Rob Carmack Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

I have been blessed with two children, a son and a daughter.  Jesus Christ has saved my son from suicide (at least twice that I know of) while he was in his teens.  I have been praying for my two children from their conception and will continue to do so through my last breath.  Christ has also saved my life at least twice, the first from a construction accident (2004) and the other from a silent heart attack that should have killed me in 2018.  I encourage everyone to seek Jesus Christ.  This will make your life difficult in many ways, but he is our only hope and without him, we would not exist.  We owe a debt we can never pay and only by his grace, can we be saved.  I asked Jesus to help me write this, to help me express my gratitude.

 

Line 6 is inspired from Proverbs 7:16  “I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt."

Line 7 Psalm 103:8: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”

       Psalm 145:8: The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Two Sons

Unequally yoked didn't deny
common grace in an atheistic womb.
Half of the prayers were enough for him.
Blessed in health and time,
but reckless in his early years.
Under other tapestries laid all those fine linens of Egypt.
In each embrace, I placed a wager on just how slow your anger.

The hypocrite damns their own house.
Demons perched on the edge of puberty,
filled my son's eyes hopeless and left his rare word—flat. 
Paper towels the papyrus of superficial coping
lines of scabs formed sleeves of braille
as the wages of sin reached for my son's throat mocking
two inpatient stays hanging in a precarious chemical salvation.

Another orphan from faith and repentance disobeyed,
juxtaposed with Job who lost ten.
Fear cultivated the prayers that grew
the humility that put your Son on the Cross,
and wouldn't gamble with mine.

Your general call turned effectual
A new volition has moved my son to gather
with those that feed the hunger
from the table of the Word.
When the hand of Grace shakes the elect
from their own slumber
in The Storm on the Sea of Galilee.
Taken back from Rembrandt's thieves,
no longer hidden away.

Beyond Jonah's anger that killed the vine,
and desecrated memories of seized temples
roam those ghosts of the giants of Lebanon.
Every idle word winnows the threshing floor
forever the wheat from the tare.

The solace that the chosen 
are given in this life's labor
under The Cross that the world must hate,
divine regeneration gives the measures
of reverence and gratitude
for every thorn on this side,
and your Heaven full of treasures.

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Laura Leiser September 13, 2026 at 6:09 AM It took a few reads to fully grasp the depth of your magnificent write, Rob. Such a powerful message of your son’s struggle and redemption, layered with deep theological concepts. A real treat to read. Thank you! Rob Carmack September 15, 2026 at 2:04 PM Forever grateful to God for helping me and my son. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. God Bless You Laura!

Paige Hind September 12, 2026 at 11:31 AM full of power and faith, Rob, "for every thorn on this side, and your Heaven full of treasures." Rob Carmack September 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM TY and God Bless You Paige.

Nette Onclaud July 26, 2026 at 7:59 PM since i'm always slip sliding through my own process of becoming, i found uour narrative cathartic and transformational; the openess charged with hallowed grace is an inspiration in itself...may you walk with faith, with your children as you journey on with more divine, experiential encounters with Spirit...thankyou for this precious offering; a fave for me, rob. Rob Carmack July 28, 2026 at 7:21 AM Thank You Nette and God Bless You.

Sara Kendrick July 22, 2026 at 5:19 PM I found this one quite interesting, Rob. I was glad to read your testimony. I am delighted that you have the faith. Sara K. Rob Carmack July 28, 2026 at 7:20 AM Thanks Sara, I am grateful that I have been gifted faith.

Sotto Poet June 21, 2026 at 10:50 AM Bob, your poetry is a moving meditation between you and your children's encounters with supernatural intervention. The use of metaphors and religious themes throughout the story is difficult yet very effective. There is a logical progression to the story, and the allusions to religion are appropriate and considerate. Your poem is not only fascinating but also reflects real-life experience. This is a favorite. Rob Carmack June 22, 2026 at 6:58 AM My thanks Sotto. It was an incredible experience that I am forever grateful for.

Joe Maverick June 18, 2026 at 1:48 AM A write to help contemplation Rob though our challenges mount up They cannot amount to Gods grace.' Rob Carmack June 18, 2026 at 7:09 AM Yes, this why trust is so important, and unlike people, it is impossible for God to betray us.

Sara Kendrick June 3, 2026 at 4:28 PM Thank you for sharing some of your life's experiences with us. When we become a Christian, Satan gets on the ball trying to destroy us and our family. It is not easy living the life we should live, but the rewards ar out of this world. Way to go. Sara K. Rob Carmack June 4, 2026 at 7:00 AM Yes, trouble is a good sign for the believer, thus, my inclusion of Job in the poem. TY for reading and commenting.

Gary Radice May 3, 2026 at 3:23 AM I'm not going to lie Rob, your poem is not an easy read both for its form and its subject but it rewards the reader on repeat readings. For someone like me who is a little left of being agnostic I found this to be a fascinating read. Poems based on personal experience are ever so more powerful and hit home. The fragility of life is something we all take for granted at times. I'm glad this was a winner in Daniel's contest. Congratulations. Cheers - Gary Rob Carmack May 3, 2026 at 6:51 AM The audience for this poem may be small, even among Christians due to the Calvinism. The trials with my son put me in that boat when the storm frightened the disciples. Thank you for reading and commenting. Congrats again for your win.

Andrea Dietrich April 30, 2026 at 7:48 PM Big congrats. An awesome win Rob Carmack May 1, 2026 at 7:39 AM TY Andrea.

Brandy Nicole April 16, 2026 at 5:32 PM Rob, first I would like to say that God is watching over your sons and- you. Prayers are answered, indeed. Also, I had no idea that you had a silent heart attack. Life is fragile, and I am reminded that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. So thankful you're here, my dear friend. Hugs, Brandy Brandy Nicole April 17, 2026 at 8:24 PM Thank you for clarifying, Rob. You have been through so much with your health. The power of prayer, indeed. Rob Carmack April 17, 2026 at 4:19 AM Only have one son, the other son in the poem is Jesus. I was blessed with a daughter too. I now see how the notes can be misleading, will fix that. Indeed life is fragile, I had no idea just how close to dying I was during that time. There was no pain, and the few symptoms I had I attributed to walking pneumonia. The longer I live, the more I am amazed by what Jesus Christ has done and all the layers of this world and the next. Hugs squared.

Andrea Dietrich April 15, 2026 at 4:36 PM I think I remember about your silent heart attack. It just wasn't your time, Rob Rob Carmack April 16, 2026 at 8:03 AM For at least the sake of my mother and son, maybe myself, I was given an extension.

Andrea Dietrich April 15, 2026 at 4:36 PM This is such an interesting lovely look at your own experiences with prayer and relating then to biblical characters. I am not good at prayer. Something in me just can't seem to reach a spiritual level to feel I am effective in praying although I do it every other day or so. I did feel like I got an answer once or twice. When I knew in my mind that chemo on top of radiation was overkill after surgery,. I prayed and God led me to two doctors who told me chemo would be a crazy thing to do! Rob Carmack May 1, 2026 at 7:43 AM I used to pray to the Father directly, but switched to Christ since he was on the Cross and is our intercessor. But Christ did teach to pray to the Father. And I suppose you could also pray to the Holy Ghost. Andrea Dietrich April 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM Don't people normally pray to God ? In the name of Jesus Christ? For me it's like one in the same. Rob Carmack April 16, 2026 at 8:05 AM Doctors vary greatly and they are as biased and prone to corruption just like the rest of us. Keep praying and I would suggest to pray to Jesus Christ.