like a garden, unkept

like a garden that was once

beautiful and cared for

my heart has been neglected

thirsty and nostalgic

for the Creator's grace to tend to these weeds that have choked the blossom, rooted in a tangible blur of concrete confusion

whatever happened to maranatha?

whatever happened to building forts in the woods

with the neighborhood kids and setting traps for potential enemies?

whatever happened to some glad morning

and i'll fly away and do lord, remember me?

there used to be a time when i knew no strangers

but now things seem to be playing in reverse

some things, however, remain:

this ever-present loneliness and the ache for another world

twenty years have now passed since i've last seen you

and memories are locked like the castles of sand

washed away with the torrential rains

and somebody set fire to maranatha

i watched her burn to the ground.