Burial Row (+1)

Born of perdition’s rage

and damnation 

his life was spent in vain

Orphaned by every dead-end street

where darkness hides

the greatest pain

Fear his lone relation

among shadows  

with no escape 

Living disowned on burial row

cursing each gravestone

—dying in place  

(The New Room: September, 2023)

Salvation Divine

This poem I read

at the end of my life…

As I bid you adieu

from the joy and the strife

A verse filled with hope

and with love from within

To carry inside you

my song on the wind

I’ll try not to preach

as others have done

But rather beseech you

your songs yet unsung

To love with the strength

that’s God given inside

And to love even more

in an unending rhyme

These words are my gift

I bequeath you today

In the hope you’ll remember

what I last had to say

For I loved you all deeply

your kindness I sought

And remember now sweetly

those blessings you brought

So I leave you this morning

and bid you farewell

I leave you together

pledged hearts here to dwell

All strength in your sharing

my love to remind

Your redemption awaits

—salvation divine

(The 1^st Book Of Prayers: September, 2016)