Lord, take me home!
This world’s so full of woe
Sin and sadness all around —
Suffering abounds.
[…but where sin increased,
grace abounded all the more…]
Lord, how do I cope?
Please give me abundant hope.
Strengthen my song
And help me long …
For justice, peace,
Love and good will, until
All people love You,
And still ..
I’ll always long,
Until I can sing Your song.
I swallowed the bitter pill,
And it became sweet in my mouth.
I lowered myself,
And I was exalted.
I forgave my prison warden
(from the prison that I and others had built for me),
And I was liberated.
I cried tears of grief,
And God put a new song in my mouth.
Lord, I need Your song in me
To still the noise around.
And keep my heart in tune with Yours;
Let me be heaven bound.
In daily work, in drudgery
Let spirit sing Your praise,
That I will let Your gifts to me
My heart and mind amaze.
Let not my soul so weary be
That I neglect Your painter’s stroke —
Let all the tasks ordained for me
A masterpiece evoke.
And soon a heavenly chorus will sing —
An orchestra and heavenly choir.
With joy and thanks in perfect tune,
And Spirit’s joyful fire.
[Not sure if this poem reflects my spiritual or psychological state – maybe both 🙂 ]
I do not speak your language;
I only speak in rhymes.
Perhaps I’m from another world,
Or from another time.
Perhaps I am an alien,
Or my brain is wired wrong.
I cannot speak too plainly,
I’d rather sing a song.
I’m from another universe,
Or country far away.
Struggling bravely to converse —
Withhold what I could say.
I’m singing songs to Jesus;
I’m praying in my mind.
My eyes are turned to heaven,
That country so sublime.
So please be patient with me;
I need to learn to see
Reality, and firmly be
Both here and heaven bound.
If all the stars like dust were blown
From palm of God upon the earth,
And fell like snow into the night —
Their glitt’ring shine,
Their silent birth —
And whispered quiet melody
Of dancing angels
Far and wide,
Of tinkling, tiny, windy chimes —
They sing to me
Of happy times.
Oh, universe
Now will burst forth,
In praise and song
To God divine.
clarakatalin 
16 Tons …
Here are four renditions of the song “Sixteen Tons”. Which one is your favorite?
What an ode to a rough life — a working man’s blues. If you know nothing about
“company stores,” read up on it. Also, worth thinking about: where did such people
find hope — I think it would have to be in God — otherwise people turn to drink.
The original version by the original writer (Merle Travis):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pfVvqLM_e4
Fun version; seems to be filmed in a place not unlike Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9kb4-wUAU4
Incredible bass voice; English might not be his native language, but wonderfully done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjevsnCRQ_A
Tennessee Ernie Ford; starts around 2:00 minute mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjmdEBgsu_g
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