Song of the Branch

by Christina Moore

SONG OF THE BRANCH

Lord Jesus Christ, whom my soul loves,

Oh, cleave my stony heart in twain

That I may cleave the more to you.

Your Word-Sword having severed me

From native barren brambly thorns—

Engraft me to yourself, my wounds

To yours, bound, bandaged, sealed, that I

May dwell in you and you in me.

(My love is mine, and I am his.)

Hidden with you in God, I dwell.

Your love enlivens me, restores

Slakes thirst without satiety

Or surfeit, O beloved Lord.

You only satisfy my heart,

Yet, tasting living water kills

My appetite for wells and cisterns.

For you and your Word, my soul yearns.

The wounds of oneness yield, in time,

Sweet Spirit’s fruit, a treasure far

Beyond the price of pain. So prune

Me; clean me; put to daily death

Every unconsecrated branch;

Instead, may fecund grace sprout to

Become an orchard full of fruit,

Your fruit to feed a multitude.

O fairest of ten thousand, next

To you, the perfumed rose grows bitter;

Crown jewels lose their lustrous gleam;

All proud accomplishments grow dull;

All lesser loves to you submit.

Without you, every garden is

A withered, weary wilderness,

But with you, every desert blooms.

Heart of my heart, Joy of my joy,

Before you all my longing lies,

To know your resurrection power

And mystic sweet communion of

Union with you in suffering.

Engrave me like a seal upon

Your heart, inscribe me on your palms,

That I may dwell in your love till

The day I know as fully known.

CHRISTINA MOORE

Christina has shared devotional essays, poems, and prayers online for nearly thirty years, beginning with a small email list and growing into the Crumbs from His Table blog and Substack. She also contributed to the online journal Communiqué and the book Keeping It Real with Arthritis.

A Texas native, she lives in her hometown with her husband of 25 years and their dog, Moose Tracks. She is easily distracted by birds, butterflies, and the smell of books. In all her words, she seeks to comfort others with the comfort she receives from God in chronic illness, cancer, and other trials.