Lament

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?!