Farewell to the Shadow-Lands

this is a poem I wrote for a class covering the book of Jeremiah. It’s mostly based on Jeremiah’s complaint in chapter 20. the second half is a response from YHWH to Jeremiah, His prophet.

Filmed and Edited by Steve Krist
Performed by Julian Flores

P R O P H E T

Your word is like a fire in my heart

Your word is like fire shut up in my bones

i tried to hold it back but I can’t.

i won’t hold them back. (Jer. 20:9)

i am a man who has seen affliction, (Lam. 3:1) 

i am a man who has felt more pain than bones are meant to take 

and when they finally break (Lam. 3:4) i will have rest, 

but there is no end to the deaths i go through by Your hand 

and there is no rest or plans to prosper (Jer. 29:11).

God, i can’t see the hope for this flock and if i’m honest, 

these stocks (Jer. 20:2) have given me new eyes to see 

the true heart of a people married to evil, 

trading in their Creator for a “greater” god, 

the tall block of wood (Jer. 10:1-16) that would never judge its lovers 

the way that You would. 

so it’s clear to me God that since the beginning You’ve had it out for me, 

i was deceived by cheap words (Jer. 20:7) and now there’s no doubt i see 

them laughing, i see them mocking (Jer. 20:8), 

You have left me to their floggings 

and Your word is the reason i’m here (Jer. 20:8), 

the fear i had was just, 

if i could just remember what it was like, 

what it was like to feel the fires of my youth 

and hear your voice destroy the liars and the ruthless 

voices in my head telling me that my life is a waste, 

my existence a disgrace, in haste 

i said yes to this life of death, 

this life is a breath 

but i curse my first breath! 

cursed be the day of my birth, 

i despise the man and wife who gave me life 

and all those who stood by 

and watched me grow inside my mother’s womb (Jer. 20:14-15), 

i wish that womb to be my tomb, 

that i should die in that grave and never see the light of day (Jer. 20:17-18) 

because i have felt more hate than any man should take, 

more pain than bones are meant to take 

so let them break 

and give me rest

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rest, rest. 

my son rest and let me show you what this hate has made you blind to, 

I’ll try to tell it well enough for you to see my view 

and remind you the mind you’ve been given was formed for this calling, 

I called you to be a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5), 

I called you to a life of failures and patience, 

and all of your frustrations are creations of a fruitless nation in starvation for salvation from damnation. 

the temptation to give up is a burden you’ve carried for too long, 

I need you to see the man I made you to be and be strong. 

Remember how I touched your lips and put my words on your tongue? (Jer. 1:9) 

Remember how I showed you the almond tree (Jer. 1:11) 

and how you clung to every word I would speak, 

I speak through you my lucky man! 

I have made you an iron pillar and a wall of bronze (Jer. 1:18) to stand against any man 

and they will fight against you but they will not overcome you (Jer. 1:19), 

they will beat you with words (Jer. 20:8) and whips but you will not succumb to 

them even if it rips at the seams of your soul, 

be still and know that I will rescue you for I am the Lord. (Jer. 1:8)