We were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
Its sinless wonders nevermore to regain.
So every man on life's toilsome journey,
Must enter the valley of pain.
We don't enter because of desire
And it's certainly not a voluntary fare.
But, rather, it's a matter of destiny
Compelling and forcing us there.
Eden's garden; its beauty so magnificent,
Can't be reclaimed; it is a lost paradise.
Trees of knowledge and life gone forever,
We are now paying consequences price.
The valley of pain is bleak and lonely,
And all heartache must be suffered alone.
The petty and trite ceases to matter.
When facing hurt as never before known.
In pain's valley, no restaurants exist.
Shopping malls can't be found anywhere.
There's no joy to be had from entertainment.
There are no parks, for it is no picnic there.
There are no banks in the valley of pain,
No theaters, no lounges, no beach.
In this valley, we have no lofty aspirations,
Surviving the only goal we hope to reach.
Pain's valley in not a poor man's haven;
We'll find no comfort, or ease or rest.
Nor will we encounter family or friends
For this valley is one's own personal test.
Bitter anguish is experienced in this valley,
A site of conflict on a titanic scale.
A place of failing and spiritual torture,
Of deficiency and interminable travail.
When we enter the valley of pain,
We no longer worry about unpaid bills.
We don't fret about outstanding car notes,
We don't care about acquiring new skills.
When we enter the valley of pain,
We don't dabble in vain vanity.
For this valley inevitably drives us,
To the very brink of human sanity.
When we enter the valley of pain
Family prayer just will not do.
Praying in the church is insufficient,
And social prayer is inadequate too.
We must find our own secret hideaway
Close the door to the world and all its strife.
We must surrender ourselves to our God
And let Him work a miracle in our life.
Saundra L. Washington is the author of two coffee table books: "Negative Disturbances, Homilies that Teach," and the book from which this poem is taken, "Room Beneath the Snow, Poems that Preach." She can be contacted at: http://www.clergyservices4u.org
home cleaning services Deerfield ..I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
My life has changedin so so many waysIt seems to... Read More
I wish we had met 20 years ago... A different... Read More
YOU MIGHT THINK I AM STRONGI THINK YOU GOT IT... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
Little girl from HuancayoDo you really, really know? Just how... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (Peru; in English and Spanish)In what... Read More
You cannot make someone love you. All you can do... Read More
Is poetry too complicated for the average reader? Is it... Read More
Amy King Antidotes for an Alibi BlazeVox Books ISBN 0-9759227-5-0... Read More
English VersionA bunch of us guys in the hutIn ?Nam... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More
In Poetry: Meaning of WordsWhen I write poetry, I check... Read More
Do you ever stare at the paper, waiting for poetic... Read More
The concept of brief encounters, even romantic encounters, with a... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for simpler times. Stores were closed... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
You've been writing poetry since that first assignment in your... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Azra, Azra, Wake up Azra. Wake up Azra, It is... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
recurring housekeeping Highland Park ..There once lived an old man and his goodwife On... Read More
I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
As I picked up some of the polished gemstones in... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
I'm not well. Can't you tell? Kinda low, so,... Read More
Let's follow the poet to his Hell and heaven! Count... Read More
One of the most important poets of the post-war period,... Read More
You are to me my lifeline my security. That scares... Read More
Isn't that what they say?But what does that mean?There's no... Read More
#25The King and Delka [Split Mawkishness-on Moiromma /Part V]Sickly SentimentalityI... Read More
I am not the one I was before yesterday.I cannot... Read More
Footprints to Mantaro Valley (English version)In what retreat art hid?-Where... Read More
Four Poems: Katrina's PathwayHarvest of Apoplectic Horses ((Dedicated to: Katrina))... Read More
All is still; all quiet; The world seems to... Read More
Ironically, the passion that can neutralize the repulsion for difficulties... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
You can do and you can be whatever you want.... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Kafka lands resurrected in Crewe deposited by a silvery alien... Read More
[As Told by the Last] King: it was in the... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
1) Shadows of the Andes [or: Song to the Andes]I... Read More
Poetry |