My heart is in anguish within,
The terrors of death have fallen;
I am drenched and stinking of sin,
Covering me like spring pollen.
Fear and trembling come on me,
As the horror to overcome;
It has made me too blind to see,
I have become both deaf and dumb.
If I had the wings like a dove,
I’d fly away and be at rest;
Far away in flying thereof,
Then I would be feeling my best.
I would wander so far away,
And lodge in the wilderness;
Forget my cares from whence I stray,
No longer of feeling the stress.
I would hurry to find a lair,
Shelter from the wind and the rain;
No longer in feeling a care,
Of the agony and the pain.
Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues,
For I see violence and strife;
Blasphemy is filling their lungs,
Making a mess out of my life.
Day and night, they have gone around,
Iniquity troubled within;
Mischief and sorrow so abound,
Pleasurable ways that they sin.
Ruin in its midst oppressing,
Deceit and fraud do not depart;
As lust and greed is obsessing,
Filling them up within their heart.
It is not enemies that taunt,
Because that I could grin and bear;
But an adversary to haunt,
That deals insolently to dare.
Rather a man and companion,
My equal and familiar friend;
Who once took a sweet communion,
No way could he ever offend.
I call to God for saving me,
Giving an ear and humble them;
From their clutches let me be free,
Spread Your wrath on them to condemn.
Copyright © 2019 Richard Newton Sherrer
