The Poetics prompt at dVerse Poets Pub today is offered by guest bartender Lynn. She is asking us to write about what the watchman sees. I decided to take my first line from the Isaiah verse she quoted, with a slight modification. This prompt was actually perfect for me this week as I’ve been writing more (in prose/essay form) about my personal experience with abortion. I’ve felt a little like the watchman, though a reluctant one.
I Am a Reluctant Watchman
Go set a watchman; let her announce what she’s seen
Declares the Lord our God
It’s not about me, knows the watchman, but where I’ve been
I don’t want to play watchman in our world today
I tell the Lord my God
It’s not about you, He replies, you must go this way
And so I speak the atrocities I’ve both seen and done
Trusting the Lord my God
Then I share the compassion of Jesus the Son
Murder I see and murder I’ve perpetrated
Grieving the Lord our God
For our own convenience children are daily terminated
Lies I was told and deception reigns supreme
Angering the Lord our God
I wish I could say this is only a horrible dream
But He’s set me a watchman to announce what I’ve seen
Glorifying the Lord my God
With the truth I learned when I was just seventeen
Choices made out of fear can never be undone
Whispers the Lord my God
But they can be forgiven by the grace Christ has won