fact and fiction

here are a series of poems i wrote for a monthly church publication. from the series' title, you'll note that they are fact and fiction. see if you can figure out who each one is about :-)
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fact and fiction: born!

they were minding their own business--

on the night shift once again.

they expected all to be the same,

so they weren't prepared for this.

it might have been an apparition;

an illusion of the mind.

but it seemed too real to deny--

they had seen it with their eyes!

first there was one who came to them,

and they were sore afraid.

and when they almost missed the message,

then more to them soon came.

the message was that they would see and know--

they would recognize by the sign.

a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes,

and the saviour of their lives.

they hurried to the village,

and found the baby there.

the baby who would change the world--

"glory to the newborn king!"
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fact and fiction: faithful!

marriage made them family;

this fact death could not change.

ten years had brought them far too close

for "good-bye" to be the way.

although the older gave her blessing,

the younger could not leave.

kind wishes for the future

only served to make her weep.

for her, though grieved--dull ache of loss--

one choice for her remained:

allegiance to the matriarch;

her home, her life, her way.

her mind made up, her will resolved,

she pledged her solemn vow.

and in return she was received

with open arms of love.

a closeness knit by God alone,

the two would always stay.

sharing all--more hopes and dreams--

for redemption, family, and faith.
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fact and fiction: blessed!

he knew within his heart-of-hearts

somehow he would fare well.

though bad had come and good had left

his story he would tell.

his wife said he was crazy,

and his friends said much the same.

but one more time, with anxious hope,

to them he would explain.

when it seemed it couldn't get much worse,

one more thing would just go wrong.

but in all his loss his faith remained;

he'd not sin by blaming God!

pain not marked by arrogance

framed his desperate pleas for help.

each speech and each response he gave

revealed the sense of loss he felt.

up, then down--his wealth and health

for the first half of his life.

then, twice as much as he had before

to make up for all his strife.

praised for his strength of character,

not once did he blaspheme.

he did not die until he lived

a long, full, God-blessed life.
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fact and fiction: blessed!

he knew within his heart-of-hearts

somehow he would fare well.

though bad had come and good had left

his story he would tell.

his wife said he was crazy,

and his friends said much the same.

but one more time, with anxious hope,

to them he would explain.

when it seemed it couldn't get much worse,

one more thing would just go wrong.

but in all his loss his faith remained;

he'd not sin by blaming God!

pain not marked by arrogance

framed his desperate pleas for help.

each speech and each response he gave

revealed the sense of loss he felt.

up, then down--his wealth and health

for the first half of his life.

then, twice as much as he had before

to make up for all his strife.

praised for his strength of character,

not once did he blaspheme.

he did not die until he lived

a long, full, God-blessed life.
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fact and fiction: used!

she kept her heritage a secret,

advised not to tell a soul.

her nationality and background would soon play

a historically-defining role.

she was brought into the palace,

becoming wife as well as queen.

then hearing plots against her king and kin,

knew she had to intervene.

with her husband's life out of danger

she went before him with her plea.

though an evil plan had been devised,

revealing her relation would help set her people free.

her place within the kingdom

was for "such a time as this."

so her people were filled with joy and gladness,

and were honoured everywhere.
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fact and fiction: changed!

it started out much differently--

but then, it hopefully does.

in this detail his own life

is not unlike most of us.

his reputation followed him--

rather, it always went before.

but this was not a good thing,

with all he had in store.

his agenda was annihilation,

and arrest was not enough.

chains would be replaced by death

once he got letters from those above.

with a clear course he made his way,

soon met with great surprise;

first a light, and next a voice,

and then the question, "why?"

he answered with a question,

and would soon begin to see

that things can change forever

when you act on what you believe.