MY POETRY PAGE
Selected Poems
- I AM A PIECE OF CLAY
- THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
- HOW FAR IS THIS LOVE FOR ME
- WITH HIS LOVE
- YOU
I AM A PIECE OF CLAY
by Candace Barlow
I AM A PIECE OF CLAY
SITTING ON THE SHELF
A VIEW OF MY MASTER'S WHEEL
AS HE TURNS HIS PRESENT WORK
HIS GENTLE TOUCH AND SOFT VOICE
MOLDING THE SUPPLE PIECE
LONG GRACEFUL NECKED VASES
SMOOTH CURVED AND ANGLED BASES
BUT HERE I SIT IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW
AS IT LETS IN THE HARSH SUN'S RAYS
DRYING AND CRACKING MY FORM
I SIT UNTOUCHED, UNTHOUGHT OF
LEFT, LIFE EVAPORATING FROM ME
AT DAY'S END WHEN THE MASTER LEAVES
HIS NEW CREATIONS, SPREAD ON THE TABLE
I HEAR THEIR OHS AND AHS
AS EACH PIECE PRAISES THE MASTER'S TECHNIQUE
HOW I LONG TO BE WITH THEM
TO HAVE SOME SHAPE , TO BE PERFECT
BUT I AM FLAWED, LONELINESS IS MY COMPANY
MORNING COMES, ANOTHER DAY
THE MASTER ENTERS WITH HIS SON
" TAKE A PIECE OF CLAY " HE SAYS
STRAIGHT WAY TO MY SHELF
HIS SMALL HANDS PICK ME
" THAT'S DRY " THE MASTER'S VOICE
THE CHILD SUBMERGES ME IN THE WATER
IT'S LIFE PENETRATES ME
TINY FINGERS BEGIN TO KNEAD ME
SQUEEZE ME, ROLL ME, FORM ME
AN AWAKENING IS PRESENT
" BUT THERE'S A FLAW " MASTER ANNOUNCES
"A UNIQUENESS IT ADDS, A RARE BEAUTY "
A MINUTE VOICE RETURNS
" YES, MY SON, YOU HAVE LEARNED WELL "
I AM BUT A PIECE OF CLAY
SITTING ON THE TABLE
IN GRACIOUS SPLENDOUR FORMED
I OPEN UP IN PRAISE
PRAISE OF THE MASTER'S LOVING TOUCH
THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
by Candace Barlow
I RISE IN THE MORNING AND LOOK FOR THE SUN
THE COOL BREEZE BRUSHES MY CHEEK
MY LOVER’S BREATHE HOW SWEET THE TOUCH
AS THE RAYS BREAK FORTH THROUGH THE CLOUDS
THEY DANCE AND SPARKLE ON THE WATERS
HOW FREE THEY ARE, AS SO AM I
FREE TO LOVE AND TO RECEIVE IT
BUT AS THE DAY WEARS ON THE CLOUDS CLOSE IN
THE THUNDER ROLLS AND LIGHTING FLASHES
OH! WHERE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL, NOW
WHEN THE WATERS CHURN AND RISE TO COVER ME
I CAN NOT SEE AS I FIGHT THEIR ONSLAUGHT
THE BREEZE EXTENDS TO TEAR ICY FINGERS
OF WIND INTO MY FLESH
IT’'S BITTER, SLASHES AND WOUNDS SO DEEP
I CRY OUT AGAIN, WHERE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
THE ONE THAT HELD ME IN HIS ARMS
AND ROCKED ME BY THE FIRE LIGHT
WHO CARESSED MY BROW WITH HIS KISSES
AND WALKED AMONG THE GARDENS WITH ME
OH ! WHERE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL, NOW
I CLUTCH AT THE PAIN IN MY CHEST
AS I ASCENDED THE HILL AND AT THE TOP, I GASP
I NOW SEE WHERE THE LOVER OF MY SOUL HAS GONE
THE SKY IS GREY, DARK, DARK GREY, FOREBODING GREY
AND THERE ON THE CREST OF YONDER HILL
MY LOVE, MY LOVE, HANGS ON A CROSS
I APPROACH, APPREHENSION, SORROW, AWE ENVELOPES ME
MAKING ME PRESS FORWARD WHEN I FEAR NOT TO
AND THERE AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
I RAISE A TREMBLING HAND TO MY LIPS
AND ONE EXTENDED TOWARDS THE WOOD
THE FIGURE ABOVE AROUSES TO MY PRESENCE
PAIN ETCHED IN HIS LOVELY FACE AND YET
A LOVING SMILE,
ONE SO STRONG IT REACHES DOWN AND EMBRACES
IT CURVES THE PALING LIPS OF HIS
AND AS IF HE SPOKE TO ME WITHOUT WORDS
I KNEW WHY HE WAS HERE, THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
I'M CRUSHED, SO MUCH SHAME, SUCH FILTH AM I
AS I CRUMBLE TO THE GROUND AND CRY
FOR NOW I SEE MYSELF, THE REAL ME
I CAN NEVER LOOK IN A MIRROR OR WALK A STREET AGAIN
FOR I HAVE KILLED THE LOVER OF MY SOUL
WITH THE UGLINESS IN ME
I RAISE MY TEAR STAINED FACE TO GAZE UPON HIS
" I'M SORRY I DID NOT KNOW " PAIN WELLED UP IN ME
WITH WHISPERS SO SOFT, I HEARD HIS VOICE
"I KNOW YOU DIDN'T, YET I LOVED YOU AND STILL DO.
GO HOME AND WAIT "
I RISE UP IN THE MORNING AND LOOK FOR THE SUN
BUT SORROW IS MY TOUCH AND SADNESS IS MY STATE
THERE ARE NO DANCING SUNBEAMS
THEY HANG AS THOUGH TO WEEP
OH ! WHERE IS THE LOVER OF MY SOUL, NOW
I DROP MY GAZE, I CAN CRY NO MORE
I'M EMPTY, TRULY, TRULY EMPTY, NOW
I FELT A HAND ON MY SHOULDER
I BRUSH IT AWAY FOR DESIRE OF LONELINESS
BUT IT PERSISTS, I LOOK UP
AND KNOW WHERE THE LOVER OF MY SOUL IS
HOW FAR IS THIS LOVE FOR ME
by Candace Barlow
HOW FAR IS THIS LOVE FOR ME
HOW DEEP WILL THIS LOVE GO
WILL IT GROW AS TALL AS A SYCAMORE TREE
OR BY THE WAY SIDE WITHER AND DIE
WILL IT SHINE AS BRIGHT AS A MORNING STAR
FOR ALL WHO MAY WANDER TO SEE
WILL IT LIGHT MY PATH IN THE EVENING DASH
OR WILL IT LET ME STUMBLE AND FALL
HOW FAR IS THIS LOVE FOR ME
THIS LOVE THAT I TALK ABOUT
PLEASE - LEND ME YOUR EAR - AND SEE
THAT THE LOVE THAT I PRAISE
IS DEEPER THAN A SEEDLINGS ROOT
WAY FARTHER THAN ANY HEIGHT OF TREE
FOR ME AND - FOR YOU, THIS LOVE IS TRUE
IT TRAVELLED DOWN VALLEY ROADS
IT CALMED A SEA, AS WELL AS MY HEART
IT WAS WATCHED FROM CROWDED AVENUES
CARRYING A BURDEN NONE COULD SEE
IT WAS TORN, SLASHED, AND SPIT UPON
LAUGHED AT, SCORNED AND CURSED ........
- AND CRUCIFIED ........
IS THAT HOW FAR THIS LOVE
WILL GO FOR ME, NAY, FURTHER
TO DEATH, TO HELL -
WHY - SO I COULD BE SET FREE
DOWN TO HELL THAT MY JAILER MAY KNOW
MY BINDINGS HAVE BEEN LOOSED
NO MORE CONTROL HE SHALL EVER HAVE
FOR NOW BEFORE ME STANDS
SOMEONE NEW FOR ME TO SERVE
MORE POWERFUL AND LOVING IS HE
LOVE DID THIS FOR ME, AWE STRUCK
I STAND GROPING FOR REALITY
FOR THIS IS TOO GREAT TO BE TRUE
BUT BELIEVE IT, FOR IT IS TRUE
THIS IS HOW FAR MY LOVE GOES FOR ME
HOW FAR WILL I GO FOR THEE
WITH HIS LOVE
by Candace Barlow
CHRISTMAS '92
In His arms
He rocked His child
He knew He had to go
The hardships He saw before His Son
He wished they did not have to be so
But, in that moment He saw your face
His heart cried out to have you close
With His Fatherly love, He opened up His arms
And released His Son to come
To live and breath and die
So one day in those arms
He could embrace
You, His child
YOU
by Candace Barlow
Nov. 21 1995
You saw me in my poorness and brought me Your riches,
I was desolate and You came, and brought me out of my darkness,
I cried and You dried my tears with Your robes,
I fell and You stepped beside me, and raised me up in Your arms,
You pierced my heart with Your love, I bled but it was all with joy,
You whispered softly into my mind,
And when I turned it was Your smiling face I saw,
Your breathe upon my face was pure and sweet,
You gave me Life.
Oh Son of God
