ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

It was at the height of it’s opulence, this city from of old,
It commanded respect and attention, its streets were paved with gold,
It shone like the brilliant sun in the sky, reflecting its bright rays,
Within the dark shadows secrets survived, infesting all the days.

The brilliance soon disappeared from all sight, as darkness slithered in,
No one realized what was happening, knew nothing of this sin,
The ominous shadows penetrated the brilliance of the day,
Corruption and greed encapsulated and sent the good away.

That once shining and glorious city, no longer casts its light,
What remains are shards of days long ago, decay, great loss and blight,
If only the fire had been overseen, by those within her gate,
Perhaps a flame would rise from the embers, and new life would create.

We should learn from our own sweet history, but we often fail the test,
We think that we have the perfect answers, we think that we know best,
Instead of trusting our almighty God, we struggle and we fall,
Still patience abides in His gracious love, His love is meant for all.