The Leavening Gift of Atonement
©2010 Susan Noyes Anderson (poem only)
The gift is blood and sacrifice
to free us all from sin.
The prize is God’s own kingdom,
ours to shun or enter in.
The gift is blood and sacrifice
to free us all from sin.
The prize is God’s own kingdom,
ours to shun or enter in.
I ask you, Will a man rob God?
My heart would answer nay.
It’s hard to think a child of His
would thus be led astray.
Joan didn’t want to sing next week.
What happened to free choice?
She didn’t need a chance to grow;
she had a perfect voice.
Within the stone-cold reaches of his heart,
a red-hot revolution had begun.
The feeblest of stirrings was its start,
mere embers, kindled by another’s sun.
She tasted sweet as honey, deftly spun
his head around; oh yes, this was her art.
When I was small, I pledged the flag.
I said the words real loud.
I stood up straight and tall because
it made me feel so proud.
My very best friend is a tree.
He lifts me up and sets me free.
In his strong arms, the sun draws nigh;
his leafy patterns paint the sky.
Today we celebrate our troops,
whose valor must be praised.
Our nation is the legacy
of heroes, born and raised.
I’ve got the nose of Uncle Gene,
the eyes of Grandpa Fred,
the mouth of Aunt Virginia, and
the chin of Cousin Ted,