Revised Legion poem.

Mark 5:1,2- They went across the lake to the region of the Gadarenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him.

My Name Was Legion (For We Were Many)
By John Pewitt

I once was a man like any other
now all men fear me, none call me brother.
I abandoned my family, they could not understand
why I acted this way, so I got up and ran.
To where none would follow, I ran to the tombs
I tore off my clothes, as the madness consumed.
Each day the voices in my head grew ever more loud,
I screamed to the heavens, “Please get them out!”
I heard unspoken evils and blasphemous cries,
I wept at the thought, my mind could conjure such lies,
“What's happening to me? Can't anyone help?
My mind's now my enemy I can't fix myself!”
The people grew fearful, for their families no doubt,
they sent their strongest men to shackle me down.
A strength arose within me that wasn't my own
I broke through the chains and howled at the moon.
No one could help me with this battle within,
the voices told me to hurt myself, I couldn't fight, I gave in.
I sliced open my skin with razor sharp rock,
if I do what they say maybe they'll stop.

One day a man arrived on a boat from the lake,
the voices became anxious, it was more than I could take.
As he stepped off the boat I wanted to run,
I was so ashamed of what I'd become.
When the man saw me, he seemed to understand,
Immediately he spoke, “You evil spirit come out of this man!”
Down on my knees, ignoring all of his fans,
I cried, “Son of the Most High God what are your plans?
Swear to God above that you will not torture me!”
I trembled, uncertain what his answer would be.
He asked for my name, but I knew he wasn't speaking to me.
A voice slipped through my lips, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
I didn't know what was happening, I was fearful to my core,
yet the voice I couldn't control spoke even more.
“Do not make me leave, don't send me away.
That herd of swine there, send me there if you may.”
He looked to the pigs then agreed to the plan,
and for the first time in years I felt like a man!
With the intrusion of the demons, the pigs drowned themselves in the sea.
My eyes were now opened, even the pigs were smarter than me.
Ashamed and confused I stood there without any clothes.
Then this hero commanded, “Someone bring this man a robe!”
From that moment on I felt totally free,
but I couldn't understand the new commotion going on around me.
The people were upset, why send this man away?
They wanted him to leave, but I wanted him to stay.
As he got into his boat, I begged him to take me too,
but He said, “Go, tell your family all that the Lord has done for you.”
Obedient I went, but with him I'd rather have stayed,
He wanted my testimony, and all the people were amazed!