Another Chance Poem by Andrew J. Koehn

I trudge this lonely, shad’wy path
With darkness hanging all around.
My steps are slow, my head hangs low.
It seems my hands with chains are bound

I glance around, this can’t be right!
This looks all wrong, where can I be?
I know I’m lost! My heart is tossed
Into my throat. I, panicked, flee.

At last I stop this frantic run,
I pant and gasp, then gain my breath.
I, filled with fright, look left and right.
I know I’m running to my death.

I sit, defeated, on the ground,
And think about that path I walked
When I was free; I paid no fee,
But here, it feels as though I’m stalked

I wonder where I lost the way,
And ponder how I could get back.
I rise to try a path, then sigh.
A knowledge of the paths I lack.

I can’t escape this gloomy maze!
I won’t get out of here alive!
I’m doomed! I’m lost! I see the cost
Of straying now: I won’t survive.

There’s not a thing that I can do
To get me out of this whole mess.
This path I took, for I forsook
The path of God. So now what’s next?

I turn my thoughts back to the past
When I still walked the paths of God.
No load to bear, just freedom there,
Such safety with His staff and rod.

I long to be on that, His path,
But here I sit in sin’s dark shade
With no way out, on Satan’s route.
The last of faith begins to fade.

I jump back up; I must not fail!
I spoke those vows down on my knees
I’d faithful be till life should flee.
Those words are bound with Heaven’s keys.

So there I kneel beside that path.
“I’m sorry where I’ve gone astray
So save me, Lord, ” thus I implore.
“And lead me on a better way.”

I still am kneeling on the ground
God reaches down and picks me up.
My guilt is gone, it feels like dawn.
He sets me down and fills my cup.

He says, ”My child, you’re welcome back, ”
And then I feel his awesome love.
There’s just no way that I could stray
From all these blessings from above.

Now heaven’s open windows pour
On me more grace and peace and joy
Than holds my cup, it fills it up
And more. None can my love destroy.

I know there’ll be those valleys yet,
Those battles that I’ll have to fight.
I have no fear, my Lord is near
And I’ll be trusting in his might.

(6-15-07)