My Friend

9/6/2008

(Poem read by Ralph Walls, circa 1975. From the perspective of one who has died and is now facing the Judgment.)

My Friend

My friend, I stand in judgment now

and I feel that you are to blame somehow.

On earth I’ve walked with you day by day

and never did you point the way.

You knew the LORD in truth and glory

but never did you tell the story.

My knowledge then was very dim

and you could have led me safe to him.

Though we lived together here on earth

you never told me of a second birth.

And now I stand this day condemned

because you failed to mention HIM.

You taught me many things that’s true

and I called you friend and trusted you.

But I learned now that it’s too late

and you could have kept me from this fate.

We walked by day and talked by night

and yet you showed me not the light.

You let me live and love and die

and you knew I’d never live on high.

Yet, I called you friend in life

and trusted you through joy and strife.

And yet on coming to this end

I can not now call you my friend.

hal