Broken Heart

by reginald daniel

Repair and fix-it shops galore
Remodel, refurbish, restore
Trade the old for new
Try stitches, band-aids, patches, and glue

But where do you take a broken heart?
One that is shattered and battered
Filled with emptiness that seems it can never end
Maybe I can drag mine to The Carpenter to mend

Tho His hands are scarred and strong
The Carpenter's touch is gentle, kind, and long
A bruised reed He will not break
Life and death, eternity at stake

The flame has flickered shriveled and shrunk
Died to a failing ember
But He gave His word He will not quench
Somewhere in the sad, circling haze I faintly remember

The light in the Carpenter's shop seems dim
No sight, shadow, nor sound of Him
Somehow a soft, sweet touch brushes my broken heart
Could this caress make the healing start?

Desperate longing for healing and relief
Resolution for queries to rock-solid beliefs
Oh, to awake and find the horrific nightmare gone
Couldn't there be just one more earth-verse to Edith's song?

Please hurry, Carpenter, let healing start
Quickly stitch or staple our wounded, torn hearts
Swiftly the wine and oil pour
Can't You set the balm of Gilead at least near our door?

Then it dawns upon my feeble, tattered mind
Wafts it way from the Ancient of Days, from endless time
It is not healing the Carpenter from me is taking
He holds me and waits while my heart continues breaking

Remembering Edith
June 16, 1948-September 4, 2009