One of the many reason I love Robert W. Service

One of my favorite poets is Robert W. Service. I have to admit that I discovered him through Tom Bodett's stories about a fictional place called, "The End of the Road" in Alaska. One of the characters in his writing loved to read Service.

I really like to read this man's poetry because of it's rhythm. You have to be on your toes to catch it at times, but when you do, his verse comes alive. Many an evening has been spent dreaming about Alaska, the Gold Rush, the bush, and the wide open spaces with Robert Service's book open on my lap.

His poetry is generally very structured, and rarely takes a free form, but it's wonderful, and I love it. I recently bought my first volume and I've read and re-read it several times. I was online and came across a wonderful site that has all of his poems on it. I found the following poem today, and being a believer in Jesus Christ, I was really touched by the story he tells in this poem. I'm grateful for the site, you can access it here: http://www.poemhunter.com/robert-w-service/ enjoy!

Now, I bring you "A Rusty Nail" by Robert W. Service:

A Rusty Nail

I ran a nail into my hand,
The wound was hard to heal;
So bitter was the pain to stand
I thought how it would feel,
To have spikes thrust through hands and feet,
Impaled by hammer beat.

Then hoisted on a cross of oak
Against the sullen sky,
With all about the jeering follk
Who joyed to see me die;
Die hardly in insensate heat,
With bleeding hands and feet.

Yet was it not that day of Fate,
Of cruelty insane,
Climaxing centuries of hate
That woke our souls to pain!
And are we not the living seed
Of those who did the deed!

Of course, with thankful heart I know
We are not fiends as then;
And in a thousand years or so
We may be gentle men.
But it has cost a poisoned hand,
And pain beyond a cry,
To make me strangely understand
A Cross against the sky.

Ahhh... fulfilled? Satisfied? I am!