You And Me

No great miracle, no stark disaster, no mortal angel's sweet embrace
Can command a child of Almighty God to refuse a strong taste
Of one more breath, of possibility's greatest chance.
Nothing can make you or I change or surrender our stance,
Even were our spirit pierced by needle, sword, or lance

Someone hurt you, reached out, touched you, when you'd lost each shield.
No weapon had you, from either left hand or right, to wield.
The hurt was unintended.  Your perceived foes merely ached
For your weakened hand to reach out.  They'd then take
It, lead you home, and reconciliation make.

Torn ligaments, muscles, tendons, heartstrings...
You lost the way to your dance floor, forgot how to sing,
Took your beat up muscle that you once called your heart,
And threw it far from you, hoping it never again would start.
But later steps remind you.  Broken hearts make great art.

How many have you aided?  How many aided you?
This far on your stormy journey, have you relearned what's true?
Have you seen God's hand working wonders in your life?
Stranger says, "Hello," when you wish to quit for strife.
Kindness can cut deeper than malice's jagged knife.

Should some soul in agony, pleading, cross your way,
Be the neighborly soul who saves him or her, today.
One who wants to be there, beyond all reach may be.
You who him or her, their struggle can see,
Can help them.  This is a writer's heartfelt plea.

Such deeds save you and me.

Adam Scott Campbell

I Am Sure

I jumped over rocks.  I stumbled and fell.
Such clumsiness I knew all too well.
While others I viewed appeared straight and tall,
So often my way seemed only to fall.
This was my thought.  Then I heard a strong call.

"Never seem they fall," said call did say.
"Ever they seem to know the best way,
While you still fall, and bruise, and bleed.
They climb the branches, they top the tree,
While you granted height, for you planted the seed."

"Not long past, seeds you did spread,
Hoping only to soon grant good bread
To any who hungered for life more real,
That those who wanted it could start to feel
The wonder of a shattered heart newly healed."

Now I make haste to try, try again.
No matter what's happened just now or back then.
To always give it another go.
I don't "make an appearance," or put on a show.
But I'll put up a fight, this I and others know.

My legacy, such as it is, includes
My rolling in mud, my knack to choose
The treacherous path, the unsafe way,
The depressed, unkind thing to say,
But I will not give up, no, not today.

You, O Reader, also have inside you
The strength and courage to try it anew.
No avalanche, storm, or disaster that strikes
Can convince you, not ever, not to try.
I know the reason.  I know the why.

You are destined for greatness. You may ask how
I know this, since I live only in now.
Think on all the struggles you endure.
These are serving to make you more pure.
You will succeed.  I promise.  I am sure.

Uncommon Commoner

True love approaches, enemy nears.
One warrior princess battles her fears,
While true love, also, fights to be freed
From his own fear-periled, conflicted need

A desire to live... the need to preserve
Warrior princess, whom he loves to serve.
Wise peasant boy who once saved his queen,
Twixt valor and discretion he's caught and seen.

Princes have sought the princess' favor.
Ever he's been engaged in hard, honest labor.
Though warrior princess loves him strong,
Both of them wonder if love can go wrong.

Enemy to both, prince number eight
Wants, for his crown, to be princess' fate.
But prince number eight, pushing up close,
Is given, of steel eyes, a most-needed dose

Backing off quickly, prince has a glimpse
Of wise peasant boy, at heart a true prince,
Afraid at nothing but his own soul.
Peasant boy makes a try at a noble goal.

"She does not love you," says peasant boy.
"She is naught to you but a tool, a toy.
Yet she's worth more than all under the sky.
She has but one true love.  It is I."

Prince's eyes glare at peasant in rage.
How dare a commoner try for center stage!
But princess, seeing by love's words the way,
Steps to peasant, bids him forever stay

"If you'll be mine, to have and to hold,"
Quotes princess, in her usual bold.
"I will be yours forever to be.
I feel this is right in the heart of me."

And so it is.  Prince slinks away.
Princess and peasant wed the following day.
Queen, who peasant saved not long past,
Blesses their union forever to last.

Now all that's left is what in this heart be.
I would like this to happen to me.

Adam Scott Campbell

Meant To

Two angels, so beautiful, at left and at right.
Both here to heal me at the end of this fight.
Never thought I that both could endure
This broken descent to the Me-No-More-Pure.
Of earning their aid, I've ne'er been less sure.

While one holds to my right, and the other my left,
The feeling of self-worth I've long been bereft.
No angels so holy their glory doth blind,
Their mortal sisters show what tis to be kind
To the owner of a sin-swept mind.

Gazing from top of mountain so great,
I see my destiny, my so-wished-for fate.
While much anguish awaits me still,
Of beat-down despair I've more than my fill.
I'm held together by naught more than will.

Led step by step to the height of this mount,
With each stride they'd helped me recount
Every success and every downfall,
Each time I'd run headfirst into a wall.
I reached the summit feeling strong, fit, and tall.

Then gazing out over vistas grand,
I find my peace still intact, though unplanned.
Some unbeatable, indomitable Me
Cannot stay down forever in misery.
Decades may pass, but I'll be made free.

Now you, too, on top of some great height,
Though you have fear, are not shackled by fright.
Your freedom from despair lies in fresh steps.
You still hope, dream and try.  Vigil you've kept.
You run, you've sprinted, each log you've leapt.

Now is our time to do and not die.
Friend, stretch your wings, spread them, and fly.
You're meant to.
So am I.

Adam Scott Campbell

Frozen Angels

They have the way to change you,
So broken though you be.
Life has never laid you low,
Though it's brought you to one knee.

In pain but with great plenty,
You still choose to endure.
Through the mire, and the fire,
You will one day be pure.

They yet can somehow change you-
Angels in mortal frame.
A curse pushes you farther.
A kind word will make you tame.

In frozen state they find you,
Ages of icy stone.
Layer upon layer,
And now totally alone.

Angels lay their hands down
On arm, on cheek, on knee.
Angels' touch makes embittered,
Frozen warrior free.

Angels' touch meant for others,
Suffering frozen too.
Angels reaching out,
Reaching now,
To you.

Freeing others wishing free.
Is this your wish, too?
Will you next be rescued?
Do you wish them, this, to do?
I will tell you now-
They want to.

Adam Scott Campbell

So Deep

You hurt so deep it killed you,

And yet you would still breathe.

For the sake of friendship,

You wouldn’t, you could not leave.

So much that you’d been through,

The battles lost and won,

The souls both healed and wounded,

Your fighting strength was done.

Each friend you’d gained languished

On some far desert isle.

Your pleas for battle aid

Went unheard so long a while,

At some point you chose to stop

Hoping someone would near.

Perhaps there was no one out there

Who might ever hear.

Perhaps you were alone, at last,

And one, only, was nigh.

The one who saw you last, ‘fore birth,

Who’d be first, when you would die.

You had no pressing appointments.

You fell down to both knees,

As you cried out in anguish,

“O my Father, please help me!”

No blinding light, nor angels’ chorus,

Nor even mortal friend

Appeared to bring you comfort,

As you cried louder then.

“I’ve tried and I have fallen,

So very far, far deep,

I know not how I’m still going.

I’ve no more hope to keep.

“My friends have gone and left me.

I have not wish for life.

I desire to be near thee

Most now, in midst of strife.

Please come and bear me up,

O my Redeemer, Savior, Friend.

On thee, I, now and ever,

Forever will depend.”

Your heart’s most sincere anguish,

Your mind’s most vicious pain.

Inside you deep there languished

Virtues, long dormant lain.

While all the hosts of heaven

You imagined cheered you on,

Other, darker battalions

Sang a very different song.

Each force seemed united

In a single, focused aim-

To make you one of them.

They begin to call your name.

Their voices are compelling.

You wish to join their throng.

The chorus of one enthralls you.

But the other sounds so strong.

Which will you choose?  With whom serve you?

A side to take great glory?

Or a side that gives all honor

To the author of your story?

If you give your all, as is,

To God who grants you air.

He’ll give His all to you.

An eternal, loving Share.

Adam Scott Campbell