The Midnight Cry

As the sun smiled and fadeth behind the clouds The yawning earth uncloak her beauty to the moon Halfway through the night, a clock strikes ‘12’ too soon Virgins carried a lamp and a vessel of oil Eagerly waiting for the groom’s appearance Abounding in devotion, patience and perseverance Virgins grew weary and fell asleep, at midnight a cry was made “Behold the Bridegroom cometh” Here He comes and there the band of virgins goeth Virgins begin to trim their lamp But five neglected to watch and to pray They never anticipated so long a delay “Oh no! Our wasting lamps is dying out by day Please give us of thy oil! Please spare us a little of thy toil!” “No! We have no oil to spare Lest our lamps burn with dim flame The groom is come already, lest He vent blame” The unwise virgins were shut outside the banquet hall They were left anguishing in gross darkness In a night of eternal and unredeemed blackness Both parties were taken unaware But one was prepared for emergency As their lamps continually glow with fervency We have come to the last time Let your lamps burn and not quenched And be not a passive warmer on thy church-bench The Poet Preacher © 2013 Command the Israelites to bring pure, pressed olive oil to you for the lamp, to keep a light burning constantly.-Leviticus 24:2