These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Psalm 84 as an English Poem

How friendly is the meeting place
of...the...Lord!
My soul is longing, faints to trace
the courts of the lasting Lord.

My heart and flesh are crying out
for the God, Who lives fore'er.
The sparrow finds a house, no doubt,
the swallow's nesting there.
She lays her young in thine altars about,
my King, Who burdens bear.

How bless-ed are they, who dwell in thy house!
They'll still be praising Thee.
the man is blest, whose strength is Spouse,
and in his heart are the ways to be.

Who passing through the valley of pain
makes it a living well.
There, blessings come from Heaven like rain
the pools they fill and sorrows quell.

From strength to strength they go each one,
before God there in Zion stand.
O, Lord of hosts, please hear your son.
Give ear, O God of Jacob's land.

Behold, O God, our guarding shield.
On Your anointed, see my face.
For one day in Your courts I yield.
'Tis better than many in any other place.
I'd rather be a butler kneeled
in Your House than the wicked chase
and like them have their fate all sealed.

For the Lord, our God, is a sun and a shield.
The Lord will give us grace and glory.
No good thing from the ones, who yield,
from them, who walk a bright, new story.

O Lord of hosts, the man is blest,
who trusts in Thee through every test.

by Jay O'Toole
on January 4th, 2020