WINTER RAIN

The devil does deceive.
I know what I believe:
  Jesus is Christ—I have no doubt.
  He is the way—no other route.
He grants my soul’s reprieve.

I say, “You Lord, I know.”
But is my claim, all show?
  What could I say, when life is through—
  What if He says, “I don’t know you? *
Depart from Me *, now go?”

My little faith . . . such fear,
Fills me with dread and drear.
  My head knows Him, does my heart?  
  His words pierce me—like blazing darts,
And burn within my ears. 

Help me to turn my will—
Your way I should fulfil.
  You do not care for great deeds
  Done without love—such foul weeds!
Your love, my heart, please fill.

*Matt. 25:12 and Matt. 7:23

The writer has written sacred and secular verse for decades. He has been published in Prairie Messenger, Windhover, The Anglican Theological Review, Ancient Paths, The Christian Communicator, Time of Singing, The Christian Century, and others. He is a member of the Winston Salem Writers. He serves a life sentence, condemned to write verse. His Jesus Through A Poet’s Lens is now available via Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Peter+Carrington+Venable&ref=nb_sb_noss