(This poem, which I wrote during Lent in 1981, appears in my book, BIRDLIKE AND BARNLESS \u2013 it is based on Numbers 21: 4-9, John 3: 13-15)
\nTHE GIFT<\/p>\n
No one\u2019s raised who did not fall
\nNo one saves whom God did not send
\nNo one stands whose knees won\u2019t bend
\nNo helper\u2019s not been helped at all<\/p>\n
While being raised we each shall die
\nThe poison has an antidote
\nGod may sleep in my storm-tossed boat
\nBut when she rises, so shall I<\/p>\n
Here where nothing grows which cannot bear the windy blast
\nAnd serpents live because they hug the ground
\nA person lives by eating what he\u2019s found
\nAnd gazing at the victims of the missiles he\u2019s cast<\/p>\n
The one who knows heaven as well knows earth
\nThe victim and convict of our crime
\nWill raise the veil of space and time
\nShe plumbs the grave who fathoms birth<\/p>\n
It finally made us face our spite
\nSo lift God\u2019s gift above the plain
\nWith our blood its teeth and skin are stained
\nTo remind us of our hope and plight<\/p>\n
JIM BURKLO
\nWebsite: JIMBURKLO.COM Weblog: MUSINGS Follow me on twitter: @jtburklo
\nSee my GUIDE to my books, \u201cmusings\u201d, and other writings
\nAssociate Dean of Religious Life, University of Southern California<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(This poem, which I wrote during Lent in 1981, appears in my book, BIRDLIKE AND BARNLESS \u2013 it is based on Numbers 21: 4-9, John 3: 13-15) THE GIFT No one\u2019s raised who did not fall No one saves whom God did not send No one stands whose knees won\u2019t bend No helper\u2019s not been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":287,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n