Heartbeat



I hear a beat,

Like a single strike

On a tympani.

Beat

Beat

Beat

I lift my head.

Where is it coming from?

I must find it.

Beat

Beat

Beat

I slip on my coat

And my shoes, following

The beat out the door.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Down the stairs,

Into the cold.

Getting louder.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Crossing the rail tracks.

Turning a corner.

Louder still.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

Dumpster stench fills

My nostrils.

What is this?

Beat beat

Beat beat

Beat beat

Louder and faster.

I can’t hear my own footsteps

Among the beating.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Hands over my hears,

Around the dumpster.

I gasp, astonished.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Crouched among the trash

Is a man huddled,

Trying to stay warm.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Dressed in soiled clothes

No jacket on his back.

A homeless man.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Recoiling, I scream out,

“What is this beating?

Who is this man?”

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

A voice whispers in my ear,

“It is My heartbeat.

This is My son.”

Beat

Beat

Beat

“Your son? O God,

Forgive me,

Forgive me.”

Beat

Beat

Beat

Moving toward him,

I place my coat over his shoulders,

God’s heartbeat singing,

“Beat, beat!

Beat, beat!

Beat, beat!”

Suddenly, I find myself

Walking a lonely,

Dusty street.

Beat

Beat

Beat

I turn around,

knowing that I must

follow God’s heartbeat.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Ahead I see a sea

Of corrugated tin roofs,

Streets flowing with dirty people.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Moving into the horde,

I follow the beating,

Simply the beating.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Suddenly, like magic,

A tiny, skinny boy

Appears at my feet.

Beat beat

Beat beat

Beat beat

His hand held out,

His eyes cast down,

Crouched in misery.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

“Why is THIS Your heartbeat?

This is an image of hell!

What can You mean?”

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

“He is an orphan.

He is My beloved.

He is My treasure.”

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

My body moves to the beat.

I find myself picking him up

into my arms.

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

As we walk along

The beating leads me again

To another place.

Beat

Beat

Beat

Now on the city street,

Lights flashing in my eyes,

Cars speeding by.

Beat

Beat

Beat

I walk along the thoroughfare

Following the beating

Down the bubbling streets.

Beat

Beat

Beat

I turn to my right,

Toward the beating,

To a beauty parlor.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

I go through the beaded door

My head now spinning

With the loud beating.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

“But there’s no one here.

What’s the point?

What is the POINT?”

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

I see God’s hand

Quickly fading in and out,

Pointing.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

There’s another door

In the back of the room,

I open it.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Shaking in her sleep

A young woman is lying

On a mattress on the floor.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Her body shows

Telltale signs of abuse

And terror.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Behind me a man walks up.

“Get up, Natasha,

You have a client.”

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

She moves past me

Toward another man with vicious eyes,

Rubbing his hands together.

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

BEAT BEAT

Filled with rage I fly

Grabbing the girl and kicking

Through the two men.

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

As we run down the street,

God’s whisper returns

Telling me of the heartbeat.

Beat

Beat

Beat

“They’ve raped My darling,

She’s my darling still.

I entrust her to you.”

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

“Guard her from the dragons.

Guard her from the demons.

Rescue her sisters.”

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

Beat beat!

“Fight for justice!

Defeat her enemies.

Become her champion.”

BEAT

BEAT

BEAT

Holding my new sister’s hand,

My boy on my hip,

I walk with purpose.

Beat

Beat

Beat

The heartbeat doesn’t confuse me.

It is no longer strange.

It is the rhythm of my life.

Beat

Beat

Beat

“Lift up the head of the needy.

Become a parent to the orphan.

Rescue the slave and fight for justice.”

This is the

Beat

Beat

Beat

Heartbeat of God.

And I will no longer ignore it.

It is my creed, it is my call.

“Beat

Beat

Beat,”

Is the song of my life.

 

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~ by gabiruth on December 2, 2010.