Yesterday I cried for a man
who falsely believed
I should be stoned to death
for loving my husband.
I felt deep empathy and pain
for the family of a man
who falsely believed empathy
was not strength, but weakness.
I held in my heart his wife and his daughters,
for whom his words made the world
ever more repressive and unsafe.
Yesterday I cried for my country
where a preacher of vitriol was silenced
by the very thing he deemed worthy.
I do not know where these dark shadows lead,
but I see clearly who is casting them,
and it is not those of us with empathy,
or compassion for the marginalized.
The darkest clouds are gathering,
the reign will now fall upon the most vulnerable.
Remember to love your neighbor as yourself,
and beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Always great to see your name in my Inbox , I have missed your wise, beautiful poems. Like many, I have had a difficult time articulating my thoughts and feelings. My heart tells me that no person should be murdered for peacefully expressing their beliefs. No family should have to lose a loving member to a bullet. No person should have to witness a shooting. I very much appreciate your poem ,Troy, and the time and emotional cost it has taken from you to write it.
“…silenced by the very thing he deemed worthy.”
I have seen words like irony and karma, I can only say, no comment…
Sadly, I feel that empathy is being washed out to sea. The tide is turning, yes, the sky darkening, and a great Tsunami is approaching the shore. Hold on tight to your loved ones.
Many lights are needed for all the dark corners in the world at the moment, I pray only that there are enough...
Beautifully said Troy, your voice, in the utter despair, is a bright light. 🙏🏼