Around Town With Shaye Baker

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By Shaye Baker

For some reason, this bass-fishing country boy from small town USA has had a propensity for writing poetry since I was very young. I remember one poem in particular that I wrote when I was around 11, entitled “What’s the world coming to?”, in which I discussed several of the socioeconomic struggles that were happening in the world at the time. Go figure.

As I got a little older, my muse shifted from the world around me to the world within, one fraught with romantic mishaps and failed relationships. A longing for true love, looking for something that I couldn’t even identify if it walked up and punched me in the face.

Here’s a broken-hearted ballad from my college years.

Two Pillows

Why are there two pillows

On a bed made for one?

It seems a bit redundant, But I’ll leave it just for fun.

Someday it may be useful, Should the other I misplace. Meanwhile it’s nice to hold, And at times dry my face.

Yeah, I was hurting for certain. Here’s another banger.

Love

Love without pain

Simply superficial

Like a velvet rose

Nice, but artificial

Authentic to the eye

Seemingly so real

Only true difference

Found in the feel

Like I said, I was brokenhearted, and I was searching for something or someone to fix me. My biggest mistake, I was looking for the right girl to fix me, instead of the right God. That led to more dead-end roads and romances than I care to recount. And a lot of writing from a broken heart.

But now, God has me on the mend, writing from a whole and healed heart, full of love for those around me. A heart looking to give, instead of one constantly taking. Writing from a whole heart instead of a broken one is a beautiful thing. Much more enjoyable for me, at least. Here’s my latest, written a few weeks ago, entitled “Rebel with a Cause.” It’s about the hero who set my heart straight.

Rebel with a Cause

I always bucked the system, conformity was not my deal. Not a fan of the status quo, so for me, it was hard to kneel.

Anti-establishment, yes, about me some might say. But I always could tell, there was a better way.

Though I knew that, still, for awhile I was quite lost.

And not going along often comes at a cost.

So finally, I caved. Caution to the wind I hurled. Adapted to the system, the ways of the world.

I drank, I ate, I racked up debt. Abandoned my morals and tried to forget.

Forgot the desire to be different. Put that old me in the past.

Traded it in for acceptance, as a member of the mass.

And I was rewarded too, with temporary success. But still I was left wanting, my soul a miserable mess.

I chased my dreams and caught a few, unhappy all same.

The world called out but I just knew, it didn’t know my name.

I went the way of the world, and made it work a while. But still there was a void, each day, forcing a smile.

Then I read about a rebel, and heard the old familiar call, to be different and set apart, to be a rebel after all.

But behind this rebel was a reason. He didn’t do it just for spite. He entered into a dark world, Heaven bent on bringing light.

I read about this rebel’s friends, walking and picking heads of grain, while the establishment looked on, with utter and absolute distain.

This rebel came to their defense, and it bolstered something inside, a desire to fight the system, I thought had long since died.

I read about this righteous rebel, so innocent and true. And he invited me to be a rebel, same as he does each of you.

“The world will hate you,” He told me loud and clear. “But it hated me first, and I overcame. So take heart and have no fear.”

If I’d adopt this rebel’s cause, a purpose, my life, he’d give. A reason beyond myself, a calling worthy to live.

“I’ve called you to be different. In this world, set apart. It’s why you long for purpose, inside your broken heart.”

This rebel had a lot to say, but His message was oh so clear. He knew this world didn’t work, and that’s why He was here.

To make a way through the dark, a way through the wilderness, inviting me on that path, and offering his forgiveness.

If I’d just believe in Him and say, that His was the one true path, He’d take me in, never let me go, and I’d escape all the wrath.

Suddenly the rebel I once was, was up and at it again. But this rebel now bore a cross, in exchange for his sin.

A yoke so easy, a burden so light, my only assignment, to shed some light.

To go out into the world, and do it without pause. So, happily here I am, a rebel with a cause.