If thine elders have sought
in a prime preacher search
that has turned up but naught
and left all in the lurch
Or thy deacons, o’erwrought
with a yen to besmirch
some lone doctrine mistaught
by some bird they’ll un-perch
Or thy flock is distraught
after holy research
by a sinner they’ve caught
and are eager to birch
… shall it be worth thee cleaving thy church?
If two souls can’t agree
on a pattern for praise
whether scripted or free;
or if arms shouldst thou raise
Eye-to-eye ye don’t see
on thy new version’s phrase
or the lectionary
or the next worship craze
If each other’s poor pleas
ye wilt never appraise
though diversity
be the Maker’s wild ways
… shouldst ye part for the rest of thy days?
When the Lord, ere He hovered
toward lofty expanse,
said “Love one another
whilst I build my plans”?
When ye part from each other
wouldst thou soil thine own pants
o’er a spat with a brother
with whom thou’lt share a manse?
Shall it be worth thy bother
to act like spoilt infants
Back-to-back to each other,
nor a glare nor a glance?
… or just join in the heav’nly danse?
– Watsem Longwords Worthfellow
Blog In My Own Eye 
I want you to know I enjoy your post and enjoy reading your blog.I look forward to reading more of your blog.I would love for you to visit my blog anytime.I try to be thought provoking.Right now I have a discussion going on about: What Are We Trying To Restore? Love for you to add your thoughts to the discussion.Thanks again for your blog.I enjoyed reading it. God bless your ministry as you serve His kingdom.
I am a good friend of that author, and I hope you post more works by him in the future!DU
Twas a wonderful rhymeThis Wordsfellow hast pennedOf a subject sublimeIn need of a mendAnd the point is well made Which was made in the endOf the damage displayedDone by friend to a friendAll in name of the rightWe may try to defendWe determine to fightTo the pits we descend…what’s the message we’re called on to send?
Tis a wonderful rhymeThis Wordsfellow has pennedOf a subject sublimeIn need of a mendAnd the point is well madeWhich was made in the endOf the damage displayedDone by friend to a friendIn the name of the rightWe may try to defendWe determine to fightTo the pits we descend…what’s the message we’re called on to send?
okay, that second poem in the comments sounds a lot like the first one. The server went bad, and it said it didn’t post, so I did the second one from memory. I don’t handle technology well, but hey, my memory’s not bad.
don, be careful – or people will begin to suspect that you are, in fact, a talented musician and lyricist.
I think he is more of a HOYT!DU
thanks, Keith, but I can only aspire to the greatness of this Worthfellow. Who else could use “wouldst thou soil thine own pants”? Until I can come up with a line like that, you da man.
I feel certain that Worthfellow is just paraphrasing < HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=73&chapter=3&verse=4&version=31&context=verse" REL="nofollow">Revelation 3:4<>.
Great piece. I am copying it. Shalom,Bobby ValentineStoned-Campbell Disciple
Excellent, Keith. We are so often our own worst enemy. I have stories…I guess we all do.