One For the Road #2: Psalm 42 - I Remember

This might the the first in a series, but let's see how we get on with this one. It's a loose paraphrase of Psalm 42.

I Remember

I remember.
The clamorous praise, the ecstasy.
I remember well those giddy days
I remember.

I remember the stillness of your presence,
Serene, untroubled, like a perfect millpond.
In peering down deep I saw there your reflection, Yahweh.

But now in turmoil do I cry to you.
These towering waves,
These raging giants of the deep
Kicked into fury by your finger's flick
Upon the waters that rise up and surround me now;
They tower up and up
And I have no answer, no defence.
I am barely afloat.

Have you done this to me, Yahweh?
Did you make them taunt and jeer?
Did you make of me a laughing stock?
This one-time worship leader, now forlorn?
I have no strength or will to come against their mockery.
But you, Yahweh, my God, have you turned against me too?

I am barely afloat.
I cannot sink any deeper or I am gone ...
I gasp a cry.

Can this plaintive voice be heard above the ocean's roar?
Can this heart's outpouring, this soul's red rescue flare
Float up beyond the grasp of this rampaging sea
And drift its way to you?
Will its bright sputtering catch your eye?
Or will it fly too low,
Or unseen, fade and tumble earthward once again?
I dare to venture hope.

Let the seas do their worst, let them pound
I will not go down to the deep
There is something stronger here.
I exhaust my petition and fall silent.

I reach inside and find a prayer, and gasp it upwards.
I will praise you again Yahweh, as I once did.
I will remember.

I remember,
But I find that in remembering you I am remembered.
My prayer to you, Yahweh, was first your gift to me:
Your love by day, your song by night.

And so, amidst these raging seas
I dare to venture hope.
I remember.

Comments

[wilsonian]

Oh Richard. This is so beautiful. Truly.

[Richard L]

Thank you ... the beauty of these ancient Hebrew songs is beginning to open up something new of God to me.

[Neal B]

I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.
"Kicked into fury by your finger's flick" has really stuck in my mind since reading earlier, and i just want to keep reading the whole thing over and over..
I have to agree, refreshing and beautiful.

[Richard L]

Neal ... thanks for your comments. I visited your "Bananalbum" and I love the Glasgow pics, as a former Glasgow Uni student. The one of Ashton lane especially. Can't find somewhere on your site to leave a comment so I hope you'll swing by and pick this up!

[hopefulamphibian]

Thanks Richard - a series/journey worth continuing - "My prayer to you, Yahweh, was first your gift to me", wonderful.