A Jewel in the Dust

Brian's second book of poetry following his first and very popular book, Garden of Surrender. An excellent companion for the aching heart. Here is the first poem from the book. . .

A mutual sobriety

Ages ago I was stone. You began
shaping me into a human being.

With that same great chisel and hammer,
I'm now being reduced to dust.

O Lord, it's hard sometimes, to keep my chin up
under the rain of Your blows.

We have to stop meeting like this!
A few hours of carousing –

I'm hung-over, despondent for weeks.
This morning, I found

bits of clarity at the bottom of my cup –
I have no right to desire,

nor should I expect to stumble through
every hour, drunk on Your bliss.

We have work to do
that demands a mutual sobriety.

You, the sculptor with Your careful dismantling;
me, the stone – holding steady.

O child of God, the Beloved serves His wine for medicinal purposes only.
His hammer blows chisel away the false.

Published 2011