The Book

8 Comments

  • Kary
  • is loving getting back into writing and sharing poems from years ago

Poem Commentary

I wrote this for a very special person in my life. Someone I pray for everyday. I hope if someone you know is batteling with an addiction that you pass this along to them, so they will "seek and find."

The Book

He bows his head and cries
Then gets down on his knees
To ask a man who he’s never known
If he could help him - please

He clasps his hands together
Lays them on the bed
Then he moves forward
And rests his hands upon his head

He tells him that he’s weary
And tired of the fight
Of battling addictions
And how he wants to see the light

Softly he whispers
Then he screams out loud
Can you hear me Lord?
I am sorry - I’ve been proud

I’ve tried to deny it
For thirty years or more
But my heart is beaten
 And I’m knocking on your door

I never learned to pray
I very rarely cry
 I haven’t been your best son
But I am willing to try

I‘m bruised and I’m battered
 Helpless and alone
If I had a friend to call
 I would pick up the phone

But my friends have deserted me
Of this I cannot lie
 I could not see who I’d become
 Why dear Lord…oh, why?

I promise my surrender
To your blessings from above  
 Because I now know who you are
 And of your precious love

You see - an old man handed me a book
On the street the other day
  He said, “ My son I see your hurting.
  I think you need to pray.”

 I’d never seen his face before
Nor knew where he came from
But he knew me
And he knew - that my soul was numb

I held the book in my hand
As he turned away
It was tattered and it was torn
 Like the clothes he wore that day

 I yelled out, “Hey old man.”
“Do you need a dime?”
 He turned his head and smiled at me
“Not me my son. I’m fine.”

Dear Lord - I turned the pages
When I got home that day
And these are the words I read
That helped me find my way

He reached out for the table
And took the book in his hand
He turned the tattered pages
And spoke in reverent command

Ask and it will be given to you
Seek and you shall find
Knock and the door will be opened to you
For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds

Then he lifted up his head
And looked way up high
He was smiling now
He did not even cry

A feeling had washed over him
He’d never known before
He felt a sense of peace
Of worship and adore

He felt his soul being cleansed
His heart beat renewed
He found his one and only friend
 Who fed him spiritual food

When he went to sleep that night
He knew he’d been reborn
He had no cravings for cocaine
Mary Jane or porn

 He never saw that man again
Who gave him the book
But he thanks him everyday
For the time he took

So, if you're fighting addictions
Of the earthly kind
Open up the book
Seek and you shall find

Poem Comments

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bklynrizz commented on The Book

12-06-2009

A very moving story with a happy ending. Giving hope is important and you do a great job at it, well done.

ginga commented on The Book

11-05-2009

Kary, A poem that reveals the guarding angels in our life. It reminds me of the footprint prayer. I love that hope, faith, and destiny were all in here. Very poignant and well written. ginga

Kary

11/05/2009

Thank you for your comment. Much appreciated. I am a fan or your writing. Are you on Mareann's website yet? by the way..congrats on your win!

aliciagall commented on The Book

11-05-2009

I like this, very descriptive and a good testimony. I don't think people realize how hard it is to put words together to express ones thoughts exactly the way you want them portrayed to others, especially a message. Good job.

mamasan commented on The Book

11-03-2009

The rhythmn, yes I said rhythmn of the stanzas you give run the gamut of every emotion we have within us; at least my own. It gave me pause to read on, and I was glad to see that his pleas did not fall on deaf ears; rather he was reborn to start over again. I say it gave me pause because I continue to wrestle within whether or not the 'old man' in the book really exists. In any event, my compassion surfaces and I am happy this man's quest to overcome his addiction gave me joy.

Kary

11/03/2009

Thank you for commenting. I hope that by giving pause, you mean it made you think and not that you were confused by it. "The old man" serves two purposes. One, he is symbolic of Jesus and two, to emphasize that if anyone should ever feel alone, and think no one cares, there is always hope. Someone out there is willing to be their friend and help them through. The world is not really a cold and lonely place. There is "compassion" to be found. I like getting feedback because it make me rethink if there was any other way to write something. Thank you again. I appreciate it.

Kary commented on The Book

11-02-2009

LOL...Oh, I am so sorry! Look at all those reply comments when there should have been just one! My computer froze up and I kept clicking..(my son will get me for that, he always tells me "don't click so much" :) (Hmmm,.. there is another poem in there somewhere, I just know it) .LOL But, truly, thanks to everyone who enjoys my poems. You all write great yourselves and you are all very encouraging and inspiring to me. I fell like I have known you all for a long time now :) My soul poets. LOL

A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness. It finds the thought and the thought finds the words.

Robert Frost (1875-1963) American Poet.

Kary’s Poems (10)

Title Comments
Title Comments
The Book 8
Little Girls With Great Big Curls 4
My Dog Buffy 3
You 2
Why Angels Smile 3
Why Angels Cry 3
Against The Grain 0
All You Do 5
Fury of Abuse 1
Fly 4