Your Ways

Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Got lost in the jungle
The lion’s teeth pierced my skin
Survived, barely alive
Only to face another struggle

Built my castle on fine sand
Wore a purple mantle and a paper crown
From fairy tales and happy endings
Forever banned

Stepped into the wrong stage
A disguised actor without a line
A noble vagabond 
surviving on pride and a dime

Did I take the wrong turn
and went astray?
Do I have that power, O Lord
To mess up my life
or change your ways?

The younger me recoils
at the shadow in the mirror
A body that journeyed a thousand miles
leaving behind the heart in old soils

“You ran away from those you love”
She whispers in my ear
You locked the doors and shut the blinds
out of hurt and fear

With broken bones, you won the battle
With steady hands, you made your ground
I see you are brave and savvy
But tell me,
are you happy?

Did I take the wrong turn
and went astray?
Do I have that power, O Lord
To mess up my life
or change your ways?

Not knowing the way ahead
My wrinkled face stares into blank air
waves crashing on the shore
eroding the sand castle I named mine
washing away my paper crown 

My floundering body suddenly remembers 
The heart forgot in a distant land 
On a leap of faith, my soul surrenders
Knowing the wound is too wide
To be patched together

For the soul knows better
from chaos and tears
sprang the flowers of love
How can this be the wrong path
If Love is all that matters?

Although I don’t see
the road ahead of me
I know this is where I should be
The dark valley I cross
trusting your ways
Pour your mercy over me, O Lord
And mold me like clay