
In my bag so full of pain
For I carry a grudge and take offence
And for that I am ashamed

Then I heard a whispered voice
So clear and close to my heart,
“Drop the bag, my little one,
Make a brand new start.”

“But, Lord,” I argued,
“They did me wrong and hurt me bad
I deserve this bag on my shoulder
I deserve to be sad.”

“You are stronger than you think,”
Said the voice who knows it all
“Drop the bag and look at Me
I won’t let you fall
Forgive those people in your sack
They don’t know they hurt you so
Never did you tell them
You just let them go
You carry that weight upon your shoulders
A weight that needn’t be
So drop the bag, forgive, repent
And turn your gaze to Me
Look at yourself, My little one,
This offence you clutch so tight
Has taken your breath away
Has taken away your fight
You can barely stand
You stoop so low
Your smile has gone
Just let it all go
For I have placed those people in your life
They were there in different seasons
At different times
And for different reasons
They didn’t leave you stranded
When they left you after a time
I was there by your side
I put your hand in mine
Drop the bag, My little one,
Tear down that wall you build so high
For though you think it protects you
It only makes you cry
Drop the bag, My little one
And open yourself to see
The newest people in your life
Brought to you from Me.”

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