Standing in the Gap
A promise made, is a debt unpaid.
For my grandchildren.
Standing-in-the-Gap-F
You are small, now,
and I am big.
So big as to seem to you
to be invincible,
undefeatable
immortal.
But Time has his hand upon us all.
You mentioned Heaven…
How can I portray the inexpressible
to your infant minds?
trusting for permanence
but unable to grasp concepts.
While my desire is
to allay your fears?
So I promise…
I will always
stand in the gap
for you.
Here, or there
makes little difference.
What resides in the
heart
is beyond corruption.
Last thing at night
know
that this
is true.
This is just beautiful Alison, it says all that is needed. So pleased you see and read your words again.
Mike XxX
Aww Mike. It is so good to see you here. You were always such an encouragement to me and that has been more appreciated than you may ever know.
Alison xxx
Seems familiar (an old post?) but the centred format does the sentiment proud. howlz. Mitch
Yep an old one taken out and brushed up 🙂
Going to be moving my archive over and gives me a great chance to dust off and improve some golden oldies
Thanks and howls
WO x
Beautiful sentiments, Alison. I love it!
I see you are going to move your poems across from UKA. Great idea! – and a good time to brush up and revise. I might do the same.
Eira
Yes! It has given me a new lease of enthusiasm as getting a bit jaded to be honest. This way I can revise so many hopefully for the better. I hope you do start posting more but I know what like when life intervenes and there is never enough time.;-)
Alison x
You will see me posting more often, Alison!! have just looked at my UKA submissions and I have loads of poems I’d like to bring over here. I’ve already revised many of them over the years (I’m always revising when my muse is on the blink.) Yes, I can appreciate that jaded feeling very well. I do have some new ones that I never posted UKA too, so yes – you’ll see more of me.
Somehow, I wanted this in the present tense – for a going on ‘now’ and an ‘immediacy of it’ effect: You mention[ed] Heaven… I greatly admire the concept of ‘standing in the gap’ and everything from So I promise – but after several reads I’m feeling some vital part is missing between mentioning heaven and your speaker’s promise. I think it centers around why the children ask about/speak of heaven. Are they beginning to notice that living beings/creatures die? Is someone close very ill and perhaps dying? Whatever, I’m sensing talking about what it is that’s concerning them – rather… Read more »
Your ability to intuit a poem is stunning!!!
I am giving voice (probably to myself) to a worry that my grandchildren have voiced. Circumstances have played out due to being denied access to the ones who gave me great joy.
They did indeed mention heaven…. their fear of losing me one day.
I pray that this poem may reassure them one day in times to come.
Alison x