Tattered Papers

Tattered Papers is a collection of stories and poems that comprise the worlds that the author, Joshua Boyce, has walked in. They exist in his mind and on paper and, now, hopefully, you will journey through the same world he imagines.

Ambrose Bierce

“QUILL, n. An implement of torture yielded by a goose and commonly wielded by an ass. This use of the quill is now obsolete, but its modern equivalent, the steel pen, is wielded by the same everlasting Presence.”

The Lighthouse


The ship was windtossed and battered by waves,
But manned by the sailors, weathered and brave.
They knew their ropes, they knew what to do
They knew that, if not careful, death could ensue

But they saw the Light, from the lighthouse away
They knew there was harbor, a place they could stay
The knew there was harbor if that light shone bright
A place that was safe from the storm and the night.

Said the Cap'n to one, "Sail to the right!
There are rocks ahead and many have died!"
So the sailors turned right hopeful of land,
hopeful that they'd seen God's protective hand.

Yes, they saw the Light, from the lighthouse away
Where there must be harbor, a place they could stay
There would be harbor if that light would still shine
A place that was safe, where they would be fine.

And as ship made for land, terror seized hold
The lighthouse went out! They were all on their own!
There was no hope where there was no light!
They would crash in the rocks and there they would die!

The light had gone out, from the lighthouse away
The place that had harbor, they no longer could stay
There would have been harbor, if only for Light
This harbor, this safety they no longer could find...

"Men be brave! We must wait for the lamp,
Someone will light it, they'll light it by hand!"
But they waited and waited and waited more still
"This light will not come!" "Men! Yes it will!"

They waited and waited for the lighthouse away
Losing all hope of that place they could stay
There was no harbor, no safety, no light
They would all hit the rocks and there they would die.

The wind pushed them towards the rocks, they were blind.
They couldn't see a thing, there was never a sign.
And then suddenly, a flash from the shore!
They were closer now, closer than ever before!

But that light that shone from the lighthouse away
Guided them towards harbor, a place they could stay
There was now harbor, There was hope for the future
They were now safe, of this they were sure...

There was now harbor, There was hope for the future
They were now safe, of this they were sure...

2 comments:

  Happy Mommy

May 7, 2009 at 9:38 PM

I feel like sometimes we feel lost as Christians just trying to handle life all on our own, but the light is there (Jesus) we sometimes don't feel him yet he is alway there! Just when we need him his light shines on brightly.

I enjoyed your story. I do love comments. I have book marked you and will check back soon.

  Joshua D. Boyce

May 7, 2009 at 9:43 PM

I appreciate that Happy Mommy. And you're right. This life can be hard enough and full of obstacles...sometimes it's enough to take our eyes off the light until we realize that's a bigger mistake than anything.