David’s Mother

“Oh turn to me and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant.” Ps. 86:16

Rolling sheaves in golden hills
Windswept amber
tresses curling shoulders
Kissed by frost
Valleys dipping ‘tween the hills
where everything was lost.

Why the death that stalks our door?
What, my God, is living for
if trusting You can’t stop the wolves?
The midnight roar –
Oh God! In men’s eyes I’ve seen the war.
You let my sanctity be taken.
There were no walls or gates –
My valleyed peaks were shaken.
Limbs entwined –
my sin’s not mine alone,
but it is mine.

The cycle of the moon will know
The journey of the sun shall show
and tell the world
where hope and goodness go.
Gone the brightness of my face
as sure as starlight runs its race.

Cover me, I pray.
I don’t want to be alone –
Please stay.
And let the fruit of being known
bring good.
Redeem and mercy him
the price I’ll never pay.
Let him know the light of day
and if I die, I die.
Your goodness, Lord,
and not my sin –
let that be why.

Photo by Irina Iriser