"Forgiveness"

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THEME: Charleston, South Carolina AME Church Shooting (June 17, 2015)

VISUAL POETIC REFLECTION:  "American Chronicles" 

MAKES A GREAT GIFT – JUST ATTACH & SEND TO FAMILY OR FRIEND!

COMPLETE TEXT: FORGIVENESS ©2020

into church today
‘round Charleston,
South Carolina way.
Doors always open,
no matter your race,
filled with God's blessings –
a true holy place.

They welcomed him in
as one of their own...
He seemed so vacant,
appeared so alone.
Treated with friendship,
they offered him care:
The warmth of God's Love,
so willing to share,
but all he returned
was a blank hollow stare.

Brilliant flashes
of bitter anger
thundered from his
soulless gun,
leaving just a few alive
to tell what evil deed
he'd done.

Nine bloody bodies
lying dead on the floor,
the corrupted victory
of his resolute gore –

Then God showed up
to speak once more:

As every brother, sister
and family relation,
stood in front of a
traumatized nation,
each of them knowing
they had every right
to hate the monster
before them that night –

Chose a higher
road to travel
just as the country
was about to unravel:

Forgiveness...

Offering God's mercy,
and even redemption –
hate, anger, revenge
never mentioned.