Poetry

scars

written by: alf hickey

he took many blows
that barrage of the world
he took the wave went into it
fought the wind, the cold, the human
no wall could break him,
he stood and leaned in

many scars adorned his skin
not contrived piercings
tattoos of blood, bleeding, burning
he raged against the storm
which crushed him inside and the surface
trying to oppress this child of God

then it happened, he broke his peace
the years of beating at his soul
made him drum a new beat
and he cried out to his God
Him who had sustained him
and asked for vengeance

that the evil wall piled against him
the thorns of hard experience
the dross of beaurocracy
the false pride of those leaders
acting as if they had the throne of God
and he cried out for God to fight

the cross and earth is won
"Lord" no longer protect me
but please rage against my enemy
let their pride, their security fall
let them taste the pain that they inflict
let them fall and never rise again

may the curse that followed me
pursue them all their days
may they only rise for air to repent
to say sorry and seek you
till then make them fall oh Lord
cast them far away

bury them in the muck they excrete
till they give up their oppression
make them fail, and make their songs end
may their tongues be tied and cut
their food fail and their pride turn to sorrow
may the pain they emit, permit turn on them

for I was a blessing, sent by you
they made me a curse
show them that their security
their institutions, their base of power
is feeble as themselves
destroy their idol Lord I pray

you promise Lord to avenge the weak
you hate the arrogant oppressor
raise me up that they might see
that you Oh Lord rule
that the weak you protect
that the oppressed you will avenge

please oh Lord, for the pain I take
i cannot bear anymore
the loss, the broken dream
the beauty you gave me mocked each day
by those who don't care for you
come down and crush their sin

make your love reveal their lies and shame
show them Lord that false gods will not prosper
that their papers and position die like them
judge them as they have judged me
let justice prevail when they kill justice

destroy the spirits that rule their lives
rule their ways, send them to hell
where they belong
make the suffering of your servant light
that burns through the travesty of this life

the oppression of this soul

i thank you lord for your life
for sustaining me through the years
for raising me when I want to give up
when i just want to die
for your words reminding that you are in control

please heal the scars that go so deep
through tissue, organ, soul
help me to forgive their ways
that have pierced my deepest parts
help me to love them when they get their desserts

if they ever see your light
don't listen to the false prayers of their friends
but show them the shame in supporting the sin
make them remember what I said, who I am
make them remember my joy in the scars
and my desire for life and love

show them that they are at fault
show them how they do it
that this soul which worked and cared so hard
was stained and slurred and muddied by them
and show them that they aren't your servants
that seek worldly pride in the true battle

rage like fire, like a thunder
burn with anger against the oppressors
till they seek your name
may the Lion of Judah take His place
may your teeth take back the life you gave
may my stolen life be restored