LOST LAMB AND HIS SHORTCUT
“Oh, all my brothers and sisters are sleeping so good.
“Now I can slip away to those tender shoots
“for Mother a special surprise of a special sweet bud,
Found I with many a pawing in my muddy boots.”
Thus did Littly Lamb plan and prance away in the night,
Smiling with lovelit eyes as he nibbled his surprise
Nodding his curly head as he skipped with new might
Away towards Family Sheeply holding this green prize.
Littly Lamb hopped around the last big rock so bright
Now with sweeping new lights showing the way,
Now with sudden new sweep of singing wind’s kite,
Litttly Lamb blinked away a wing bright as day.
“What sweeps past me, feathering my path,
So bright, so shining, yet soft does it glow?”
“What path does it show with sweeping lathe
Of carving song, molding chords, sweeping bow?”
Littly Lamb saw no Mother, no brother, no sister,
no guardians at hillside once folding the flock,
Littly Lamb heard only sighings, saw far mister
softening the bleatings, echoed far rock.
“Oh, I must bring tenders to Mother, must follow;”
“Oh, must follow, must find again by another path,”
did Littly Lamb pant to himself scrambling in hollow;
did Littly Lamb tumble to scramble most in wrath.
Then did Littly Lamb blink in blindness a fall of feathers.
Then did Littly Lamb tumble down a strange craig,
rolling and winding and landing far down by leathers,
Collars draped down by his own guard’s leg.
“Oh, where are we, Master, where are we, Mother?”
did Littly Lamb squeak as he shook off the fallen.
“Oh, what is that hay smell, that bay smell by Brother?
“Oh, what is that glow bright, that windsong callin’?”
Oh, Littly Lamb, with so much love crooning in heart;
Oh, Littly Lamb, with so much wonder blinking your eye;
Oh, Little Lamb, with so much life waiting to dart;
Oh, Little Lamb, behold so much peace from on high.
For, Littly Lamb, in the City of David near your fields
Now lies a Little One born to touch all souls
Now lies a Little One born to walk all rocky yields
Now lies a Little One born to gift His Mother tolls.
Oh, Littly Lamb, step near, watch near the night away;
Oh, Littly Lamb, lie down the hay for peace and joy;
Oh, Littly Lamb, for you under angels’ wings’ dismay
did hold tight tender greeny gift for Jesus Boy.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 02:39:35
This is a beautiful piece of writing..ELiza Keating
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:02:11
My most humble thanks to such a great symbolist as yourself, Eliza. I so enjoyed finding you and your blog and look forward to much great reading and enlightenment with you!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:03:11
Eliza, after visiting your blog and the writersnetwork postings of yours, I am very deeply humbled to accept your comments here on this post. It is one that was floating in my head all of Advent so far. I will probably be writing about the shepherd’s dog, the guardian of the sheep, in the next few days. Again, such an honour to have you here.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 04:48:05
Very beautiful poetic orchestration and employment of the symbol of the land. Excellent post!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:04:33
Thank you for picking up on the details of the land symbols! Wow, did I really orchestrate? Thank you most humbly for your kind comments. I really enjoy your posts, as well.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 12:26:50
Your writing style is so unique – it amazes me, Granbee!!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:05:59
I am unique, alright, Betty–weird ol’ lady who loves all of creation and this season of Advent and how the simple things of this world apoint us towards the Light! So glad to have your visit, as always!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 14:57:13
We always sacrifice the best of us, don’t we? Jesus, Martin Luther King, Lincoln, dreams when we accept bullshit reality. Let’s fight for the lambs of this world while they are still IN this world.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 15:05:54
Yes, we must defend the “lambs”, but this little lamb had guardians and angels leading him to the Light. I believe what you are saying, Peter, is that WE must function as the guardians and angels.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 17:39:17
OH! that is such a lovely story told from such a novel perspective! I love the way you use words making everything magical! Thank you so much for sharing.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 17:42:14
Willow, you are just SO wonderful to see this post as magical, for that is exactly the way I experience this type of love. And you are such a dear to enter my “novel perspective”!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 18:25:19
That is my pleasure because it is true of your writing it shines.
Dec 09, 2011 @ 03:10:54
Oh, my goodness, you will BLIND me, Willow–“magical AND shining?” My utmost appreciation for your continued encouragement!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 21:52:38
I won’t be much of critique as poetry is not my strong point… but I did enjoy this and smiled through out!
Dec 09, 2011 @ 03:11:34
Savira, to imagine you smiling throughout this poem is more valuable than any critique!
Dec 09, 2011 @ 10:44:40
You are truly a mentor, Rose…this is beautiful. I’m at a loss for descriptive words, but as Betty said, your writing is amazing! 🙂
Dec 10, 2011 @ 05:23:24
Hey, Lauren, I didn’t get all this white hair for nothing! And we ol’ Southern gals are known as word-polishers, after all! I am just so flattered you younger folk out there, YOU especially, enjoy my posts. You and Betty and so many others in our fabulous online writers’ community are such an inspiration!
Dec 10, 2011 @ 04:14:40
Wonderfully done!
Dec 10, 2011 @ 05:24:51
Welcome to my world, shanyns!!!! So pleased you enjoyed this post. Stay tune: there will be many more unexpected critters approaching Bethlehem during this Advent season! Icannot wait (like in about 2 seconds) to check out your stuff and follow eagerly.
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:38:51
Oh how I admire your train of thought Granbee, only you could see this wonderful little lost lamb and tell this story Which led me safe back to the flock..
( I am at last catching up with your posts…. All these wonderful people who blog once a day leave me forever playing catch up lol hehe… and I am far too nosey too, so I dont like to miss anything… hehe )
Love to you Sue~Dreamwalker
Dec 14, 2011 @ 05:41:10
Thank you so extremely much, Sue! To have YOU admire my train of thought honors my writings so much! Yes, I have been that lost lamb and I have been privileged to lead little lost ones “home”. We know there is no substitute for having lived mind, heart, body, and soul through a whole lot of life!
Dec 18, 2011 @ 04:19:04
The lamb in our heart is the innocence we need never lose. A sweet and affirming story for all, no matter their faith.