At A Time Like This. Poem by Nyagaka Charles

At a time like this when loved ones stare and shake their heads
And they grow dumb, yeah, even sorrowfully cold;
At a time when pals turn a slapping back
And my foolishness loses me some more;
At a time like this my heart bursts with tears
Yet my eyes are sore with dryness;
At a time like this my heart feels heavy
Laden with a void of shadows and darkness;
At a time like this my heart is in shreds
And the pieces therein break into emptiness;
At a time like this my brain is nowhere
Well, it’s somewhere but in a vacuum with confusion;
At a time like this my hands are trembling
And my legs crumble in shear fear;
At a time like this my emotions are free
And they squeeze themselves into my heart…and blast! !
At a time like this my eyes are shy
And my mouth can’t unzip in terror;
At a time like this my soul would rather rest in peace
Well, what else when life offers a dead end?
At a time like this my body fails me
And the best thing I know is give it rest;
At a time when I hit the bedrock
I appreciate for the Solid Rock of Ages is there for me;
At a time when I don’t feel like being still
Then do I hear the tenderness, ” Peace, be still”;
At a time when my spirit, soul and strength do fail
Then do I learn to trust.