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Rebirth
Long lay the church in silence
deserted for uncounted years
life's song ended for a while
while a bum lived there
One day the silence ended
has an old man entered
tears glistened in his eyes
by some unknown memory
Silence reign in the halls
as the bum quietly dies
unseen he dies alone
even when help is there
But the story never really ended
for time never stands still
life's fire will flare
saving the bitter old man
He stands by the altar
and wanders why he is here
the moment, pregnant with hope,
ticks slowly into time
Why the pull to come here
why visit the same old neighborhood
why the silence in his soul
whispering of rebirth
Is there really hope
for him in the world
what can he do
after being raped by time
Silence ticking into time
time stream slows for life
slows, stopping for a while
does time really hold a way
A presence, a feeling
there at the altar
moments glory in the past
but hope for the coming day
The man listens, growing wonder
lights up his bitter face
it is not the church who called
but Jesus, the Son of God
He feels the ages of bitterness
fall from his body
revealing what once was hidden
by the ashes of time
Cleansed in spirit and body
what hope could not do
the power of Jesus
wiped down the tears
A new heart beats stronger
feeling the power of hope
renewing his strength in life
rebirth in the power of God
For the man really wasn't old
but bent with bitterness
what hope does a man hold
none, but with God is the power
He left cleansed in spirit
old no longer and knowing
that where ever time carries him
God will be with him
A body was found the next morning
just another lost soul
who even with the answer
just couldn't begin
But the man smiles now
given another shot at life
what the future holds no
man knows but with
God possible
all are
things
all are
God possible
Paul Vernon Deffendall
Patricia Dianne Johnson
October 4, 1991
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