At the Pool of Bethesda

Royston 1946 (Reading)



I've been lying here for another year
feeling left all alone in my great fear.
So perhaps this time? I can never tell.
Maybe it is my turn to be made well.

What's all the commotion that I can hear?
and why is this man coming over here?
It looks like He's heading towards my way.
and what is this that I've just heard him say?

'Do you want healing? ', To me He just said
Then 'Arise, walk now and take up your bed.'
Is this true and can it really be
that this great man is going to heal me?

Then entering this poor body of mine
came such wondrous healing from the Divine.
No angel was required, no water stirred
just from this man came the commanding word.

Then limbs for years that were lifeless and dead
became alive at the words that He said.
Then I could stand up to my great delight
and others witnessed the amazing sight.

The leaders said that this should never be.
For it was on the Sabbath He'd healed me
and I did not know the wonderful name
of this great Man who to Bethesda came.

So then I went to the temple to pray
and met Him again I am glad to say.
Then I found out His name and He told me
to stop sinning or much worse things would be.

So back to the leaders I went to tell
that it was Jesus who had made me well.
Why He had healed me, I can't really say
but I'm so glad that he healed me that day.

About this poem

based on John 5: 1-15—The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda and written after a chat with my bedridden sister Irene.

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Submitted by royston on July 13, 2021

Modified on March 12, 2023

1:22 min read
10

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH EEII FFJJ DDFF BBDD
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,313
Words 271
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Royston

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