The Fortress

"The Fortress"

 by Tim Reed

Why this battle, Why this war for my soul?
Every day, whether I am strong or weak the attack comes, leaving me poor in spirit,
delving into the recesses of my mind.
And there I find, though it grieves me greatly, a stronghold of darkness,
built brick by brick through each rebellion to His will.
See how the flagstones overlap, each laid by a thought not checked and severed.
And so in my despair I cry out to My Lord,
"Jesus, God! Save me from myself!"
I bow to the sovereign Lord of all creation and weep openly.
But the grace He bestows floods from His very presence,
destroying all deeds of darkness, breaking every flagstone until the fortress I did find is no more.
He takes my hand in His and leads me out. And there in His rest I find peace.
Truly there is peace like a river and it has cast down my stronghold until the flesh is no more.
Here in my soul now flows the clean flood of Christ.

Tell me, will you now let it flood your soul?
Through Christ alone there is rest, and only by Him is your fortress cast down.

The Ruins

The Ruins

by Tim Reed

gnarled fingers clutch timeless stones

ashen locks grip bleached bones

pale books of sight grasp broken windows

rubble recalls a distant past

above, the raven's call

below, the dust of nations

with me, thoughts of the ages

what value is in the temporary?

yesterday slips into forever

today joins the Yesterday

tomorrow is as good as past

- this is life in the ruins

What Poetry is to Me

Poetry to me is raw, emotive force.

Poetry gives voice to my heart when I don't understand what my heart is saying.

Poetry clarifies in my mind that which I cannot grasp.

Poetry isn't for you - it's for me. If I write poetry to please my audience, it tames my humanity.

Poetry for me is true vulnerability - You cannot simply read my words, but you rather take away a part of me.

Poetry is where I don't feel the need to be perfect or accepted.

Poetry is where I escape my bravado and am left with myself and the world, broken or beautiful as I truly see it.

Poetry is healing to me, often.

This is what poetry is to me.