Friday, December 07, 2007

Black Train

A.M.D.G.
Philip Lam
March 14, 2007
December 7, 2007

Seated alone in a long black train…I hear the sounds of weeping rain…Out of the window all is a blur…Looking for movement, but nothing will stir…Nothing but silence is heard by the ear…And all that is in sight is sadness and fear…Upon the ceiling a shattered light…A flicker or two is seen through the night…The turning of wheels along the iron tracks…Sounds like the devil preparing the racks…The soul burning engine that fuels the black train…Turns the hope into deep dark pain…The conductor in front with black hollowed eyes…Stares through the abounding colorless skies…The emotion has fled, from his expressionless face…No cause to give joy no reason for haste…The clock is just ticking, again and again…Yet still hasn’t moved from the hour of sin…It’s broken and shattered, in too many places...Life is hard for so many faces…There’s no passenger onboard that has reason…No heart that hasn’t, commented its treason…Slowly so slowly, eyelids are closing…Minds in search, hearts reposing…Head in hand, it turns to rest…The easement of the burden chest…The eyelids that flutter, shut tight…And in the calmness the heart is brought to light…

Thursday, January 11, 2007

From Life, To Death, To Life Again

A.M.D.G.
Philip Lam
January 11, 2007
A question then an answer
A short farewell and goodbye
A planning then a prayer
A thought; the end may be near.
Two days later and a long walk amongst the steps of service
Through the tunnel of sorrow
Then, awaiting the opening of the hatch
Another step of no return
A sad repose as the door slides slowly close
A deep longing to turn back then remembering it was voluntary
Your answer was “I’ll go”
A light blinks on and then a signal to jump
A sudden tickle in the stomach, a surprising gulp in the throat
The door slides back and a pallor ray of light beams in
Then the leap of faith
A rush of cool air hits hard
A set release and a reassuring jerk
A heavy landing and a moment of bewilderment
A second to look, a second to thank God
A whistle to regroup
While one by one they call, “present”
A quick glance at one another to enkindle a little hope
Then a signal to move on
A moment later a movement to the side
A sudden “Take cover!!” was cried.
Then a dreaded sound of hell unleashed
A ghost of an enemy let its daunting wail upon us
One hit, two hurt, unknown killed
A shout, a scream….surrounded….
A fear takes hold…. “RUN!!”......is all that is said
The sudden rush of guilt hits heavy
As the sound of your comrades shrill cries die
An hour later at a place to rest and sigh
“All alone” was the thought that rang through….
Still another sleepless night
Knowing that tomorrow is another day with God’s forgiving light.
A sad and lonely sound,
Another tear against the ground
Still living and still marching down an unknown path
Trying to hold on to a joy that doesn’t exist
Then a sudden snap of twig an abrupt click
Then a thought….No….
A familiar sound and a piercing blow
An unpredictable fall, a searing pain
A stunning freeze and a sudden, “Lord, please”
A grasp of realism and death
Then a consuming darkness and want of sleep
“Not yet,” was all
An attempt to yell, a want to scream
…..Nothing…..
A loss of strength and of hope
A faded dream of family and love
….Then silence….

Awakening to a touch of warmth and a gentle whisper
Saying, “From life, to death, to life again,”
Looking up a figure of grace, clothed in silk so fine
Reaching out a hand of comfort
An overwhelming joy turned me
Into the same child of God, as when I was a boy
The hand of the figure
Raised up upon my head and I said “I finally understand.”