Poems from Still Waters Running Deep presents a collection of poetry written by author Emma McClain over a period of forty years. Penned at various stages of her life, they echo the thoughts, feelings, and transitions of those moments. She touches on topics ranging from experiencing her freedom from her mother for the first time in "Farewell Song" to marveling at the fact she has found with her one true love in "My Man" She also carefully examines her relationship with God and the depth of his loving-kindness.

Poems From Still Waters Running Deep

By Emma Mcclain

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Emma Mcclain
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-4902-8

Contents

Chapter One

        My Victory Song


    They say I am a gentle person,
    Would never say words that were unkind.
    They've never seen one so forgiving,
    That I always have that peace of mind.
    But, Lord, they've never seen the tempest
    That once raged deep inside of me.
    Can't they see I'm not that gentle person?
    But it's Your Spirit that abides in me.

    They say I am a noble person,
    That I always do the thing that's right,
    My ideals and thoughts above reproach.
    I'm not the one to take duties light.
    But, Lord, what of times we struggled,
    The times I sought to know what was right?
    Don't they know it's only through the yielding
    That I can keep Your way in sight?

    They say I am a steadfast person,
    Never straying from the narrow way.
    My feet are sure, my pace is steady.
    Even in night I see the dawn of day.
    But, Lord, there were times I was so lost,
    And darkness hid Your face from me.
    Don't they know how I'd crumble without You?
    Don't they see Your steady hand on me?

    They say I'm a victorious person,
    Courageous during battle with the foes.
    They say I'm sure of Your love for me.
    The prize is mine wherever I go.
    But, Lord, they don't know the depths we've been at
    Before Your assurance of love seeped in,
    Nor how many battles I really lost
    Before I gained the first victory win.

    Lord, You are my spirit so gentle
    That brings peace that dwells inside of me.
    Lord, You are my noble intentions
    That keep me steadfast to what I see.
    Lord, You are my light in darkness,
    My hope in a world that's gone all wrong.
    When defeat and weakness overwhelm me,
    Dear Lord, You are my victory song.


      I Am Christian

    I am Christian. I am His.
    His child I will always be.
    I might be rich, maybe poor
    But I have God inside me.
    I might struggle, may have faults
    But my future is the same.
    I'm God's child, will always be,
    That's the power in His name.

    He sees the beauty in me
    While I don't know how or why,
    Even when I'm the reason
    For the very tears I cry.
    The world may call me loser;
    I'm His child in the making.
    I can't help but win victory
    When Christ does all the shaping.

    I am Christian. I am His.
    Although broken I might be.
    When I fall, He helps me stand,
    For He's not finished with me.
    As I grow, His grace allows
    This very imperfect soul
    To be made in His image.
    I press onward to this goal.


       Reaching His Side

    I have glimpsed the life that God lives through me.
    I have been changed by His Spirit, you see.
    I have turned my cheek when others took aim.
    I have loved the loveless with love in His name.

    I chose not to live as others might say,
    Proudly proclaiming to do it their way.
    What trophy is there near the end of day?
    To do what I want, where's the joy, I say.

    I chose to live by giving up my will,
    Listening closely, His words quiet and still.
    So choosing to follow by putting aside
    All that would hinder reaching His side.


      Shepherd and Lamb

    Could You use me for Your kingdom
    Even if I am deaf and dumb?
    Could You use me for Your glory,
    So others can see You through me?

    Could You shape me to be like You,
    In all the ways I think and do?
    Could You break down my walls so tall,
    Pick me up when I try and fall?

    May Your Spirit cleanse sins away,
    As I follow You every day.
    Could You use me just as I am,
    You the shepherd, I as Your lamb?

    And He answers that yes He will.
    The only wall would be my will.
    He'll gladly use me as I am,
    He is the shepherd, and I'm His lamb.


        God's Children


        Some of God's Children

    Some of God's children
      Live in fancy houses.
    Some of God's children
      May live on ghetto streets.
    Some of God's children
      Might wear fancy blouses.
    Some of God's children
      Have no shoes for their feet.
    But all of God's children
      Have grace beyond measure.
    And for all of God's children,
      Heaven holds their treasure.

    Some of God's children
      Are called to be preachers.
    Some of God's children
      Always lend helping hands
    Some of God's children
      Are Sunday school teachers.
    Some of God's children
      May go to distant lands.
    But all of God's children
      Keep their eyes on above.
    And all of God's children,
      They are known for their love.

    Some of God's children
      May have lovely voices.
    Some of God's children
      Can't sing, but they still serve.
    Some of God's children
      May have lots of choices.
    Some of God's children
      Don't know quite how to serve.
    But all of God's children
      Have their own races to run.
    For all of God's children,
      Christ their victories won.

    Some of God's children
      Sit in different church pews.
    Some of God's children
      Go by different church names.
    Some of God's children
      May have different views.
    All of God's children,
      They're Christians just the same.
    And all of God's children
      None's above the other.
    For all of God's children
      Are sisters and brothers.


        Living as Brothers and Sisters

    Humbly, we come before you
    Seeking to know Your will.
    Silently, we lift our hearts
    As to You our soul yields.
    Help is in our daily prayer
    To remember Your Son
    With a trusting heart, to realize
    At what cost our souls were won.

    Searching now as we read Your Word,
    As we find your words so true,
    May the words come alive for us
    As though they are read by You.
    Help us to see Your greatness
    As we learn of Your love.
    May we in our daily reading
    Keep our eyes above.

    Sincerely, we seek you daily
    As we seek not to stray.
    May we always be mindful
    To show others Your way.
    Help us to give as You give
    Of ourselves to others,
    So that in this world we may live
    As sisters and brothers.


        Someone Special

    They look at me, Lord
    They see me each day
    Because I am yours, Lord
    Their heads turn my way

    They search my life, Lord
    To see if it is real
    Or phony religion
    With a lot of zeal

    They listen closely
    To all that I say
    In hopes of finding
    Light for their way

    They look my way, Lord
    To see if it is true
    I'm someone special
    Because I know You


        Family & Friends

          My Man

    I know I am no beauty
    But he sees the beauty in me.
    My brain though not the smartest
    Still he enjoys talking to me.
    While he encourages me
    To do the very best I can.
    He never tries to change me.
    He's so special. He's my man.

    There's more than love between us
    And more than sharing of minds.
    It's the touching of our souls
    That brings a oneness hard to find.
    As we grow together
    We find the flames of love are fanned.
    He's always there beside me.
    I'm mighty proud that he's my man.

    And though my moods may vary
    And he may see me at my worst,
    I find his love is constant.
    Therefore, I always put him first.
    For when I an old and gray
    I hope to find that he still can
    See the beauty within me
    Being glad that he's my man.


       Farewell Song

    MOTHER: So high are the mountains.
    Too deep is the sea.
    So young is my young one
    Who wants to be free.
    Is it as she says that
    I don't let her be?
    She is all that I have.
    This she cannot see.

    DAUGHTER: Mom, I want to be loved.
    I want to belong.
    I've got to be free
    To sing my own song.
    Though I'll always love you
    I can't always stay.
    Please don't you worry.
    I'll try not to stray.

    MOTHER: So heavy are the tears
    Falling from her eyes
    Wanting to know herself
    In a world of lies.
    I know she'll leave me soon
    For her spirit cries.
    I hate to see her leave.
    It's time for good-byes.

    DAUGHTER: Mom, you know that I love you.
    You know that I care.
    Let apron strings fall—
    My life I can't share.
    I want to know myself
    This is why I go.
    You have taught me so much.
    Now myself I must know.

    MOTHER: So hot is the desert.
    So cold is the snow.
    And so cruel is the world
    That she wants to know.
    I've raised her from pigtails,
    Taught her right from wrong.
    Once I was all her strength.
    Now my babe is strong.

    DAUGHTER: Mom, I'll be close by you
    Through the years ahead.
    You once wiped my tears.
    My life you once led.
    Now I can lead myself
    Through life's stormy bay.
    I'll make you so proud.
    I'll not lose my way.

    MOTHER: Girl, I'll be close by you
    Through the years ahead.
    I once wiped your tears.
    Your life I once led.
    Now you can lead yourself
    Through life's stormy bay.
    You'll make me so proud.
    You'll not lose your way.


         To Judy

    She sits and ponders about life
    And wonders why there's so much strife.
    The world to her is young and new
    And then again it's old and blue.

    She stands, and the clouds surround her.
    She kneels, and the grass astounds her.
    Neither gems nor gold can lure her
    But a crying child will always stir her.

    The girl is neither young nor old.
    With her hands her life she can still mold.
    Her future holds so much to learn.
    Yet her past holds fun for which she yearns.

    At the crossroads of her life she stands
    As its two roads of fate she scans.
    Viewing both with critical eyes,
    Steering clear of their golden lies.

    Upon reaching her nineteenth year
    She finds security very dear.
    Stranded between the known and unknown
    People stare, for the girl's now grown.


         For Tomorrow

    Today I will hold your hand.
    I'll take time to understand.
    I will wipe away the tears.
    I'll try to calm your fears.
    I'll give that moment you need.
    In kindness I'll plant a seed,
    For tomorrow is the Lord's.
    Only He knows what's in store.

    I'll make that call to a friend
    To find out just how she's been.
    Extra groceries in the car
    To help the homeless, they're not far.
    As I realize how I'm blessed,
    To all His name I'll confess,
    For tomorrow is the Lord's,
    Only He knows what's in store.

    Today is a stepping stone.
    Tomorrow, by it we're known.
    All the todays bring us near
    A future that knows no tears.
    As we help one another
    We find sisters and brothers.
    As todays also the Lord's
    What wonders has He in store.


    Spirit of Friendship

    "Who are you?"
      "I'm called friend."

    "What do you do?"
      "I share a burden. I share a grin."

    "Are you important?"
      "Only as another makes me so."

    "But why would they not do so?"
      "For another they're no time to know."

    "Just where do you come from?"
      "I was created to fill a need."

    "And where are you headed for?"
      "Wherever there's that need."

    "But where do you live?"
      "In the hearts of men I lie."

    "Do you ever get lonely?"
      "Yes, when one locks me out, I cry."

    "What wisdom do you possess?"
      "The greatest wisdom on all, love."

    "How did you obtain this wisdom?"
      "It's a gift given from above."

    "Can you teach this wisdom to mankind?"
      "Yes, by showing him how to care."

    "Can all men learn this wisdom?"
      "Only if of themselves they will share."


          God's Gifts

    The Lord Made It for All of Us

    My child, the grapes must be broken
    In order to make the wine.
    And the food must be harvested
    Before it's time to dine.
    Likewise, you would not know true joy
    If sorrow was not known.
    Jesus, My Son, endured it all
    So mercy can be shown.

    The beauty on the mountain
    Is made good by the climb.
    Times of writer's block can help
    One enjoy the rhyme.
    Those times of drought in your life
    Brings out cheers for the rain.
    You would not hurt with others
    If you did not know pain.

    Rain falls on the just and unjust.
    Yes, I know who's who.
    Miracles I still perform
    And some have come to you.
    I'm in control at all times.
    Of this you can depend.
    Only in those times of trusting
    Can your faith truly mend.

    And the Lord made it all for us.
    He knows each tear we've cried.
    He knows when we have lost a race
    No matter how we tried.
    He sees our every weakness and
    He knows our every care.
    And all He asks of us is to
    With Him our burdens share.


      So that You May Know of His Love

    I gave you sight to see My world,
    The universe, its planets unfurled.
    The marvel of a baby's birth
    Few greater loves can be unearthed.
    The beauty in a mountain rain,
    As if washing, removing stains.
    The brightness of the shining sun,
    The darkness of night, the day is done.

    I gave you ears to hear My voice,
    In children's laughter, it's rejoiced.
    The pounding of the ocean waves
    And in quietness, where few souls brave.
    A child's first words that are spoken,
    A soldier dreams have now been broken.
    Listen, the birds, they know My song.
    Hear them all, to Me they belong.

    I gave you lips to speak My name,
    To use to lift up, not to blame.
    I gave you speech so you're not alone
    Sharing with others, beauty's shown.
    A voice could be used to right wrongs
    Encourage others, make them strong,
    To ease a friend who's down and out
    To avoid danger with a shout.

    I gave you a mind to think on Me.
    To create who you are meant to be.
    To envision what is beyond.
    In darkness to create your dawn.
    To rule over speech, eyes, and ears
    Using reason to conquer fear.
    The mind, of all that's given man
    Should know of Me, should understand.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Poems From Still Waters Running Deepby Emma Mcclain Copyright © 2011 by Emma Mcclain. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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