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Echo Poem: When Pain Seduces Good People

When I'm Alone - Poem by Lora Colon

When I'm alone I stare at the sky, 
Then I reach for the moon with my hand, 
If I could steal it for just one night, 
Could I then make Heaven understand? 

Just as the moon's radiance would be missed
If it were to abandon its realm, 
My ship travels with no guiding light, 
Too long I've stood alone at the helm

When I'm alone I cannot believe
There's a God who feels pity for me, 
Like a ship that's left to navigate
In the darkness, I am lost at sea

I don't ask for much to call my own, 
A hand to hold, a comforting word, 
Does the forest not rejoice to hear
The sweet song of just one faithful bird? 

When I'm alone I find no reason
To greet the dawning day with a smile, 
I see no sense in praying for strength
To carry my cross another mile

If it's a sin to forsake all faith
In a caring God, then cast your stone, 
No pain or punishment could be worse
Than the pain I feel when I'm alone

Lora Colon


You Speak and I Listen

You speak and I listen:
Here’s message from bird, (1)
A song that might please you,
A hint you’ve been heard.

We want to assure you
That you're not alone,	
But dressing like bird suits
Your camouflaged moan.

You say no one hears you
But whole forest dreams
At call of a blind bird,
Leaves drop into streams:

There’s torrential flooding
Of red, brown, and gold,
Whenever you tremble,
Whenever you're cold.

For forests have tears too
Though you cannot see,
All nature is brimming	
With God’s sympathy.	

The scraps that you live on
That keep you alive,
Are pointers to largesse
Whereby you might thrive.

There’s warmth in a stranger
For those in real need
You doubt? Try out my yard,
There’s lots of bird seed.

But let me remind you
In case you forgot
A bird has real freedom
That’s not afterthought.

Your parents are blameless
Child saw them as God,
Forgiveness the answer
To self-imposed fraud.


Brian Johnston
May 31, 2016

Poet’s Notes:
(1) In the last year Lora rescued a baby catbird and fed and protected it until it was ready to leave home. I think I have channeled the catbird’s voice very well in this Echo Poem...

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