Poetry

Chimes celebrates 101 years with theme of Reconstruction

Dr. Johnson — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 01:10:42 +0000

Leah-Joy Smith
Guest Writer

God and a Chainsaw–

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

Fear and Deceit planted weeds
In the soil of my heart.
The seeds sprouted and weaseled through.

I never put a hoe at their base,
Or dug their roots out of the dirt.
Their stumps strong, blooms
Beautiful, offering nauseating nectar.

Like a honey-bee in Spring, I paused
Over each bud, harvesting its opinion.
This nectar, I stored, held onto,
Believed the sickening feeling.

Fertilizer slipped
Through my ngers, my tears provided

The moisture required.
This weed lacked nothing. I gave it permission
To climb, bloom and loom over me
Till I believed it to be a true fruit tree
Who might bear beauties to nourish me.

Limbs reached and roots dug deeper,
Deeper; I lived with this weed
Planted by Fear, by Deceit.
But I did not see it as such. It filled
Its slithering form.
This Manchineel spread sap and
seeds
My hands held no weapons against.

Roots wrapped tight to force belief.
Limbs stout like titanium triggers on guard.
Father wraps his hands around it;
The stump ran deep, cut at the base.

Root shoots pulled out, left trenches.
Poison washed away, scattered soil, hollow heart.
But grace fills trenches; love grants healing.

Editor’s Note:

According to Editor-in-Chief Hannah Cauthen, “The Chimes is a student-produced literary magazine which gives students, faculty, and alumni the opportunity to see their work published and admired.” Cauthen says that reconstruction is an appropriate theme because “Shorter itself has gone through many periods of reconstruction.” The following poem is a work taken from the 101st edition of The Times.

Love From Start to Finish

Dr. Johnson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 06:07:15 +0000

Isaac Thomason, sophomore Communication major

I’d love you until the end of time

I wish the heavens above could give us a sign

To know if we will ever be together

It’s raining in my heart with such sad weather

We’ve known each other all these years

Still I get nervous when you come near

My pulse races my mind paces

And out of the many faces I need your graces

To set me free in my time of need

I hope you find this out as you read

That I want, I need only you

And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do

To have you here by my side

My feelings for you I will not hide

Anymore because you’re what I’m looking for

I’m just looking for the opportunity, that open door

When it opens, I’ll come crawling to you on my knees

I don’t care what I have to do, I’d cross the seas

And even if I had to cross the world for your heart

I’d do it in a beat, a second, at a moment’s start

Love Operation

Dr. Johnson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:50:56 +0000

Love Operation

Isaac Thomason, junior Christian ministry major

I’m not the man I’m supposed to be

You just happen to be the girl for me

I think in my mind and press rewind

Back to find you, one of a kind

So don’t ever let me forget this man in the mirror

And that for us God has a plan much clearer

Than what you and I could ever have for each other

And that if I ever lost you there wouldn’t be another

Because my dreams have been fulfilled

You took the seams of my heart as God willed

Like a prophecy, you did an autopsy

On my heart and operated with accuracy

They say you can’t fix a man stuck in his own way

People say a lot but who cares what they have to say

I just wanted to stop for a moment to tell

Of all the times you’ve made me well

Can’t wait until I get this outrageous bill

I count the cost of love and time stands still

I’m in debt to you, but I’m not sick anymore

I hope you’ll let me repay you by being all yours