the master in search of one
who’s willful at the start
now cold and all alone
brings sadness to his heart
searching, mindful of the lost
never turning left nor right
against him darkness plots
to keep the one from sight
thorns bruise on journey’s way
still the master onward goes
willing with his life to pay
perfect love, he knows
sunk into the mire deep
the master’s pull is strong
the lamb can only bleat
as she is pulled from harm
the master in search of one
his mission always clear
death has no hold on love
the lost are each one dear
Today’s prompt at Poet’s United is Martyr. The definition is: “Someone who is killed for their religious beliefs.”
The shepherd in the Bible is used as an example of a person who will go far and wide for the love of the sheep. This same shepherd considers little the cost of this occupation. Somehow I feel that the martyr is like this shepherd – too busy in the search to worry about the sacrifice.
“O death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Corinthians 15:55
The biblical roots of the poem are quite strong…an appropriate verse for the theme.
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One of those topics we rarely address. Tho I think Aunt Bea could address it quite well.
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Lovely poem, Leslie. 🙂
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Such a wise and profound write ❤ ❤ ❤
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Sad but beautiful!
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Beautiful writing. Indeed, love does not fear death.
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__Heartful verse, so well posed Leslie. We must always care for the gentile souls without worrying about any plausible dangers.
__I recall a Franz Werfel’s line in “The Forty Days of Musa Dagh”. In my mind’s reasoning, he referred to caring for a herd of sheep -refugees-, disregarding any possibility of danger from an unseen goat… a hidden, horned warrior -terrorist-, an insane ram.
_m
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“The lost are each one dear”. How beautiful that is, Leslie!
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Amen. Perfect love. For humans it seems to be a harder choice whether to stand with majority or minority. The choice is, as you imply, stand with all.
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the allusion to Christ is touching. I relate to this. As a Christian. thanks.
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Excellent example and delivery of this story…the repetition of “one,” works well in this. Powerful.
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you’ve beautifully defined martyrdom…it is truly Love for others that makes a martyr…
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Death has no hold on love – such a strong line and thought..and true i hope..i love the flow..seemed to be a compliment to the image of the hills and sea..we must always try to keep flowing..
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death has no hold on love
This is a message we need to hear over and over again in our time…in all times.
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Deeply, deeply spiritual! Lovely.
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The image of the shepherd looking out for his sheep, but especially that lost, wayward one is wonderful. Well-penned poem, Leslie.
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