It’s my honor to have contributed a poem to The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal’s Spring 2025 Collection. The first two stanzas are below. To read the entire piece, please visit thewayback2ourselves.com/journal/songofthebranch. The voiceover here includes the complete poem. My apologies for any landscape-crew noises in the background.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
John 15:4-9 ESV
Lord Jesus Christ, whom my soul loves,
Oh, cleave my stony heart in twain
That I may cleave the more to you.
Your Word-Sword having severed me
From native barren brambly thorns—
Engraft me to yourself, my wounds
To yours, bound, bandaged, sealed, that I
May dwell in you and you in me.
(My love is mine, and I am his.)
Hidden with you in God, I dwell.
Your love enlivens me, restores
Slakes thirst without satiety
Or surfeit, O beloved Lord.
You only satisfy my heart,
Yet, tasting living water kills
My appetite for wells and cisterns.
For you and your Word, my soul yearns.
To continue reading, please visit the publication site here or listen to me read the prayer poem to you at the player above. You may also enjoy browsing the other creative work selected for this edition.
