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Revisions to Poems ...

"The First to Be … "

Gaze across the night's sky to see
the limitlessness of His divine reach.
Illumine mine eyes twinkling stars this night.
May I learn the lessons You teach.

The spheres You created without compass or pen …
galactic orbs You cast far beyond sight.
Soaring to endlessness at heavenly speed,
Pray I to fathom Your mysterious might.

A house for man, from words You did utter
with neither roof nor walls a world You conceive.
Illumine the darkness, the moon but an ember ...
Master of The Universe … in Thee, I believe.

Awaken each morning to avian symphony,
our lips with gratitude but of bitterness none,
by His grace a new day, to us He hath given
The first was He ... though He had never begun.

**This last verse is based on an old translation of a verse from the Jewish hymn “Yigdal”.

Alan D. Busch
May 2008
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"Up Heaven's Slope"

Dedicated to Those Whose Lives We Might Otherwise Have Known

Why wrenched from hearth and home,
o'er hills and fields whence they came?
Dreaming dreams didst they freely roam,
awakened to morning cold and lame.

Wearily trod up heaven's slope,
their figures stooped, transparently thin,
anguished lives as none others before
why tarry the storms of Heavenly din?

Much like Goliath who in battle fell,
a travail, cold and dark, did numb
that even David who had fought so well
would soon that night succumb.

Prayerful hopes shoes be found
for souls bereft and torn.
If only a moment, a breath to breathe
for spirits dulled and worn.

Should there not have been at least the one
for whom faith steadfast but rare,
that his would be ennobled by Thee
to seek his just and fair?

Who glimpsed the light but touched him not,
whose spark had begun to wane.
Next day ere long gathered clouds again
for fewer who remain.

Bowed under Pharoah's lash by day,
by night a storm did rage.
Why had He not shown the way
a war He could have waged?

Aside bodies on planks they lie,
precious heat what little remain.
Dreaded welcome soon might bring,
next to whom they had just lain.

Still in death's kingdom shone
a light, a way, the day
when dawn’s rise would fewer eyes see
whose faith did them sustain.

The world we choose points us down
paths long sought by peace,
in rose gardens when we plant the seeds
lest memories tragically cease.

Alan D. Busch

May 2008
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"Lonely For You Forever"

Drawn home that night wherein the cries
my mind, in madness, did roam …
agonizing if I should open the door
to Ben's house, no longer my home.

When the blackest tar darkened the light,
my family and I shudderingly wept.
So sad when I would have preferred
with them I might have slept.

In memory’s flight I remember this well
at evening's end he readied to leave.
I felt the burn of his stubbly cheeks
how much in remembrance we grieve.

Ben, Ben ... I wept.
We spoke, but then in silence you died.
It was only just a moment ago
while asleep in my dreams I cried.

Our child in common we loved him so much
for Ben my eyes wept I did tear
this reality unimaginable, especially dark
with whom I could neither be nor near.

So few hours have now elapsed
since that psalm to you I did sing.
I am already lonely for you, forever ...
when morning dew no smiles will bring.
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