Thorns

Did God make thorns?

I see them everywhere -

in my life they rise up to choke me,

and in the valley of my heart

they are strewn like a carpet

on the bedrock,

cutting off the good seed

and blotting out the Son.

Tree-like they can grow,

though they say

a two-edged sword can handle any problem.

 

I wonder sometimes about thorns -

are they Satan's attempts at Creation:

the one who imitates so much of God's good

so badly.

No!

There's too much perfection in a thorn,

too much beatuy in its ugliness.

I think thorns are purposed

to show us how far we've fallen,

and as a standard

to appreciate the beauty

of a new creation born.

© John McNeil. All rights reserved.
This poem may be used free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged to a performance. In exchange, the author would appreciate being notified of any occasion the poem is used in public performance. He may be contacted at: soul.communication@outlook.com Or at: 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 8024, New Zealand.