Poems by Mike Slaven

Summer, 2001

Transcribed by L. Clayton [1]

He Will Let Me In

I cast you out now Satan,

I have no place for you,

You can’t live here anymore,

No matter what you do.

The only thing you’re good for,

Is bringing people down.

As long as I let you live in me,

I’ll never wear God’s Crown.

The thing thing you’ve given me,

Is a life full of misery.

I’ve never led a peaceful life,

It’s with you I place the blame.

I’ve never known a real love,

Like the one my father’s shown,

So I’m calling on my Jesus,

I can’t do it on my own.

Satan I don’t have to take,

A back seat to you again.

Jesus said if I believed in Him,

That He would let me in.

Thank you Jesus

Thank you Lord.

As We Were Told

You look in on us each morning,

You look in on us each night,

Just like little children,

You make sure we’re alright.

And just like little children,

You need to punish us,

And we will love you more for it,

Although we cry and fuss.

When we don’t get what we want,

We wonder if you care.

Then we see we’ve what we need,

And know you’re always there.

When we were walking yesterday,

I felt your hand in mine.

Jesus it’s so comforting to know,

You’re with me all the time.

Father show me right from wrong,

Lord help me keep them straight,

Help me face my enemies,

But never let me hate.

When it’s almost over, the race is almost won,

May we stand before you Lord, proud of what we’ve done.

Please welcome us through those narrow gates,

To walk the streets of gold.

Because we love you father,

And we’ve obeyed as told.

#10

A Visit with Satan

We can’t spend enough time with our friends,

To laugh and sing and pray,

So when the devil shows up,

Here’s what we need to say.

We’re not perfect angels,

Our lives have been full of sin,

But we just thought we’d stop awhile,

And let our Savior in.

Satan you don’t have to use those dirty words,

You don’t have to yell and cuss,

You may not have the faith in God,

But please have some respect in us.

Don’t come at us with alcohol,

Don’t come at us with drugs,

Don’t come at us with kisses,

Don’t come at us with hugs.

Don’t tell us no more stories,

Of the perfect life you live,

And Christ has nothing at all for us,

And you have so much to give.

Your way is so messed up Satan,

With sex and lies and such,

We’ve lived your way, that’s how we know

God loves us all so much.

#11

The Master’s Peace [2]

I’m nothing Father Jesus,

Just a simple ball of clay,

Please pick me up and turn me,

Into a peace of art today.

Add a little water,

And turn me inside out,

I’ve put all my faith in you,

You will do it there’s no doubt.

Mold me and shape me,

Into what you would have me be,

Turn me into a masterpiece,

For all the world to see.

Father put upon my sides,

An image of your son,

So when all the people look at me,

They will know just what he’s done.

Master show him hanging on the cross,

To let them know he died.

And let them know that in the end,

They can run but they can’t hide.

And like a master potter finished,

With his art,

I sing this peace it’s one of mine,

It’s molded from my heart.

#12

[no title]

I was young, a family man,

I’d come to your in prayer,

I was content with what you gave,

Just knowing you were there.

The times we spent with you in prayer,

Were always times at best.

We’d call on you all hours of the day,

When did you have time to rest?

But I went to sleep and woke up,

The time went by so quick.

Like a candle burn down to the end,

Melted wax with little wick.

I sit here today with hair of gray,

My family’s gone away,

I cry for them to let me in,

I need a family that can pray.

A family like the one I had,

The ones that I adored,

God I’m blessed today you answered me,

With a family in the Lord.

#13

[no title]

When I met you Satan,

You looked just like a beer.

A six pack or so, I don’t know, things really weren’t that clear.

Some time went by, I met you again, you said your

Name was Mary Jane, you said to take a toke and

Hold it in, you’ll be really glad I came.

Then when I met you after a year or two,

You didn’t really have a name. Just LSD or

PCP, something to cloud the brain.

Now there you are a crack pipe, then a needle,

And a spoon. You say I’m your best friend,

Have a hit and you’ll feel better soon.

Now I have something to tell you Satan.

I don’t really care why you’ve come.

I’m not falling prey to you, I’m

Really not that dumb.

I’ve been sitting back and watching you,

Telling all your lies,

And we don’t know who you really are,

Because you’re a master of disguise.

And everyone that shake’s your hand,

Falls flat upon their face.

They can’t hardly get back up,

So they lay there with disgrace,

And no one really wants you around, so take your sin and go.

We’ll put our faith in Jesus Christ, He’s someone we can know,

He said He would love and hold us, and never let us

Down. And we always know

Who He is, He’s the one who wears the Crown,

He’s the one that gave all for us,

The one whose always there,

And it don’t cost me anything,

I just stay high on prayer.

#21

Happy Birthday Brother

Each morning I sit all alone,

And wonder how you are.

Each night I say a prayer for you,

And wish upon a star.

I think back on life with you my friend,

A brother always there.

I know I’ve been the one’s that lost,

Please keep me in your prayers.

Some day I know God has a plan,

For you and I to be,

Together to love to play and laugh,

A happy family.

We’ll sit around the fishing hole,

And shoot the bull all night,

Just the say we used to do,

Before the morning light.

When you used to play that old flat top,

And sing that possom song,

I pray to God to let me have,

Those special times I long.

And brother Jack I know He will

Put us together again someday,

All we really have to do,

Is trust, believe, and obey.

For it maybe upon the other side,

Together we’ll be someday,

But brother that will be alright,

Just abide in him and pray.

To my loving brother Jack

Happy Birthday

#22

All the Way

I need to make a phone call,

I want to read my mail,

I would love to see my family,

But I’m sitting here in jail.

They come with food at 6 a.m.

We hear someone yell Chow Chow,

And then they say if you want to eat,

You’d better come out now.

They don’t have time to mess around,

With someone low down as me.

And it don’t matter why I’m here,

I’m as guilty as can be.

They want us all to look like sin,

They won’t let us shave our face,

When we try to find someone in charge,

That’s like a turtle in a face.

There are lots of inmates here,

Most never raise no hell,

some just pray, some just read,

And never leave their cell.

Then there are some mixed

Up ones,

That live in fear and doubt,

And never seem to find the peace,

You’ve told us all about.

Then its lights out at 9 p.m.

It’s time to lay your head,

And if you are a lucky man,

You might even get a bed.

And I know for some of us,

It’s our favorite time of day,

For when we really find our peace,

Is when we stop and pray.

Jesus I know you have a master plan,

Something in store for me.

I’ll do my best to make you proud,

Whatever it may be.

So I’ll just hang out, I’ll play it cool,

And wait for someone to say,

Roll em up, you’re out of here,

You’re going all the way.

#23

When I’m Lost,When I Call

When it was dark as lost as could be,

You took my hand and walked with me.

When totality is not what it seems to be,

You open my eyes for the truth to see.

Yes I was lost and could not be found,

And no one was there at all.

It was not your face, but through your

Love and grace,

That you inherit the pain after my fall.

What is it Lord just what have I done?

That makes me deserve even one,

Of the many gifts such as love, peace

And joy,

That was given to me by your Son.

Lord you let me rest in the assurance,

You will never let me go.

You will always be there when I fall,

To pick me up through your loving cup,

And answer my prayers when I call.

Thank you Bro. Clayton

This one’s for you.

[1] These poems were transcribed by Larry Clayton, a member of the Tuscaloosa County Jail Ministry. His email is lclayton@simplecom.net or lclayton@bama.ua.edu

[2] Mike, I think, played delightfully with words on this one. I originally read the title as “The Master’s Peace,” for it was three words. Then I discovered halfway through that we asked the Lord to turn him into a “master peace,” which I took to be simply a misspelling of “masterpiece.” But as I neared the end, I realized Mike was way ahead of me on this one! He meant both “Master’s peace” and “masterpiece,” each in its own place.

More poems by Mike Shavin

#14

Life’s Fishing Trip

Some time when I look back on life,

And wonder where its gone,

I set and watch the campfire burn,

Sometimes till almost dawn.

I think back on just how I’ve been blessed,

With a real and loving wife,

And how she’s turned this real hard run,

Into an easy walk through life.

Life is like a fishing trip

You never want to quit.

The more time and effort you put in,

The more you get out of it.

You blessed me with loving children God,

They’re such a joy to this old man.

I know you had lots to do with it,

Part of your master plan.

I wish I could be there more for them,

To laugh and sing and pray,

And make old father time slow down,

Or even go away

When my fishing trip is over God,

And it’s time to put my campfire out,

Let me please sleep in that

Tent of yours,

Alongside your river filled with trout.

For my loving Brother Roger

M. H. Slavin

#15

Let Him In

No one else could love us so much,

They’d let someone nail them to some wood,

And the pain he must have suffered,

He’d do all this for our good.

Don’t you want to hide your face,

So ashamed of what you’ve done,

After the way you’ve treated him,

Don’t it make you want to run.

All he wanted to do was love you,

He’s always been there for us,

And all we do is push him away,

Every time we sin and cuss.

But he still waits and watches,

And he listens every day.

If you cared about yourself,

You’d take more time to pray.

Then you wouldn’t have to hide your face,

Each time you think of him,

You’d wear around the biggest smile,

Happy you let him in.

M. H. Shavin

#16

Best Friend I’ve Ever Met

Some friends are always bugging me,

To go with them each week

And sit there on some old hard beach,

And hear some stranger speak.

One give friend never gives up,

He comes around each day.

When he talks of things I need to do,

Here’s what I have to say.

Whey would I go down in that water,

And come up soaking wet,

And do it for someone I don’t know,

And have not even met.

Tell me why is he so special?

Tell me what he’s done?

Tell me why I can’t talk to him?

Or see him one on one?

Then he told me of the birth of Christ,

Just how he came to be,

And he healed the sick and raised the dead,

And never charged a fee.

Then he told the story of him,

Hanging there in pain,

And how he did this for me,

That’s why he really came.

How his father gave his only son,

And in such a painful way,

That had to be the highest price,

That any dad could pay.

So I ran down in that water,

And I got all soaking wet,

And father I’m so glad I did,

Your son’s the best friend I’ve ever met.

#17

Faith We Have

An accident that my daughter had,

Left a brace around her neck,

And it’s a miracle anyone could live,

Through such an awful bloody wreck.

A bullet from a drive by,

Some hit my little son,

It left him in a wheelchair

Now he can’t walk or run.

My wife seemed so healthy,

When she went to take that test,

Later that week we found out,

She had cancer in her breast.

The bottle that had a hold of me,

Was destroying all I had

I was a part time husband,

And just a sometimes dad.

We read it in your word somewhere,

You told us you’d be there,

So we put all our faith in you,

And came to you in prayer.

It hasn’t been a year yet,

My daughter needs no brace,

And my little boy he doesn’t walk,

He runs around this place.

The doctors can’t believe it,

They’ve even run more tests,

My wife is feeling wonderful,

No cancer in her breasts.

We know you did that and more,

Because of the faith we have,

Now I’m a full time husband,

And a sober, loving dad.

Thank you Jesus

Thank you Lord

#18

Worry No More

God do you want me to be alone?

Or do you have someone for me?

I go to sleep alone every night,

And wake up early in misery.

Father I’m faithful to your word,

But I set alone and cry,

If you have someone special in mind

Please don’t let them pass me by.

Father I just want someone to hold,

It’s nothing to do with sin,

Don’t let them just walk way,

Please Father let them in.

Let me love someone forever,

And please let them love me back,

You know I’ve got more than enough love,

That’s something that I don’t lack.

Father am I missing something?

Is there something I need to receive?

Father what more can I do?

I trust, I obey, and believe.

So I know you will give me someone,

Someone I will adored,

And because I have faith in you Father,

I won’t worry any more.

#19

The Guarantee on Calvary

I’ve come through life not giving much thought,

About anyone but me.

And I know I should have been there more,

For my loving family.

I have lots of time to think of them,

As I sit here in this jail.

There are lots of stories I could share,

If I had someone to tell.

But I think they gave up on me,

They tried everything they could.

They told me of the word of God,

And they did it for my good.

If I could do it over,

And just turn back the years.

If I’d given my life to Jesus Christ,

I wouldn’t have these tears.

A new friend came round one Tuesday night,

And told some things to me.

Like the guarantee that Jesus made,

When He died on Calvary.

#20

Fathers and Sons

God I came to you on bended knee,

Just to talk a bit,

There’s been something on my mind,

So I’ll come right out with it.

Why did your son even bother,

With a sin-filled world like this,

No one on earth desires his love,

Or is there something that I missed.

Did you send him here so sinless,

For them to laugh and call him fake?

And I know the pain they put him through,

Was more than any man could take.

And you say he waits there for us,

To just make up our minds.

And if we confess he died for us,

We’ll be with him in time.

We’ll be with him because he loves us so much,

That’s all you need to say.

You’ve cleared things up now I’ll get up,

And go about my way.

Thank you Jesus

Thank you Lord