To sink in to the ground, to dissolve, decompose
petroleum forever for the future to hold
no you can’t kill my now; cuz I’m wrapped in the soil
I don’t need my bones for support anymore
if I knew how it ends, I’d be invincible
I’d avoid every plague and disease you control
step away from the toxins that I’ve come to love
and though I’d be alone I’d be invincible
Till our cities will sparkle with the white bones of Doves
and the oceans are full of our green glowing love
till the valves in my heart slam shut and grow cold
I’ll keep telling myself that I’m invincible
when I was but bones laying in the valley bare
You breathed for me when you saw me there
Bleached white and gleaming; I signaled needing
A place of life where this death is receding
can I live?
I wonder and doubt
death valley; bones among bones
I’m withered without
a city or a home
a place where I am known
Till our cities will sparkle with the white bones of Doves
and the oceans are full of your green growing Love
till the valves in my heart slam shut and grow cold
I’ll keep telling myself that I’m invincible
Receiving flesh upon flesh
My new heart pumps and races
as skin covers, blood rushes, and sinew chases
and up my spine Life sends shivers
as Your Breath, Your Spirit, delivers
This is the place we dreamed of,
longed for,
and desired to roam
Your Love covers,
and I’m clothed for Home
The city will sparkle with the white bones of Dove
and the oceans are full of your green growing Love
the valves in my heart fling open, receive
I’ll never grow old; I’ll never grieve
resting myself in the Truth that is told; I’m invincible
I know how it ends, I’m invincible
I know my every plague and disease, and I’m out of control
stepped away from the toxins, came to know Love
no longer alone; I’m invincible
© 2009, Ryan Ellis and Robbie Pruitt
Thank you Ezekiel and Ryan!
For a Bible Study with this poem by Rev. AJ Ochart, click here.
Ezekiel 37:1-14: Breath of Life
“God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun.
He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Master God, only you know that.”
He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’ ”
God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!”
I prophesied just as I’d been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them.
He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!’ ”
So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’
“Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’ ”
Bibliography
Ellis, Ryan. Untitled song lyrics (invincible?), 2009
Ochart, Rev. AJ Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Travelers Rest, SC, Bible Study on Ezekiel. 2009
Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002, S. Eze 37:1-14
DAD655, http://media.photobucket.com/image/dry%20bones/dad655/DRYBONES.jpg, 2009
http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/exhibits/center/Images/drybones.gif, 2009
http://www.firescribe.com/Thumbnails%20400/FS009%20-%20Ezekiel%20Speaks%20to%20the%20Dry%20Bones%20X%20400.jpg, 2009
