The Hope that Lies Beyond by Richard Puetter

Oh, how life’s cares bound up my heart!

I faced each day with dread

My life was so devoid of joy

Held woe I could not shed

And desparate to end this curse–

To find from pain release–

I lifted goblet to my lips

Drank full, then slipped to peace

And as I slept upon my bed

A dream appeared to me

It seemed that I in water swam

Then sank into the sea

And down and down my body sank

Pulled down into the deep

I felt my lungs about to burst–

Prepared for final sleep

Were sunken ships arrayed

The ships not in sad disrepair

But stately were displayed

No rotting timber marred their hulls

No mud-encrusted sterns

This not a death-bed of the deep

These ships by God ne’er spurned

This not a graveyard damp and dark–

Wrecks ravaged by petards

No ghostly sailors beyond hope

No soul from heaven barred

But proudly sails were hoisted high

Filled full by current drafts

The sight did draw from me a sigh

To see such spritely crafts

And as these vessels strained to move–

To free hulls from the sands

Methought I heard a Captain cry

“Me hearties, next stop land!”

And spirit crews did then appear

Trimmed sails and manned the ropes

So lively did the sailors move

My God, it gave one hope!

Then clouds did move from overhead

And light of moon did gleam

Jeweled rays of light cut through the sea

And lit this brilliant scene

Then slowly from their watery graves

The ships began to move

Their hulls now free from sandy bar–

Untimely death reproved!

And then the Captain looked at me

He winked, then turned, he, back

I heard him cry out to his men

“Now Laddies, mind her tack”

And as the vessels pulled away

In water I did rise

Then somehow walked a sun-lit beach

With life restored as prize

And gazing at the sun, amazed

I clutched myself in tears

Oh how my life had been so blessed

I’ll cherish all my years!

Then I awoke upon my bed–

My fears all swept away

Oh was this dream or was this truth?

I really cannot say

And yet I’ll always cherish this–

This vision of my dream

And whether true or whether false

I’m stronger so it seems

And I can see those sunken ships–

Can see them sail away

And now can face the world again!

Find joy in every day