Winter's Bite

Winter's Bite - Lee A Buckingham, February 15th, 2011

For my Father

Where will you go, O wanderer?
   Where do you seek, to seek?
   Misty paths, veiled eyes, dew upon a cheek,
Fallen tears of Heaven's dream asunder.

Dampened chill, patient clouds of doubt,
   silent cold, sun lost far above you.
   Frosted heart quakes with pain anew.
How soon shall ice leave your heart without?

Calm wind blows, cold and white,
   frost on sleeper's breath
   solace sought; not found, but death,
still no peace from winter's bite.

From Psalm 27

From Psalm 27 - Lee A Buckingham - February 11th, 2011

Darkened trees, dagger stones, tangled briar-thorns,
    Chosen road, my heart's desire, you've lead me wrong again.
    Hateful Life, your choking grip, your circumstance constrains
my willful freedom, passion-thirst, and leaves me here to mourn.

I look aside, another way, my right to pick and choose
    my path in life; all mine to claim, let no one lay a hand
    upon my back, or yoke my neck, in freedom I will stand.
Yet by my will, these wayward paths, my life is what I'll lose.

Fears surround the foe within, by my own hand invited,
    my freedom gone by freedoms claimed, entrapped within a bower
    of darkling fears and goblin dreams, of fleeing dreadful showers;
falling drops of consequence, by wayward acts incited.

A thousand strong, the siege begins, my day of trouble near.
    And of the spears and shields born, how many have been hammered
    on the anvil of my heart, and in my soul-fire tempered?
Yet shall it be, even thus beleaguered, my cry, Lord, You can hear?

Ten thousand now, yet on my knees, the battle will I face.
    The wicked fall, my heart fears not, secure within the halls
    of a temple built, upon my heart, and by Your hand, the walls.
Of love, I sing, in this sacred tent, my fear subdued by grace.

Tempest plague now hurling 'round, whether sin or earthly foe
    stirs it thus, (how oft, I know), the deadly torment blasts
    my heart and burns my soul.   But by Your peace, I last
Through night's long trial, Your face, Lord, now I know.

Hear my voice, and heed my heart, Lover, All in All
    and save me from the world apart, and from the one within.
    Turn not Your face, all-lovely gaze, or leave me to my sin.
Kind Helper, be; forsake me not, you save me from the fall.

Firm confidence now mine, Your goodness I will see.
    In strength I stand, a strength not mine, upon the Lord I wait.
    In Destiny's hands, and in His love, do I commit my fate.
My light, my song, whom can I fear?  I take heart, and wait on Thee.