Poem March 6, 1971 Issue

FORWARD

Carol Frederic Higgins

I saw before the men
A red, red sea.
I hesitated:
"Forward" had to be.
The spoken word
Reversed my heart.
In agony
I played my part,
Then stood and watched
The men pass by.
The cry of anguish
Was not a silent why—
"Why, O God, why?"
I was not a prayerful man (then)
But turned to God
For the sake of those men.
The sea opened—
The ambush retreated;
The men I prayed for
Were not deleted.
I wept with gratitude.
I am a prayerful man (now)
For at that red, red sea
I learned how.