Sonnet to The Light in the Darkness

In shadowed lands where truth is bought and sold,

Where thrones are built on lies and fleeting gain,

The hearts of men grow callous, dark, and cold,

And virtue bleeds beneath ambition’s chain.

The sacred vows are broken without shame,

The streets run red with envy’s bitter cost,

The holy name is mocked, denied, profaned—

A world adrift, unanchored, tempest-tossed.

Yet in the storm, a stillness calls us near:

A thorn-crowned King with mercy in His eyes.

He bore our guilt, our violence, lust, and fear,

And rose with healing light that never dies.

Though kingdoms fall and every idol rusts,

The cross still stands—our refuge and our trust.

So turn, O soul, from ruin and regret;

The Shepherd seeks the lost with wounded hands.

No sin too deep, no heart He won’t reset,

No grave so dark His love can’t light the lands.

Let rebels kneel, let prodigals arise—

For Christ alone makes dead men truly wise.

Mark Humber 30 December 2025

PERHAPS TODAY

Perhaps today the toil ends,

The pain is gone, the sorrow too.
Perhaps today I'll tread no more
This weary land down here with you.

Perhaps today this Time shall cease,
And I will reach Eternity,
Perhaps today the unseen God
Is seen in Jesus' face by me.

Perhaps today all trouble ends,
And every eye who loves Him sees
Their Lord of Hope shine through the clouds,
And hears the trumpet's jubilee.

Perhaps today on eagles' wings
We rise to meet Him in the air.
Perhaps today He wipes each tear,
And we shall meet again up there.

Mark Humber 31/05/2025

Dedicated to the memory of the late Leon Smith and his wife Jean Smith. This image was on the wall of their home, where I lived for some time and we often discussed it. I found it online in low resolution and enhanced it.

This Time

 Maybe I will write this song....

(Chorus) This time, it is bone of my bones. 

This time, it's flesh of my flesh. 

This time, it's one formed in my image, 

This time, I'm truly in love. 

This time, you answered my longings,

Though you so often would stray,

This time you crossed the mortal threshold,

And eternity's moments away.

1. You played, I rejoiced to see your happiness, 

You sang, and the angels could not match your song, 

You danced and the stars danced with you, 

You spoke to me and whispered your love. 

Then I said... (Chorus) 

2. I loved you like so many others before, 

And nurtured you, punished you too.

And  you never knew it was I who was working, 

To make you the child of my heart.

So I said... (Chorus)

3. You see, you called me 'Abba' - I was a Father to you, 

And although I first called you my own, 

You opened your loving heart to my call.

And I found you my child, my own.

(Chorus)

4. And you said to me, "Oh where are you going,"

As your heart broke to think that I'd go, 

But I had to go, had to make ready for you, 

A place where you'd always be with me.

(Chorus)

©Mark Humber 29/06/2024

I began writing this about Amalia but it ended up being about God.

Under the Waters

 Verse 1.      One sign was given to make you believe,

 Just as Jonah went down to the depths of the sea,

 And the waters closed over, the weeds wrapped around,

So the grave took our Saviour and we could go free.

Chorus           Under the waters

    He showed his love.

    Under the waters,

    While we’re above.

    The sting of death broken,

    By incredible love.

Verse 2       Deep called to deep with a waterfall’s roar,

(For creation all knew that our Jesus went low,

To the feet of the mountains, the depths of the sea),

And the word was proclaimed, that a Man dared to go.

Verse 3       Those who would follow and trust in His name,

Want to become baptised in the Christian’s own way.

But all of earth’s watery pits are dried up,

And the water of Jordan is all rolled away.

Mark Humber 25^th June 2003.

On His Knees - Gethsemane

The garden is dark,

The birds sing no more.

The petals have closed,

At the close of the day.

And the Creator of Earth,

The Sustainer of Life,

Sits sobbing.

And weeping,

Tears of blood.

The beauty He made,

The perfection He sought,

The colours first perceived,

As He spoke the first words.

Were hidden in blackness,

Where colour's no more,

And Evil smiles,

And Terror,

Waits to win.

But the most terrible night,

Is only there till the morn.

And the great Prince of Life,

Rises out of the gloom,

And He crushes the fear,

And rides high on the storm,

To be King,

Of all Kings,

And forever.

For He endured that cross,

He despised the shame,

And He sits down again,

On the right hand of God.

But He knew how it feels,

He knew how it hurts,

To be depressed,

To say it out loud,

On His knees.

MJH. 30/04/23

The Train Driver

"It's the last run," he said as they waited,
"The freight cars are loaded and now
The passengers are seated and ready,
And the train, it will leave on the hour."
The driver stood quiet, by the engine,
And drew out his old pocket watch.
As he turned to his dusty old fireman,
He said, "Let's get her ready to cross."

Soon the train rumbled on to the river,
And the whistle screamed its goodbye,
As the ominous clack of the wheels on the track
Sped up as the train moved away.
At each departure, there's someone,
Who knows it's the final farewell
The heart aches, the eyes swell, the tears fall too,
But there's no more words left then to tell.

So the train drew near to the river,
And the verdant green slopes gleamed with dew,
As the train neared the end of its journey,
And the river came plainly in view.
On the other side stood the station,
On a well travelled route, we may know,
And the Master stood on the platform,
As He waited for the train to show.

So the train drew up to the platform,
And the faithful train driver stepped down,
And he said as he drew out the old pocket watch,
"We did it! We're right here on time!"
But the Master, the Lord of the station,
He smiled as the driver walked on,
And He opened His arms and was heard to exclaim,
"Well done, welcome home now, Leon."

Written to celebrate the life of Leon Smith on the occasion of his death 22/2/2022 and read at his funeral by his beloved niece, Judith Barnes.

(Tune : Log Cabin for Sale)

Anak - My Child

I knew not how His promise would become so real,

But when I first held your tiny, helpless form,

My tears of joy flowed unrestrained,

Because I never could have hoped to hold again

My child.

As then I watched you grow,

From a baby to a tiny child,

I rejoiced in each amazing change, 

And as our eyes met and you learned to smile,

I knew that you were every bit

My child.

The first words that you learned to say,

You'd heard from me so many times each day,

And as your tiny lips released that sweet, clumsy response,

I heard the words, "I love you" from

My child

You call me 'Dadda' now

And stumble round me with your tiny feet,

But I trust your faltering footsteps will soon follow me,

Because I want the best for you,

My child

I wake each morning just to see your joyful face,

And hold your giggling body in my arms again,

And as each day comes to an end, I love to see asleep

Your tiny curly head and strain to hear the gentle breath of

My child

I know I'll pass too soon to see what you'll become,

But I pray each day that you will reach that place.

That God the Father holds in store for you

And that you always may be while I still hold breath -

My child.

To my Amalia (אָמַלְיָה) : because God has made me forget all my trouble and my father’s house. 15/12/21