We were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
Its sinless wonders nevermore to regain.
So every man on life's toilsome journey,
Must enter the valley of pain.
We don't enter because of desire
And it's certainly not a voluntary fare.
But, rather, it's a matter of destiny
Compelling and forcing us there.
Eden's garden; its beauty so magnificent,
Can't be reclaimed; it is a lost paradise.
Trees of knowledge and life gone forever,
We are now paying consequences price.
The valley of pain is bleak and lonely,
And all heartache must be suffered alone.
The petty and trite ceases to matter.
When facing hurt as never before known.
In pain's valley, no restaurants exist.
Shopping malls can't be found anywhere.
There's no joy to be had from entertainment.
There are no parks, for it is no picnic there.
There are no banks in the valley of pain,
No theaters, no lounges, no beach.
In this valley, we have no lofty aspirations,
Surviving the only goal we hope to reach.
Pain's valley in not a poor man's haven;
We'll find no comfort, or ease or rest.
Nor will we encounter family or friends
For this valley is one's own personal test.
Bitter anguish is experienced in this valley,
A site of conflict on a titanic scale.
A place of failing and spiritual torture,
Of deficiency and interminable travail.
When we enter the valley of pain,
We no longer worry about unpaid bills.
We don't fret about outstanding car notes,
We don't care about acquiring new skills.
When we enter the valley of pain,
We don't dabble in vain vanity.
For this valley inevitably drives us,
To the very brink of human sanity.
When we enter the valley of pain
Family prayer just will not do.
Praying in the church is insufficient,
And social prayer is inadequate too.
We must find our own secret hideaway
Close the door to the world and all its strife.
We must surrender ourselves to our God
And let Him work a miracle in our life.
Saundra L. Washington is the author of two coffee table books: "Negative Disturbances, Homilies that Teach," and the book from which this poem is taken, "Room Beneath the Snow, Poems that Preach." She can be contacted at: http://www.clergyservices4u.org
Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More
You can do and you can be whatever you want.... Read More
If you are serious about seeing your work published by... Read More
Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
On through the darkness she searches the bones Seeking the... Read More
The Torrents of HellHell's furnace- Likened to a chimney Vomits... Read More
You speak simple, completley understandable justifications I respect them, respect... Read More
Daybreak at Pikes Creek [Summer of 2005]Daybreak by Lake Superior... Read More
"All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling."--Oscar WildePeople write poetry... Read More
Note: written after seeing the little adobe 16th century church... Read More
She raised me like I was her own daughter from... Read More
How wonderfully sweet to be a dweller dwelling... Read More
Asha of DarfurCry, cry-oh little Darfur woman For your sister... Read More
Since Mohamed Ali?then Cassius Clay?announced that he had written "The... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
My life has changedin so so many waysIt seems to... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Fair Andes! Thy arms reach highOf iron-woven solid stone Thu... Read More
Once upon a midnight dreary, coffee cold and vision... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
What Hides behind the Minute?What hides behind the minute? It... Read More
1.Night in Jamaica [Peruvianism: 1810]It was a rainy night... Read More
I can see the cerulean blue of the skiesOr the... Read More
Shakespeare's sonnets require time and effort to appreciate. Understanding the... Read More
English VersionAnd the Death God said: "Let it rise to... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
Wars, air of AmbiguityDedicated to 1st. Lt. Laura Walker (From... Read More
I am among those who know that one never recovers... Read More
Phantom of the Rocks[Huancayo, Peru]Night falls deepUpon the traveler!Low, over... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Do not be afraid to shine. This world needs what... Read More
1)dying in the bar [sluggishly]yet, I would crawl too upto... Read More
Out of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished],... Read More
Part oneI see them in the skies I hear them... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
In the Mountains of Haiti(In the City)-July is a hot... Read More
The following two poems, one in English, the other in... Read More
Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
Have you ever experienced infatuation with someone you know is... Read More
JOINEDHeart beat of man pounding - yet unheard joined... Read More
A Poem - By Lorraine KemberIt was a day like... Read More
You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Blind DesignsBorn today, gone tomorrow Like a butterfly with no... Read More
Amy King Antidotes for an Alibi BlazeVox Books ISBN 0-9759227-5-0... Read More
"For this reason poetry is something more philosophical and more... Read More
There I sat, ninety-five degree weatherOutside; the bookstore café, was... Read More
Advance: Mr. Dennis Siluk's poetry can have its fire-hearted twists:... Read More
What can I do to keep this world in its... Read More
Growing hurts sometimes; saying goodbye to friends, ... Read More
Frog SummerSummer grows hot, for the New-blooded frogs; The bugs... Read More
The Goat and the Ropewhere there were devils I saw... Read More
I never met a man, who could shake my hand,... Read More
Ed Gallagher Dec. 11, 1907 - Sept. 5, 2004This poem... Read More
Here is some witty poetry (not sure if that is... Read More
English Version1) Grendel's DivorceYou must know that I do not... Read More
Here are three more poems by the author, Dennis Siluk,... Read More
English VersionAnd the Death God said: "Let it rise to... Read More
Learn about love by reading poetry by a long dead... Read More
now is not the time to open open that great... Read More
The Incubus' Flash-lightHe looked inside my head And found a... Read More
1) Shadows of the Andes [or: Song to the Andes]I... Read More
Sometimes we feel hard-pressed, Our backs against the wall;... Read More
Time goes by to quickly to hold your feelings inside... Read More
Poetry |