Places 40: The Glory Cloud
An Introductory Note to this final poem from Places.
In August 2020 I began revising and posting poems from Places. Now, shortly over a year later, here’s the last one, forty out of forty.
Places 2020-21 is tribute to my husband, Ed, who encouraged Places 2011 and choose which poems to include. It was published too early. Many poems were immature and incomplete—but with unholy pride of accomplishment, our eyes and ears were blind. I hope the current revisions will be an improvement.
I am publishing them this week as a tribute to Ed’s selection and in memory of the sunshine of our last somewhat “normal” days before that brief intense time when life centered on the surprise strokes that so quickly closed our rich life together. If Ed were here, as bright and clear as he was two years ago today, he would have eagerly reached out to read this note and today’s final poem, “The Glory Cloud.” Pencil in hand he would have marked it and commented. I would have felt affirmed and most likely would have accepted all his suggested changes. Toward the end of his life he often said that every meal he ate was the best he’d ever eaten— and that every poem I wrote was the best I’d done so far. I didn’t believe him— but oh the memory brings such happy smiles. I think he would really like this one, be glad I’m keeping on, and sense The Glory Cloud’s timeliness for the Body of Christ.
The Glory Cloud
Two hammered silver trumpets sound;
dust stirs, the tents are taken down,
the standards1 raised.
Bear well the Holy Things,
before the watching King of kings;
be cleansed by His own blood and bathed in oil.
Heavenly scrolls unroll
within our human souls,
Love’s writing now on frail clay.
Ring His advance
with gladdening songs and dance,
with shouts of highest praise.
Prepare to move today—
follow God’s cloud to unknown ways—
fear not to follow His fire.
Come all who will—
be filled
with Jesus’ glory 2
Notes
1. A standard is a symbolic flag or banner raised to signal or identify; it may mark a rallying point or the presence of royalty and heads of state.
2. In the Old Testament, God’s glory rested on the ark and the tabernacle. Only the appointed priesthood were allowed to care for and carry the ark and the tabernacle, the place of God’s glory. Numbers 20:6 says, “Then Moses and Aaron went . . . to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them.” In the New Testament, believers are the place of God’s glory; we carry the weight of Jesus’ presence and reputation. According to 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
