Poem March 24, 1973 Issue

MENTAL-PICTURE PRISON

Althea Brooks Hollenbeck

I knew her as a shrew and held myself above her
until she came one day and bade me pray for her
and I saw her kneeling, asking God for healing
of sin and pain. And then I tried to love her,
but in vain. False pride steered me the other side:
What had I to do with a shrew?
Why should I become involved in a brawl?

Suddenly I prayed that God heal me!

God took two pictures from my wall of consciousness—
a shrew, and then a brawl, replacing one
with His Son, and one with Mary Magdalene.

I gazed, amazed—was purified of pride,
drenched sheer with vision clear:
No picture of a shrew was ever true
and never had there been a brawl at all.

I then saw my loved friend risen
from a mental-picture prison,
clean—washed clean—a Magdalene!

Althea Brooks Hollenbeck

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