( A Southern Remembrance )

It was a little church, brick layered from years.

creating a shelter for children to feel safe.

Singing gospels, ‘Jesus is calling’ 

and ‘amazing grace’, people stand in faith. 

Wooden pews curved into the backs tired

from laboring fields bent by the plow.

Promises coming from pulpits of well intending 

preachers who draw from biblical stories. 

Stories of trial and triumphs of ancient 

believers who strived and survived.  

Promises raining from a place called 

heaven, a place many were destined to soon go.

“Sweet hour of Prayer” they listened and sang.

holding on the pews as the children watched.

Yes, they would leave to go home to their 

Sunday dinner, knowing;

“In the sweet by-and-by.”

copyrighted: CMM. 2018