Had You Not Gone

Had you not gone away, ascended on high, You would have remained and still be here; The tale of your rising, none deny— Proof forever, age to age, year to year. Had you not gone our faith would now be sight, And seeing, believing, for all could see; You could heal, stop hate, give wisdom and light So why ascend? Why go? Why leave us be?

I must go, and bear what's finished to heav'n Take your life with me, hide you in love From whence I'll rule, sit in royal session, Pour out my Spirit of fire from above. Secure as an anchor, I hold you fast For you’re with me now, till I come at last.

© Randy Edwards 2017. artwork: James Tissot  (1836–1902), The Ascension; between 1886 and 1894; opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper. #poetry #sonnet #christianity #gospelofluke #ascensionday