I have known him, I have seen him,
in fair weather or foul, in good times
or in struggle, with demons at his heels,
stumbling, stammering, drunk, untamed,
his words slurred; his body disheveled.
I have counted his wet, soiled money, crumpled,
I have touched his dirty hands, his thick breath,
Yet, I have felt his softness, his humanity, his shyness,
his life on the streets, the outside, the wild, unknown,
I care about him; he has become my true friend.
Suddenly he broke into verse yesterday, reciting,
clearly,
ancient words of promise, of power, of courage, imparted
by God.
I turned from the register to listen, to hear him…
I know these verses too, but they are a part of him,
deeper,
armor for the jungle, for his protection, holy.
More than memory, scripture indwelling within him,
cutting through the humidity, the normalcy of the
morning,
His voice never stronger, his words never clearer…
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid” …
God is with you, with us, out on the road.
-----------------
Edited July 10, 2023
His voice never stronger – v3
Edited July 10, 2023
His voice never stronger – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/his-voice-never-stronger-v2.html
July 9, 2023
His voice never stronger
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/his-voice-never-stronger.html
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2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. All rights are
reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems
at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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Poetry, poem, Joshua 1, recitation,
memory, strong, courageous, faith, power, alcoholic, friend,
#poetry #poem #Joshua1
#recitation #memory #strong #courageous #power #faith #alcoholic #friend
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