ric booth - poet, writer, speaker

[A continuation of Knight of My Rescue i and ii]

On this night, the trembling prisoner rises to his feet, gasping as the light moves, flickers, and burns brighter while every fiber of his existence screams out to him, “Turn away! Run! Hide!”

On this night, quite unexpectedly and much to his own surprise, the prisoner discovers he is stepping towards this light.

On this night, with each labored step towards this light,
this light
steps towards the prisoner.
Moving. Burning. Brighter.

This is no ordinary light this night.

Danial, the 19 year od brother of my voice coach / our choir director, was in a serious car accident last week. He is in the Shock Trauma (Unit?) of the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore, MD - The family received some positive news that Daniel suffered a brain injury (not brain damage as originally feared). They met with a doctor today who spoke to them about the six month test that he is undergoing. The medicine and the body should be able to repair the neurons which were stretched (not severed as originally believed). The doctors feel that he could wake up out of his current state anywhere from days to a year. He should be able to recognize family when he does, but he will likely have to relearn all of his basic skills such as speech, walking, writing, etc.

Also, Ginny the mother of two of the guys in our choir was diagnosed with advanced leukemia and was told that if she doesn’t start intense chemotherapy right away she would only have three weeks to live. She is in John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for one month of in-patient intensive chemotherapy. She has no bone marrow left. At this time the family are requesting no visitors because of the chemotherapy.

So if you are a prayer warrior type, please add Danial and Ginny to your prayer list.

Thank you.

No, not yet Ed.

I wonder how many hits this will get?

If you are confused, this post is joined at the hip with:
http://kassota.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/christians-enjoy-sex/

Sometime back in the dark ages, around May 2008, I posted a short piece (a whopping 5 sentences) entitled, Knight of My Rescue. This piece had been gathering dust on my hard-drive since January 2007. Apparently it is cool. Now it is not often that I spew cool. Here I am again in a second attempt at cool. I repeated the prior post here as well.
____________________________________________________________

Knight of My Rescue
by ric booth

On this night the vile, utterly despicable, condemned criminal watches helplessly from his cell, a pit of depravity, as one lone knight storms this bastion of evil to set him free from his many jailers.

On this night the jailers converge, engulfing the knight. The prisoner slumps as the jailors’ laughter rises. What can one knight do? But this is no ordinary knight this night.

On this night the jailors’ laughter dies with the knight as silence rises with the clanging of falling shackles.

__________________

On this night, with the death of the knight, darkness billowed through the prison as the raging battle shifted from the prison courtyard to the vile recesses of the cowering prisoner’s mind.

On this night the prisoner falls in a rush of panic as the deafening roar of the battle, now raging within, threatens to consume him… but this is no ordinary fight this night.

On this night, alone in a lifeless cell, the condemned prisoner sees, for the very first time, a speck of light far off in the distance… barely visible yet, unmistakably real.

For on this knight came the death of the night.

_____________________

* Dark Castle art from David’s Sketchbook.

Deb, Lazrus2, and Christian each have prodded me to continue with something poetic or creative. I am in a bit of a funk poetically and creatively of late. I think working too much is part of the cause. I have reworked an older poem originally titled This Shattered Jar. I think Broken Vessels is a better fit. I am still not satisfied with it but maybe you can help with comments on where this takes you.

Also, I modified the meter so you can read/sing this poem to the tune of Amazing Grace. Or not.

Broken Vessels
by ric booth

Who knows the person I could be
with all these lumps and scars
and more, much more than clay to see.
at work inside this jar.

I vainly patch and cover up
as all my pieces fall
So tenderly you break this cup
while others watch in awe!

Reflecting eyes I see they see,
despite my shattered shame
a glimpse of you inside of me
no heart is left the same

The happy couple!!

Some friends of ours from church were married on Saturday by our pastor at her sister’s house (also a friend from church). A beautiful wedding & reception.

mystery photographer

The wedding photographer is also a close friend. Part of our church actually.

When she spotted me trying to take her picture she said, “You can’t take my picture!” Turns out, she’s right! Each time I tried, something obstructed my shot. So here’s the mystery photographer.

The Basketweave Cake

The wedding cake maker is none other than Patti, my wife! Yes Patti does wedding cakes. And other types of cakes too. All custom made to the specific occasion and even the person(s). She has not gone over the edge to open a business yet but she does pull out her frosting tips for friends and family. This cake is frosted with a basketweave design. The bride is a huge Longaberger fan.

mystery photographer

As you can see, I was dodged again! I shutter to think what might happen if I ever succeed in getting a clear shot. That’s one sweet camera though. I suppose the identity of this photographer remains mysterious. Please, don’t click here.

Some of my bloggin’ buddies have noticed my absence over the last couple of weeks. I am back and reconnecting to this icommunity of bloggin’ buddies. While away from my keyboard and mouse, I reconnected with family and friends.

I attended and celebrated my little sister’s wedding.

I played kick-ball with brothers, sisters, nieces, & nephews. And lost. Twice. And loved it.

I played touch football with brothers, nephews & one niece who is very TOUGH BTW! I very nearly die the next day while Patti laughs at me. She knows I am not as tough as my niece. So does my niece. So do I.

I played horse shoes with my brother and nephews. And lost. Big. Twice. I know I should practice more but hurling iron forty+ feet softly is a skill for which I have little use. Laughing at my blunders? Hey, I got that one.

I played pinochle and (brace yourself) WON! Yes!

At this point I ceased all competitive activity. Especially those involving any athleticism beyond the act of pie eating.

Speaking of which, I ate pie. Multiple times per day. And cookies. And homemade cinnamon buns. My mom loves me and yet she bakes my favorite pies for each reunion.

We sang songs while Julie and Justin played guitar. My sister noticed and pointed out, I now sing ON KEY. Those voice lessons are so paying off. (You my not realize this but songs contain many different notes.)

I read a story about dog poop. I got a few yucks and teary eyes. Well, mine anyways.

My mom!!

After marrying off the kid sister, fattening myself up on pie, and suffering multiple beatings we headed home. In the car Patti says, “We need to go visit again soon- sometime when its not so many so we can spend more time with mom.”

I smile and nod. “Yeah, more time with mom.”

And more pie for me, savors Ric’s brain.

Home no more than a day, I traveled to upstate NY to reconnect with Dad, big bro Dave, little bro Bob, and several classmates at my 30th high school reunion. I will be blogging more on each of these in the coming daze. Its all still a fog but it is good to be back reconnecting after being away reconnecting.

Me, Dad, David & Jesus on June 26th, 2008

Love. Grace. Forgiveness. 1 Peter 4:8. Tears. Joy.

Related Posts:
Dad’s Eyes
My Big Bro, the Big Five-O, & My Hero
My 2005 Father’s Day Poem

I am absent and well south of the Mason-Dixen Line in Virginia, USA. Our family converged on my mother’s and sister’s homestead this weekend to celebrate my little sister’s wedding. They had a beautiful outdoor southern rose garden wedding. So here’s Holly and my new brother-in-law Kenny.

Also, some of my nieces and other little sister are having a great time here in this pic. I do not know what could be so funny but this picture just makes me laugh. Its contagious.

My brother-in-law Fran took these pics and many more. Thanks Fran.

On the 24th of this month by brother Dave and I will both be visiting our dad Al at his home in upstate New York. This will be the first time we three will sit around a table together since 1965.

Our God is amazing.
He will be there with us.
And for us.

i was lookin’ for my father; three decades have gone by
i knew my search was over; when i saw Him in Dad’s eyes
father an’ son together; yet we knew there was another
in Him i found my Father an’ in Dad i found a brother

Happy Father’s Day Dad!

Know you are loved.

Related posts
My 2005 Father’s Day Poem
My Big Bro, the Big Five-O, & My Hero
Happy Belated 18th