Bethel McGrew

Psalm of the Flood

As when a sailor on a stormy sea

Reads his undoing in the darkening sky,

So I await the flood I cannot flee

And lay my hopes of rescue down to die.

I couldn’t tell you if it’s day or night.

The faithful stars which used to be my guide

Have vanished all, with all my strength to fight

And all the foolish tears I ever cried.

What dark, almighty hand has blotted out

The sun by which I counted every joy?

What thief has traded all my faith for doubt,

That faith I thought no tempest could destroy?

My God, what can I do? What can I say?

Oh God, help me. I don’t know how to pray.

Bethel McGrew is a busy freelance writer with essays and articles in many outlets, including WORLD, First Things, Plough, The Spectator, and National Review. Her occasional poetry has previously appeared in North American Anglican, Joie de Vivre,  and Poems for Persons of Interest. She has a Ph.D. in mathematics from Western Michigan University and is based in Michigan. She maintains a popular Substack, Further Up.