Just A Poem On Penance Or Not

NO PENANCE

My heart rattles in my chest as each stuttering beat

Desperately presses through the spasmodic muscle

In hope of moving oxygen filled blood cells

Into the farthest corners of my weakened flesh.

I know I will survive this night just as I know

The fatigue that saps my strength today

Is my own fault.

I did not stop.

I did not rest.

I did not protect this gift God gave.

Too busy doing what I thought best,

I ignored the way my toes dragged across the carpet.

As I tried to lift exhausted legs

And move a more exhausted body

To someplace distant from this work

Where I might meet with God.

His blessings pour down on me even as I move astray

Of rules intended to give more time upon this sphere

Until here is no longer here.

When I find that place I seek

We will meet and greet

And share that singularly sweet

Flow of His spirit.

All these rattles, squeaks and stuttering tangled steps

Become for me greedily treasured joy abounding

As they force me to my knees that I might better know

The One who gave His life to live in mine.

Michael McLarney June 21, 2001