Foot falls

 Foot Falls

John Clare Stokes

Often in the journey through 

he recalls the foot falls

the gentle, soft shuffling steps

in the night

soothing the frightened calls

in the lightening squalls

putting to flight youthful fright.

In the deep swamps of a hammock

by the Gulf

lost and calling for father to find him

the familiar foot falls through 

palmetto rough

as safe they compassed course back

to ole Camp C.

On the long marathon race there

came a wall

the runner came to a crawl

the legs screaming to quit

when from behind the familiar 

sound of foot falls

his old runner friend to pace him

through the final splits.

In the grand sanctuary of Asbury 

upon his knees

Crying out in his agony of sin 

came the hushed foot falls to 

pray beside him 

to rise and to a new walk begin.

When you pass through along

this journey

What sounds do your foot falls bring?

Do they ring with Grace and mercy 

Give the heart a song to sing?

Pause and listen above the din 

for the foot fall that ever treads 

walking ever to the never’s end

ever calling the lost to walk with Him.

To the memory of Elizabeth W. Noyes 

the only person who liked this when posted

years ago.