Poem: Remembrancers

J.B.S. October 1989

Remembrancers

Sand on shoes, bottoms moist

Leaving them on the steps

Later, a reminder of the blessing

as we return home from a full day elsewhere.

Sand on porch, where shoes once lay Sweeping it into the rocks, down the walkway "Barefeet could track it in, onto the wood floor, into the rugs and, later, into the sheets."

Sand on car mats, freshly carried Shake those mats, leave the sand behind But it always seems to follow on shoes, on porch, in house.

Sand on sidewalk, there's more closer to the wall Stamp the feet of sand in the soles Wipe the feet on asphalt, the "goodbye mat." As the key goes in the car door.

Sand on beach

where children's hearts have revealed a joy

at the coming surf

washing up on bare legs

young men and women rolling in the sand

and taking the sun for a moment's tan

piling seaweed to play king.

Little does anyone know

what blessings abound before the sun rises

How one man and one woman

pace the shoreline

in worship of the real King

who changes our hearts

as easily as the wave dampens the sand

that is left as a trail

as a reminder of where the shoes have been.