Attitude is Everything

[BenDare]

DEADBOLTED HEART

My house has heavy iron bars of beautiful design.
For there are those outside, you know, who covet what is mine.
Such people must be kept in place. They prey upon the weak.
So I protect what I have gained, the things for which they seek.
Now barricaded behind doors deadbolted, in seclusion,
I and what I own are safe from threatening intrusion.
But seldom do I sleep at night, for in nightmarish dreams
I see one face beyond my bars in awful pain. It seems
familiar but indistinct, yet unlike any other.
I fear it is the face of Christ, but looks more like my brother.

- - - - - - - - - -

"PROOF"

Someone recommended I listen to God,
so I scheduled some time just to pray.
You see, I'd been troubled by problems and cares
for some plans had not turned out my way.
I allotted five minutes of my busy day
and patiently waited, but heard
no directive from heaven, no Voice, only silence
and my own beating heart. Nothing stirred.
Oh, I am not saying I wasted my time
kneeling foolishly there on one knee.
The experience proved I was right all along:
God is really too busy for me.

 

[yakkmeister]

I like both of these poems; the first is much better than the second, such a powerful metaphor.

Actually, I can't fault the second for rythm ...
It needed a second and third read, but it was there.
It doesn't have so much power, but the subtle message is quite well put.

My house has heavy iron bars of beautiful design.
For there are those outside, you know, who covet what is mine.
Such people must be kept in place. They prey upon the weak.
So I protect what I have gained, the things for which they seek.
Now barricaded behind doors deadbolted, in seclusion, <- this line
I and what I own are safe from threatening intrusion. <- this line
But seldom do I sleep at night, for in nightmarish dreams
I see one face beyond my bars in awful pain. It seems
familiar but indistinct, yet unlike any other.
I fear it is the face of Christ, but looks more like my brother.

Wow! I love this poem, however the lines marked seemed to require an artificially imposed break in their render to make them work rythmically.
But other than that; nice work!