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
tidy up service Glenview ..What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
1.Evil's CreationThou knowith evil clings To tender peace-; Nor does... Read More
To many people contemporary poetry is a turn-off. The reason... Read More
Part OneI tell you a legend of long ago Of... Read More
YOU MIGHT THINK I AM STRONGI THINK YOU GOT IT... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
BoyhoodOh me! Thy glorious days have flown! I mealy noticed,... Read More
Bells for Belphegor!...Where immortal veils never meet Belphegor, Arch devil... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More
The Monster Mash The Graveyard SmashHave you heard of the... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a... Read More
1)dying in the bar [sluggishly]yet, I would crawl too upto... Read More
Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More
Like a cat I slumber, blissfully unencumbered, Through eighty per... 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
Explore the meaning of poetry and the motivation of poets... Read More
In the midst of darkness, there is light. In... Read More
In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
Sometimes we feel hard-pressed, Our backs against the wall;... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..the disease of extremism is infectious-; whoever cannot think of... Read More
Thank youDedicated to soldiers and their loved onesFor those who... Read More
How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More
I Shall Wait..On all the new mornings, and every singking... Read More
"To My Dear and Loving Husband" was written by America's... Read More
My eyes opened. I am still alive; Living on... Read More
Happy, Sad, Mad and Glad, Moved in down the streetCautious... Read More
The following two poems, one in English, the other in... Read More
1) Shadows of the Andes [or: Song to the Andes]I... Read More
Part One Midget HistoryI am thirty-six inches tall, that is... Read More
"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More
It was not me as I am now. It was... Read More
Iquitos & the Amazon Part OneIt was December 2, l959,... Read More
It's dark, it's cold, its' just six thirty,thoughts of sleep... Read More
"Song of the Great Zimbabwe"Across the African, winter's skyIn the... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
If you are serious about seeing your work published by... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
How I wonder what he's doing as I sit alone... Read More
"I heard what you said, Red. Yet, I have to... Read More
Kafka lands resurrected in Crewe deposited by a silvery alien... Read More
The funeral rite concluded With the pastor shaking hands, Offering... Read More
Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists... Read More
Truth is stranger than fiction according to many people who... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Poetry |