The Exorcism

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Mark 1:21-28 CLASSIC POEM: He Commandeth the Unclean Spirits Alfred Norris DEAR Lord, I housed a noisome, lying fiend Within the secret chambers of my soul; Entrance he got through one small window screen’d, And then usurp’d the whole. All noble thoughts he dimm’d with evil sneer, All aspirations laugh’d to bitter scorn; On Love and Truth he cast his blighting leer, And Hope died ere ’twas born. E’en from a child I bore this noisome fiend In vain revolt against his passionate might, Till all my strength was spent. Like one I seem’d Who long had lost his sight. Dear Lord, I lay beneath Thy cross! At first ‘Twas darkly empty; as I groped in fear I heard the gates of heaven open burst: I cried, “O Saviour, hear!” And not in vain, for on my ear there fell Thy strong “I will!” and lo! the fiend went forth– He tore me as he went– a-down to hell, Raving, and bitter wroth. Came swinging from the pit a hoarse, fell noise, As to their chain-lengths wallowing fiends up-swung. High heaven lay calmly on its equipoise, Sweetly the angels sung. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: The Exorcism Joyce Sutphen SNIPPET: It was homemade and primitive, like pulling a tooth with a string and a slamming door, like taking out an appendix by kerosene light where dogs wandered in and out the dirt-floored room. … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]