O God I am a shadow that shrinks when the sun climbs A footprint washed away before the tide turns My days are a handful of chaff tossed to the wind My nights a thin blanket too short to cover my shame I am the cracked bell that clangs off key in the steeple The rusted hinge that screams when the door of mercy swings My tongue is a flint that sparks only smoke My eyes two wells run dry before the dawn Look away look to the pillar of fire that never gutters To the rock that gives water without being asked Let the trumpet of silver sound in another’s mouth Let the banner of victory wave over a worthier head Pass me by O Lord I am the bramble that tears the hem of Your robe The thorn that draws blood You never owed I am the grave that swallows every seed You plant The mouth that turns every gift to gall Why do Your footsteps halt at this thorn choked gate Why does Your voice still echo in my hollow chest I have measured my worth in the length of my failures I have stacked my sins like bricks against the sky Each one a barrier each one a plea to be left alone I am the stray dog that snarls at the hand that feeds The cracked wineskin leaking the vintage You poured The field salted by my own tears The lamp that gutters in the wind of my doubt How long will You wait outside this bolted door How long will You call through the keyhole of my fear I tear my clothes I claw the earth I howl into the void Let another be lifted let another be washed Let another drink the cup of Your fierce delight I am the wave that crashes and forgets its own name The ember that dies before it warms a single hand (I dont have enough room on here, here's the full poem on my YT channel) http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx9Lq6295OHojKXMWAAmkuV5kBgSntiqdh?si=df3g26yk6GlbX8A4