Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Prison - A Song of the Lord in a Foreign Land - poem

 

Lawrence Hall

Mhall46184@aol.com

https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/

poeticdrivel.blogspot.com

 

A Song of the Lord in a Foreign Land

 

“How could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?

 

-Psalm 137

 

By the waters of the common sinks and stinks

They sat and wept, remembering their homes

Upon the razor wire they hung their hopes

          (Let my tongue be silent during roll call)

 

Their captors asked of them throughout the hours

Straight lines to the chow hall, well made-up bunks

On time to their classes and work details

          (Let my tongue be silent during roll call)

 

The lyrics of their songs were written by night

The notes and tones well-tuned to concrete walls

How could they sing songs of the Lord?

                                                                   How not?

          (Let my tongue be silent during roll call)

 

We all are exiles in a foreign land

          (Let our tongues sing praise after roll call)

 

 

After over a year of lockdowns, volunteers were allowed back in Texas prisons on Wednesday, Saint Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2021. Saint Patrick, too, was a prisoner.

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