A Villanelle for Waiting on Him to Rebuke the Storm

Reflection after Ecce Homo by Joel Richard Briggs and Matthew 8:23–27.

Tonight, fast asleep with one eye open
Mornings greet us with loss, and no one’s there
Rebuking the winds, calming the ocean

Sicknesses spread as we sit here frozen
Loved ones journey Home, with few there to care
Tonight, fast asleep with one eye open

Hurricanes raging, forests lie smoking
Politicians wield pens but vainly they’re
Rebuking the winds, calming the ocean

Men can’t breathe under systems so broken
Black people dying, while crying for air
Tonight, fast asleep with one eye open

Storms grow fast when swiping our emotion
So we go offline—turn back to prayer:
Rebuking the winds, calming the ocean

Wake up! Save us, Lord—we are perishing!
As we wait for him, he’s fully aware
Tonight, fast asleep with one eye open
Rebuking the winds, calming the ocean

...

The above photo of Ecce Homo was used by permission.

Learn more about Joel Richard Briggs at his website.

Also, check out his post where I first saw it on The Rabbit Room.