Redemption's Path

[J. A. LLoyd]

Of all the things,
that I said in my youth.
"I am a sinner",
was the greatest of truth.

Lust, greed, and gluttony.
These sins I embraced.
With sloth, pride, and envy,
much time did I waste.

The worst sin of all,
The one which sealed my path.
The worst sin of all,
That was the sin of wrath.

With each wrong I do,
Satan strikes my head.
With each surrender of will,
his evil is spread.

Yet, still I am good.
Redemption I found.
With prayer and confession,
my sin is all drowned.

With each good I do,
Broken is the thread.
WIth each confession I make,
I strike Satan's head.

So, this I say now.
The cure for sin?
The path to redemption?
Where does it begin?

With an arrogant mind,
and a focus on pleasure.
They lead to denial
of Heaven's great treasure.

But with a repentant spirit,
and a soul of humility.
Prayer and confession?
They lead to tranquility.

[Raymond Neely]

The degree of wisdom, and the well-constructed verse, make this poem seem the writing of an elder, when truly written by youthful poet, Jonathan Lloyd. "Beware the young who are wise and talented, they soon become irreplaceable."

The quote was written about renouned Appalachian writer, Pinckney Benedict, but I don't remember the name of the reviewer.

RN