Incremental Poetry ~ 62 Lines

No Greater Love

One truth has seemed to occupy
my mind, and it is this:
that perfect love can nullify
the barrier that is
threatening to mortify
the bond between my
fellow man and I.
For God gave one supreme commandment—
and with that He sought to simplify
the entire code of Law that
Moses to us did testify.
And now, my friend, for you,
this message I would clarify:
In short, He said to love
the ones whom we identify
as friends or enemies—yes, each one—
to no one love deny.
For if we truly love one another,
Christ we then will typify,
and even so, for to be as
He is, our Lord exemplify,
there is no higher calling. I
have lingered many days and can certify
that all I am, and do, and have
is from above, for my God will supply
my every need because He loved
me before I knew Him, when I chose to defy
the Father, who created me and you.
It was our sins that helped to crucify
our Savior. But praise God His grace is greater
than our sin, although we multiply
His sorrows and reject His love.
Christ Jesus died, our debt to satisfy;
and rose again to life because He has
the keys to death and hell; and He will unify
all saints until no
schism shall between us lie.
Yet what is man,
that God would so preoccupy
Himself with us, who are far lesser than
the angels who surround and magnify
Him and His holy name? This
truth so wonderful my mind does mystify!
I cannot comprehend that
a perfect God, who lives beyond the sky,
would stoop to reconcile a
sinner such as I.
Each woman, girl, and boy, and man
by Christ’s shed blood has been brought nigh
to the throne of God, where we may lay
our burdens at His feet and glorify
the Savior who came down
to dwell with us, and to our sins apply
His precious blood. Now each unto his
neighbor, with a look of love within his eye,
may offer up his life
to help another, and thereby signify
the love of God that’s shed abroad for
the good of all, to edify
each saint and bring the sinner to his
knees before the great Redeemer—to fortify
both enemies and friends.

John 15:12-13 This is My commandment: That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Copyright © 2020 Abigail Gronway – All Rights Reserved

Welcome to my series, Incremental Poetry, where each week the featured poem will be one line longer than the one I share the week before. I have no idea how long I’ll keep this up, so we’ll just have to wait and see. Thank you for stopping by.

Scansion:
Raccontino
Any number of couplets.
Odd-numbered lines are monorhymed.
End words of the even-numbered lines, with the title, tell a story.
Even-numbered lines do not rhyme.
No set line length or rhythm.

Note: The monorhyme should actually be on the even lines and the story told at the ends of the odd lines. I got it backwards in this one but decided to leave it like it is.