Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory

This poem was written by my brother Dr. Salim K. Haddad

 

 

DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil

 

A short period, soon after the birth of time

The first man stood upon the earth sublime

The pinnacle of all created life

With a free will to choose to fall or climb.

 

The tempter came in a serpent’s guise

With a vain promise of a precious prize,

The prize of knowledge of all good and ill

Whereby man would become knowing and wise.

 

The hissing serpent drew closer to Eve,

Armed with evil lies to make her believe

That they could become as wise as their God:

Such was his subtle method to deceive.

 

He slandered God and said that He was mean

And that his command was truly obscene,

His threats were empty and would never stand

When wisdom was waiting for them to glean.

 

He said, it is not true that you will die

As Death waited tensely for her reply

And when he saw that she ate of the fruit

He was excited she fell to a lie.

 

Now Death would not ever forget that day

When his vaunted desire would have its sway

Upon mankind and every type of life

For now he would butcher, destroy and slay.

 

Death entered the world through the gate of sin,

All creatures were affected and hemmed in,

It was God’s judgment upon faithless man

Where no one could ever escape or win.

 

And thus Death reigned supreme with utmost glee

While billions of men attempted to flee

From its horrid hand, asking agent Fear

If respite be had, but Fear heard no plea.

 

Death in turn feared when Elijah restored

Life to the widow’s son whom she adored

Until he flexed his muscles and attacked

The life restored: it was life he abhorred.

 

The young maid and the widow’s son at Nain

And Lazarus all came to life again

When Jesus spoke a word and said, arise,

Come forth, but they died when their health did wane.

 

When Jesus surrendered to death a while

Death jumped for joy for his malice and guile,

But he and Satan trembled with great fear

When Jesus rose and they fell down servile.

 

The Lord was the first to rise from the dead

And to die no more, the saints’ living head

And when He comes again, they too will rise

From death’s corruption to true life instead.

 

Death has his sport and will punch all his blows

Until the time arrives when no one knows

When he, with Hell and Satan, will be cast

Into the lake of fire of utmost woes.