Poem of the Month: Not Damascus Road

Props to my good brother Rob Imberger who is a pastor at St. John’s Anglican Church, Diamond Creek for this poem that speaks of his conversion. Like many Christians, Rob didn’t have a dramatic conversion experience like the Apostle Paul did on the Damascus Road (read about Paul’s conversion here).
However, like all Christians, his experience is a testament to the miraculous act of God in bringing people to faith.

This is one of my favourite poems. Enjoy.

Not Damascus Road

I must have taken the wrong left
Kind Sir, when it said “Damascus Road next
Right” For I find myself scales intact but still
Seeing somehow squinting. And then the Christ blood
Water mingles at my feet and remind me
Will you
I’m in the Light on a different road except
I didn’t fall down ‘el drama’ and so much
As I strained my ear to the sound
Boomless… have I done something wrong kind Sir?
Mine was distinctly bereft of lightning bolts or
Fiery depths or dancing devils absolved by angels.
No there was no this
Or that, for that matter. But it does matter
How you’ve come to embrace a smiling universe, greeted
By all-knowing winks, common creeds, and not one
Falsified faith to speak of. You know, kind Sir, I
Used to wait at the back and not make much noise so
Falling drips of devotion would drown out this
Humble story, of life once lied now lived. It’s some
Comfort though, my kind shall inherit the earth. Not sure
If I’d take my receipt to the customer counter and request
Thunderous God-speak instead, I’d want to be
Deafened by the flutter of angels wings with my left
Over change. It
Didn’t happen on Damascus road and it didn’t lead
Me to revolution from my prison cell. My letters to
Corinth were letters to committee A, B,
And not forgetting C.
It was talking on street corners without customary
Megaphone, loving friends, whispering prayers…
When I get the chance I shall ask
Kind Sir
If all that was
Enough.