HOMEWARD BOUND
by Lena Arnold

I rise
Letting my soul flow with the beauty of the sunset
Becoming one with the fullness of the sky
So you see
I didn’t really die
I comprise the rainbow
I comprise the sun
Like the unity in the Father’s kingdom
the Son and I are one

I’m rising
Joining new worlds
New Realities
Riding each cascading wave
of Heaven’s celestial seas
I’ve risen with my beliefs
Gaining comfort from my faith
for my entire Father’s house I now see

Still I rise-
yet the question remains
Will you rise with me?

I rise higher
Shaking off the burdensome dust
from which I was made
Walking on streets of gold
with silver inlaid
And I thank God joyfully
for my dues have all been paid

Still I rise
Becoming one with the beauty
reserved for the sky
So you see
I didn’t really die!

© 2009 Lena Arnold

Excerpted from: Strong Black Coffee: Poetry and Prose to Enlighten, Encourage and Entertain Americans of African Descent. (Emperor Publishing grants permission to use as a part of a funeral service. Grants printing rights to individual and churches to use in programs. Author and Copyright Date Must appear in printing. As a courtesy, also please cite the author when reading aloud.