THE DRUNK

"Boil it all down,"

cried the fiery old drunk,

"into deeds I can un'erstan'

Make it make sense

like a proverb of old,

like the words of a mystical man.

"Throw out the garbage,

theology's pap,

man's wisdom leavened with sin.

Give me the pure

milk of God's Word

and clean this old heart within.

"Show me the love

you said would be mine

if I followed in all of your ways.

Show me, don't tell me,"

the drunkard complained,

"I've heard it near all of my days."

(c) December 6, 2003

 Glenn Hall