Macdougall's Boon

Upon the path to self-destruction,
noticed I, a quaint obstruction.
Barrin' me to stay my course
was fear, envy, doubt and remorse.
"Imagine it!" to meself says I,
"Tis for these thing' I long to die."
An' so, I set me down to think.
"This bodes not well! Were't the drink?"
When at that moment, me eyes was soak't,
an' a blazin' tow'r o' fire an' smoke
appeared 'afore my sot'n feet
an' I prayed: "Dear Lord!
My soul do keep!"
As I fumbled the words
to the prayer of the Lord,
bespoke he to me:

"What are ye here for?"

Now, gath'rin me wits
with me eyes from the floor,
Ah I cleared me throat, an' this I swore:
"Dear God Almighty, can ye' please
forgive this trespass.
As you see, I know not what
I bargained for, and I am sorry,
my dear Lord."

Quite sober now
as I could be,
the Lord then spoke
these words to me;

"My child, from where thy feet now stand,
look to the east, where sun meets land.
Beyond those hills I raised of yore,
there once were lands, that are, no more.
Tongues that are no longer spoken
and vows that are, many,
long since broken.
Now look to the west,
where the sun meets the sea.
There are mountains yet raised
known only to me.
Cities to come, that shall never be,
and races of man, that no man shall see."

He paused, and I reflected on these,
then he added, to sum it all up, it seemed;
"Ages before I had ever begun,
I knew this very day would come.
I chose this hour, I chose this place,
and I chose you to recieve this grace.
So, be not troubled, child of mine.
You were meant to be here, at this time.
Do you still want to throw yourself from on high?"

"Dear Lord no! I don't want to die!
Now, more than ever, I want to live!
And I fell to my knees,
and I worshiped him.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Culverhouse Avatar
October 1, 2012 at 3:16 PM
well written poetry....hope you are well. welcome to poetry soup!
Kirkwood Avatar
October 3, 2012 at 11:48 AM
delete this entry. it is beneath me. If that's all you have to say, I don't need your comment, anyway. Please try next time to have some retort, encourage, delight, or remain silent
Kirkwood Avatar
September 22, 2012 at 12:51 PM
i meant "for wanting to destroy" myself
Mostofi Avatar
September 22, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Yes I loved the passing to and fro of meaning and rhythm. Couldn't do an Irish accent so instead did a high-classed Englishman. haha What did you mean by "forgive this trespass" Road to higher knowledge perhaps??
Kirkwood Avatar
September 22, 2012 at 12:55 PM
oh. didn't see this reply box. it's scottish, btw. Mc Dougall would be the irish equivalent. thank you for your nice comment
Cavanaugh Avatar
September 22, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I love this poem. I had to read it out loud with an Irish accent to gain an even greater appreciation for it. Good job
Kirkwood Avatar
September 27, 2012 at 9:22 PM
thank you. this poem is a deeply symbolic statement of my submission to powers, namely those of God, that i cannot understand or control. It represents the period of my life in which self destructive behavior led me to a place in which I had no alternative, but to believe in God.
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