In The Territory Of The Gerasenes Poem by Steven Federle

From deep inside
I heard them,
howling hatred
lashing me with my own hands
gashing the rocky tombs
with my own bloody feet.

Late at night
they cursed and fought
deep inside
my aching skull.

I was their prisoner,
and they were many…

But then I saw Him by the lake
and my soul leapt
even as Legion arose
and with my ragged voice raged,
“what will you do to us? ”

My soul cried louder,
“Save me! ”

Hearing us both,
He drove dark spirits
from my unclean breast
and into the beasts poor swine.
Madness cast them
into death’s deep pit

but I could hear only
silence.

Peace
filled me.

My hand moved
only when I commanded,
and what my eyes saw
I clearly viewed.

The people of the village
fearing a man who could
compel demons,
begged Him to leave.

Blind fools!
If only they could see Him
as I do.

As he was going, I begged to go too
and stay forever in the light
of his face.

But this grace
was not
for me alone

He told me to go
and proclaim without fear
how His love saved me
from my soul’s dark night,
and led me here, into
bright paradise,