by Beth
June 2003

How to keep myself in His love

when all about my brothers call

Cain rages

Balaam grasps

Korah defies

and I feel doubly dead

yet He promises He is able to keep me

me once and sometimes still

a glutton of self

star with no compass

waning cotton candy cloud

but inside this room where the King stops to feast

on soup and chunks of cheese and bread

I am kept as

the world bellows

Cain rages

Balaam grasps

Korah defies

but we sit in leather barrel chairs and sop up the broth with the

bread

and sometimes He catches the juice on the hem of his sleeve

and all the while

the world roars

Cain rages

Balaam grasps

Korah defies

but near the fire where the King stokes the flames

as I doubt

as I prance with danger

as I rot from the dance with the world

He prefers me

He guards me

He keeps me

And the world blusters

Cain whines

Balaam reaches

Korah simpers

But inside this room the King tells family stories

as He pours another glass

And the world can howl

Cain can thunder at the door

Balaam can scrape at the dirt under the door

Korah can wale at the ramparts of the door

But inside this room

the King, He keeps me.