I will persevere
And face every fear
Jesus
Hope becomes quite dear
Because You are near
With us
In hate came the spear
Yet You shed a tear
For us
Hope I will maintain
Despite chronic pain
Dear Lord
Affliction and strain
On this body rain
Love poured
Though You once were slain
You will always reign
Adored
To You I hold fast
Your mercy so vast
My Rock
When mired in my past
In Your love recast
I’ll walk
When e’re lies harassed
The truth will outlast
Unlocked
Your word says stand firm
This truth You affirm
In us
Even when infirm
My soul does confirm
And thus
I focus long-term
Clinging to Your arm
Jesus
————-
This poem is written in the French poetry form called the Lai.
Linda L. Kruschke is the author of My Name Is Beloved, winner of the Unpublished Memoir category of the Oregon Christian Writers Cascade Writing Contest, as well as a self-published author of two poetry books. She is a wife, mother, active member of her church, former Bible Study Fellowship leader, and recovering lawyer. She works as the Director of Legal Publications for the Oregon State Bar. But her real passion is sharing God’s healing grace with others, especially those haunted by sexual trauma and abortion. She struggled with major clinical depression for many years, but through the power of forgiveness has become a fearless follower of Christ, living in the assurance of her salvation and God’s love. She blogs at Another Fearless Year and Broken Believers.
Anchored Voices 
I think the form works well here – it sounds quite choral, or like a call and response prayer. It’s interesting to read out loud.
I think it’s a really hard form to do something different with, and you’ve managed that really well. All those rhymes…tough to do, and keep it meaningful.
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Thanks. The rhyming on the two-syllable lines was especially challenging. I do love the challenge of form poetry, though.
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Yes, when they work you get that satisfaction from writing a poem AND solving a puzzle! I’m battling with the lai, though. Maybe I’m over-thinking it.
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I feel the same way about rhymed and metered poetry. It is a puzzle, but at the end of it, you have something to keep–not just to throw away.
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I like the praise in spite of any pain.
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It’s the only way to persevere.
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Love the meaningful lines. I specially admire the rhyming of this:
With us
In hate came the spear
Yet You shed a tear
For us
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Thanks.
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The last line, clinging to the arm of Jesus, is powerful. When you are in that place, your worries fall away.
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It’s the best place to be.
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Oh flows well and I love the ‘Jesus’ and ‘in us’. The lai form seems to have helped create that rhyme and emphasis.
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