Temptations

The Pleasure and the Pain

Sacred hush

On Holy Ground

I whisper to God
The pleasure and the pain
Of Temptation

Beguiling and persistent
In pursuit

I fear its strength
I fear my weakness

I trust in grace
- but for it I fall

Lord, that I may
    Desire You more
    Love You more
Than every passing passion

As it once was
So may it be again

Amen!

+++

The Train

I would never 

Have fallen for you

Had I not left the train

In search of a faster

Journey home

Had I not missed

The connection 

I would never

Have seen you

Your young loveliness 

Drawing near to my ageing senses

Seeking direction

I might have averted my gaze

But let my foolish eyes

Linger longingly

Drawing you in 

To the long grass

Of my dreams

Falling over a threshold 

That was not mine

To cross

+++

The Park Bench

I want

what that man has

feel the need of it

badly

this rare bench

upon which he happily sits

this humid morning

are you lost?

he asks kindly

yes!

and weary too

I say to myself

there is no space

in me now

for you

for friendliness

for conversation

and a faint resentment

stirs

that I cannot have

that which I want

and all the many things I lack

come creeping

through the long grasses of my mind

shepherded by envy

coveting

your youth

your strength

your body

your success

in this tempestuous

tempting moment

I crave what I do not have

to be who I am not