Will George Poet I am Matthew

“I AM MATTHEW”

I am a sinner:

Many times have I fallen,

By the wayside and into the pit;

The pit of despair,

Rejected, drowned, often drunk.

My colleagues, leeches and rogues,

Believing in nothing,

Bled the people under their care,

Robbed them, threatened and cajoled,

To pay the levy of our Roman lords.

Pity me not! Yet, pity me!

But for a short time;

For I an educated man,

Reduced my family name,

And in penance lived.

My father, my brother fell in disfavour,

Choose to follow the wrong emperor.

The punishment for them, death:

A quick and painless end,

Left me to toil in an alien country.

I would not repent their choice,

But when I spoke, in defence,

It was not my voice,

That silent stood, in the gallery,

From where they were dragged, violently!

My friends, or should I say, acquaintances,

Also fled, and left me alone.

My life was spared;

Only to serve as a lesson,

For others who would be so foolish.

This land, dry and dusty,

Parched, sun baked and barren,

Offered little by way of consolation;

My hours spent in revelry,

My money wasted dispassionately.

“I am Matthew!”

Many times I cried out, silently,

In my sleep, in my dreams,

“Dear God, please help me;

Release me from my agony!”

My freedom was given to me.

Not by dictate or decree;

Not by honour or by reward

Of my masters who employed me,

But by a carpenter who said, “Follow me!”

I had no reservation once I heard,

The command and authority in those words.

For it had been given in a dream;

The challenge that would renew my soul,

“Answer the call and I forgive you.”

When my name was spoken,

I did not cringe in fear,

Or take guard against attack.

I knew in the tone of His voice,

My fear in love would rejoice.

I joined the others who came,

To repeat in anticipation His name,

Jesus, the Christ, the Holy One,

Who performed wonders as the Son,

Given by God to redeem this world.

He taught us, by example and word,

Encouraged our questions, let us be heard.

He was patient and compassionate

To the many who came to search

For the meaning of life upon the earth.

There were miracles performed,

To relieve the suffering of pain and despair,

To renew bodies and spirits unaware,

Of the gift truly given to all,

By the darkest day yet to fall.

My brothers, and brothers we were,

Supported each other as we grew,

Together in knowledge and understanding,

Listening to a message we were to deliver

To a people who were waiting for a redeemer.

The simplest people paid heed,

Rejoiced and wondered at every deed.

For God His covenant had kept,

While many Jews in Israel slept,

Afraid to awaken or the truth accept.

My talents were put to good use,

I recorded events as chance arose.

I wrote letters where there was need,

My role challenged my past misdeed,

Reconciled me as an emissary to many who suffered abuse.

“I am Matthew!”

My years quickly brought value,

By my acceptance of the Lord’s view;

The truth in His Way and His light,

The extent of morality in justice and right.

The law was held up against our word,

Yet on reflection the proof it served,

From Moses, Isaiah and Psalms,

To Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Malachi;

Each foretold of our Lord.

The disciples grew, each one;

I, observed and recorded Christ’s works:

My pen awaited the rising of the Sun,

That more wonders should be seen and done,

Now I reveled in all that I should record.

I felt a compulsion, no, compassion,

To transpose each word and phrase,

To ascribe for He would dictate,

By pure thought in clear estate,

Uncompromised, solid and unfettered.

My fellow companions brought a particular strength.

Their story will be told elsewhere,

For Peter, John, James and Andrew,

Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew and young James,

For Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas, their own accomplishment.

“I am Matthew!”

My life revolved around the written word,

I was lifted up and given a reward,

The observations that I stored.

I give thanks for my resurrection in the Lord.