Concrete: By His Side Poem by Caryl Ramsdale

In
the
lands
the bible
mentions,
during times
we consider old,
a tear bottle was a
custom; its c o n t e n t s
more precious than gold.
Vessels made o f animal skins
kept and carried liquid back then.
Sometimes … they were a tote for tears
that had been shed time and again. Tears
that glorified our Father were righteous tears
someone had wept. Only tears of a godly cause
earned their worth, were rescued and kept. True
friends would join a weeping brother; sit near
catching tears one by one, careful none were
lost to the ground, but saved 'til the crying
was done. And a tear bottle was buried
with the one that suffered and cried;
filled with t e a r s that were
collected B y f r i e n d s
that s t i l l stood
by his side.