The Crucible of Truth
by Kathleen HighamWhat steals your breath away?
Makes the heart skip a beat
Rains salty tears on a cheek
When quivering lips meet.
What takes you to your knees?
Then lifts you in delight
Wide eyed and starry again
Brings another sleepless night.
What betrays your thoughts?
Every moment you are aware
A mind filled with dreams
An inexplicable passion there.
What saturates your being?
Burns a flame into a fire
Invades your life so intimately
Provokes a crushing desire.
Though only a mere word
There is no other as mighty
Can pull a giant to the ground
And prove a genius flighty.
The word of course is love
This love may beguile a soul
Oh, what an amazing word it is
Love can surely take its toll.
For love can break a heart
In pieces it will be shattered
Love, love is so powerful
As if nothing else mattered.
Love, the crucible of truth
It is all that we require
The Bible clearly teaches this
Love will even tame the liar.
Love is absolutely everything
We can find it in a kiss
Sweeping through so tenderly
Then melting into bliss.
Love, the crucible of truth
A million tears were cried
Jesus spoke the word to life
Then loved us as He died.
1st John 3:11-23
This poem won first place for the
March 2008 poetry contest
