The Song of the Branch {Improved Voiceover}

It’s my honor to have contributed a poem to The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal’s Spring 2025 Collection. The first two stanzas are below. To read the entire piece, please visit thewayback2ourselves.com/journal/songofthebranch. The voiceover here includes the complete poem. My apologies for any landscape-crew noises in the background.“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬Lord Jesus Christ, whom my soul loves,Oh, cleave my stony heart in twainThat I may cleave the more to you.Your Word-Sword having severed meFrom native barren brambly thorns—Engraft me to yourself, my woundsTo yours, bound, bandaged, sealed, that IMay dwell in you and you in me.(My love is mine, and I am his.)Hidden with you in God, I dwell.Your love enlivens me, restoresSlakes thirst without satietyOr surfeit, O beloved Lord.You only satisfy my heart,Yet, tasting living water killsMy appetite for wells and cisterns.For you and your Word, my soul yearns.To continue reading, please visit the publication site here or listen to me read the prayer poem to you at the player above. You may also enjoy browsing the other creative work selected for this edition. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crumbsfromhistable.substack.com