What Shall We Say?

Hello everyone.

Here is a poem that I have always liked.  It is in a book called the "Christian Manifesto."  It was written by Ursula Solek for Presbyterian Life on June 1, 1967.

What shall we say?

What, finally, shall we say

In the last moment

When we will be confronted

By the Unimaginable,

The One

Who could not be measured

Or contained

In space or time,

Who was Love

Unlimited?

What shall we answer

When the question is asked

About our undeeds

Committed

In his name-

In the name of him

For whose sake we promised

To have courage,

To abandon everything?

Shall we say

That we didn't know-

That we couldn't hear the chatter

Of hearts breaking-

Millions of them-

In lonely rooms, in alleys and prisons

And in bars?

Shall we explain

That we thought it mattered

That buildings were constructed

And maintained

In his honor-

That we were occupied

With the arrangements

Of hymns and prayers

And the proper, the responsible way

Of doing things?

Shall we tell him

That we had to take care

Of the orderly definition of dogmas

So that there was no time

To listen to the sobbing

Of little ones

Huddled in corners,

Or the silent despair

Of those already beyond sobbing?

Or shall we say this, too:

That we were afraid-

That we were keeping busy with all this

To avoid confrontation

With the reality of this meaning

Which would lead us to repentance-

That it was fear which kept us

Hiding in church pews

And in important boards and committees

When he went by?

Do you have a poem that you like?  Can you share it with me in the comments section?

Brother Roop