The Empty Place Poem by cheryl davis miller

A silence fell across the room,
so burdensome all could feel it's weight.
The children's hearts all skipped a beat,
while staring down at their dinner plate.

Someone cried out, ' Tell us Abba,
what is this sorrow, till now unknown? '
His eyes smiled as he looked about,
then speaking in melancholy tone.

'Do you not see the empty place
where once your sister sat at table?
To bear this pain without a show,
calls for much more than I AM able.'

For where faith lives there is yet hope,
the void of both is unbearable.
The path she's now descending on
is but lifeless, dark and terrible.

To trade all of eternity
for a fleeting life so temporal,
or leave a Living Sacrifice,
for not but an empty ritual.

Bringing in death, where Life once dwelt
when trading in faith, for works and sweat.
Deception enters stealthily,
beware, for it's fruit is sad regret.

c.d.m May 2013