by Nina Narlock

Today is my birthday (29 again this year–how ’bout that?), so I’m gifting you a sneak peek at a piece from The Sheep Chronicles! This is to be a book of poetry centered around Biblical analogies as well as undertones of Christian concepts.

As a pastor’s wife, Christian, Bible reader, and life observer; I generally do just that: observe. Many of these observations strike a poetic string in me, and I write accordingly. These poems have topics ranging from eschatology, pastoral roles, mistakes made, academia, grief, people in the Bible, conviction, and more.

Enjoy this excerpt entitled “The Hope of a Goat.”

The Hope of a Goat

A little goat with ornery heart,

Careless for matters that involve the heart.

The soul of which could not be saved

Until, that is, a Savior gave

His life for ransom to give a start

To little goat with blackened heart.

The Savior came and died for all.

He rose and redeemed a Genesis fall.

He had to leave to prepare a place

For all lost souls that find His grace.

In His stead, He left a shepherd

To reach the sheep and to make every effort

To build a fence that will keep out varmints

That steal and destroy the righteous fold’s garments.

Little goat wonders how this can be true.

Is there a shepherd for lost souls, too?

The little goat watches with eyes aware.

Can the shepherd mistake a wheat for a tare?

Little goat bounds closer still.

The shepherd discerns intent and will.

He reaches to grasp his rod and his staff.

The goat shies away from being attacked!

But the shepherd uses each tool with care.

He brings the goat in and brushes its hair.

Tears pool up as little goat thinks,

What’s the hope of a goat, like me, who stinks?

The shepherd continues his toil and task.

He washes away all dirt and asks,

“Where have you been in all this time?”

The goat is surprised and begins to cry.

Tangles come out, and horns fall away

To reveal not a goat but a sheep gone astray.

The shepherd rejoices; his job is finished.

The joy up above will never diminish

When another sheep enters the fold of heaven,

Forsaking the past and a world of leaven.

The hope of a goat is simple, it’s true:

It’s a shepherd with heart who prays for you.