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Breakfast by the Sea
They wondered who the stranger just may be
That stood close to the fire and now fried
And tossed the fish so very expertly.
Was cooking by a fire and withal
Now gestured to them: “Children comes and eat”!-
Across the waves they heard him clearly call.
He stood close by the fire grilling fish,
They had returned with empty nets,- defeat
For hungry men that want a tasty dish.
And cast their nets with patience, but in vain,
They’d failed like Him, these men from Galilee,
Still smarting with their loss, their grief and pain.
They’d crucified Him, and His friends felt beat,
They had believed the Master was God’s son-
He’s gone, - but they had families to feed.
Upon their shoulders, Oh what dread event,!
As cowards they had run, the friend denied,
Yet all was so of Him reminiscent.
And fishing was the sad band’s livelihood,-
Their means wherewith to feed the family,-
They strove to ban remembrance of the rood.
A distant outline cooking by the shore,
That gestured, signalled to them: "come and land"-
Insistent signal they could not ignore.
That started time a-going: "Let there be!"
Asks simply: "have you any fish on board?
- Thus asks the master of eternity.
The Risen One, who went through death and hell
Asks in the garb of frail humanity
If they had any fish or mackerel.
The kind of love that never more lets go,
He asked His own if they had fish enough,
While they were mourning and were laying low.
Where did it come from? - asking they dared not,
But they were fortified and richly fed,
As only does the Providence of God.
By Hook and Crook to take in drifting men,
Explained that such was God Almighty’s will,
And was His and our father's loving plan.
He counseled them thereafter what to do,
And then gave to the men disconsolate
A weighty mission henceforth to pursue.
Of fishermen still wallowing in their;grief,
Remembering the sad and dread event-
That taxed beyond all measure their belief.
By Hook and Crook to toil in every land.
To spread, proclaim His word on every shore,
Empowering them by His sublime warrant.
Said that He would be with men till the end,
And to be brave and strong and not to fear
Until we meet Him in the Promised Land.
John 21:4
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beutiful piece