|
A SHELL OF A MAN
SEE THE REFLECTION STARING BACK AT ME?
I HARDLY RECOGNIZE THE FACE
THE EYES
ONCE SHINY AND FULL OF LIFE
NOW DULL
STRUGGLE TO LOOK AWAY
THE CHIN ONCE HELD HIGH WITH CONFIDENCE
NOW TREMBLES WITH FEAR AND TREPIDATION
THE HEART
THOUGH YOU CANNOT SEE
ONCE FULL OF LOVE AND EXCITEMENT
NOW BEATS COLD AND EMPTY AND QUESTIONING
WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?
I WAS FINE YESTERDAY
THOUGH THE JOY WAS ONLY FLEETING
I FULFILL MY RESPONSIBILITIES
SO HOW COULD THIS BE?
JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS?
THAT CAN’T BE ME!
I LOVE LIFE DON’T I?
IF NOT, WHEN, HOW AND WHY
BY MY OWN HAND
DID I BECOME A SHELL OF A MAN?
A FIST SLAMS THE COUNTER
THE EYES FILL WITH TEARS
A MOAN DEEP IN THE THROAT TRIES TO ESCAPE
THE REFLECTION NEVER TURNING AWAY
AS MY BODY SETTLES ONTO THE FLOOR
THE BACK OF MY HEAD AGAINST THE DOOR
AT ONCE THE REFLECTION DISAPPEARS BELOW
RACKED WITH GRIEF AND PAIN
SHOULDERS BEGIN TO QUAKE
THE WEIGHT OF LIFE TAKING ITS TOLL
A SOB ESCAPES AND THEN ANOTHER
BITTER TEARS COURSE DOWN MY FACE
THE QUESTION ASKED AGAIN AND AGAIN
WHEN DID I BECOME THIS SHELL OF A MAN?
DARKNESS BEGINS TO ENVELOP ME
SELF-DOUBT FILLING MY MIND
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO
I REACH FOR THE LIGHT
STILL ON THE FLOOR
BUT ON BENDED KNEE
TEARS COURSE DOWN MY FACE
THIS TIME FROM HUMILITY
I PLEAD WITH MY FATHER IN HEAVEN
TO SAVE MY WRETCHED SOUL
THE WARMTH OF HIS SPIRIT GRADUALLY FILLS MY BEING
HIS LOVE WORKING TO MAKE ME WHOLE
I SEE THE SAVIOR IN MY MIND
HIS VOICE IS HEARD WITHIN
WITH ARMS STRETCHED WIDE
HE SAYS TO ME
I HAVE BEEN HERE WAITING
FOR MY HAND IS STRETCHED OUT STILL
NOW LET THE THOUGHTS OF THIS WORLD GO
AND LOSE YOURSELF IN MY WILL
FOR YOU ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS
PUT OFF THE NATURAL MAN!
I CAN SEE THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART
WHAT YOU ARE MEANT TO BE
SO STAND TALL RIGHT NOW
LOOK IN THE MIRROR
NOW TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE!
I SEE THE REFLECTION STARING BACK AT ME
I HARDLY RECOGNIZE THE FACE
THE EYES NOW FILLED WITH TRUTH AND LOVE
STRUGGLE TO LOOK AWAY
THE HEART
THOUGH YOU CANNOT SEE
ONCE COLD…EMPTY…UNFEELING
NOW BEATS WITH WARMTH AND REDEEMING LOVE
TOUCHED BY THE MASTER’S HEALING
WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? YESTERDAY?
THOSE QUESTIONS RUN THROUGH MY MIND
ALTHOUGH THE WORLD MAY THINK OTHERWISE
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE TRUTH
FOR THROUGH THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND
I CAN TRULY LOOK BACK AND SAY
NEVER AGAIN WILL I EVER RETURN
TO THAT SHELL
THAT SHELL OF A MAN
By: Cheryl D. Solis
|
