I have recently explored the theme of lament. Looking in particular at the psalms and wondering why it is that all that rawness and honesty thrown so bluntly at God gets lost somewhere between life in the world and worship in church. I wrote a small booklet about it called 'Sowing in Tears - How to Lament in a Church of Praise' which you can find on www.grovebooks.co.uk.
Plug aside. The following poem explores similar themes.
Lament
Out of the depths the words comes,
They are old words, wrinkled, harsh,
Smelling of centuries we have tried hard
To forget. They are unwanted relatives
We have consigned to the cellar.
They knock at the door when it rains,
Peer through the letterbox that bangs
In the wind, shout into the darkness
When the power's been cut off.
They cry outside on the step
They leave as fast as they arrived
Reaking of rejection
Wandering the lonely steet
Howling at the empty sky, crying
How long?! How long?!
