1.
A Limitless Love

My fragile senses, finite mind, free will
have led me to twisting caverns of gloom.
I stop.
From a wellspring deep inside comes
a song of praise, of gratitude, of petition.
I take the Son of God’s hand,
kneel and kiss His hem.
He leads me to a place filled with sunshine and birdsong.
The breeze seems to whisper, Did you see
the first sunrise, the newly created mountains?
The answer lies not in my memory,
but in my belief, for I know
when what’s mortal fails me, hope remains.
When the earth quakes, and the elements torment me,
through the darkness and fear I sense light.
My empty belly, aching body, poverty
remind me others need my smile, my hand, my words of faith.
Did not Jesus cure through faith?
Jesus, ever faithful to us, who err and fall so often.
Blessed are we who look further than the ocean,
great with creatures beneath the waves,
and past the streaking comets of the heavens to Thee.

2.
A Chance for Salvation

               As far as the east is from the west,
                  so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
               −Psalms 103:12 (KJV)

It seems
I’m ever in need
of forgiveness,
from Heaven
and humankind.
Yet I –
frail, weak, selfish −
have a chance
at redemption.
If I take up my cross,
built of human failings,
and follow Christ,
He will lead me
to everlasting life.

3.
Of Obedience & Final Victory

…If God be for us, who can be against us?
−Romans 8:31 (KJV)

Martyrs and saints
know God’s strength.
It fortifies the blood,
strengthens the bones.
Uplifts spirits,
steels resolve.
The soul, buttressed.
Victory may come,
as at Jericho.
Victory may be denied,
if disobedience
to His will
comes to pass.
But flames,
torture,
persecution,
death,
will never strip
those faithful
to His will
of their place
in Heaven.

Biography:
Sylvia Riojas Vaughn’s poems have appeared in The Great Gatsby Anthology, Silver Birch Press; Triadæ,Lifting the Sky: Southwestern Haiku & Haiga, Texas Poetry Calendar, HOUSEBOAT, Red River Review, The Applicant, Diálogo, Label Me Latina/o, Somos en escrito: The Latino literary online magazine, Desde Hong Kong: Poets in conversation with Octavio Paz, and numerous other anthologies and journals. She has been selected as a Houston Poetry Fest Juried Poet three times. A Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, she belongs to the Dallas Poets Community.