Old Town of Mine

By Denys Nazarov

Yellow like pages of a manuscript

Lost on shelves in a shroud of dust

Your memories-mures protrude

Through the dunes of past days

Departed-so distant yet vivid

And the echoing sound on pavement

Still resonates in the longing to see

The gaze of your vacant windows

Crowned by your faded chimeras

Forgotten-so vivid yet distant

The wind, your rustling whisper

Still wanders the cool labyrinth

Of contracted, still streets-corridors

Looking for me, waiting for me

Lost-so vivid yet distant

There up above in the blue heavens

The rain-beaten dusty, red roofs smile

As soothing, archaic sun skips over

In my remote recollection of you

Gone-so vivid yet distant

You have seen much in ages

But not even time has altered the saga

Ticking away on your clock tower

You remain waiting-. waiting, for me

Vanished-so vivid yet distant-.

I cry out

By Alexandria Barabin

I cry out to the Lord for I am His unclean vessel

Unworthy of His love

Undeserving of His grace

Unfit to look upon His perfect face.

Although He showers me with blessings

And His love has no end

I insist upon making myself sick with sin.

When my stomach feels like knots

And my knees weaken and bend

I bear witness to my own shame

Because I’ve caused my savior pain.

And my disloyal disobedience is uncalled for

So I stare at the mirror telling myself

“No More!”

I can’t express the amount of damage to my soul I’ve done

Yet Father, you look down with forgiveness and call

“My daughter. My son.”

I cry out to my savior

For forgiveness and to repent

As I recall in my mind the price of His blood

And how it was spent

I cry out His name to heavens cloud

I whisper or scream

I cry or speak loud

No matter the manner of delivery

I trust in the One who sees everything

The Christ that offers forgiveness to those with a true heart

On the road to righteousness

Cleansing of sin is the start

This Christian life has a journey and expected end

So as you walk with Christ,

May He be your guide and friend.

If you are interested in submitting poetry please contact spotlight editor Diana Gutierrez at spotlight@sundial.csun.edu.