Grief walks the streets, masked.
Isolation is summer’s undesired shield
from the hum of bees,
of birdsongs,
of joy.
Isolation is summer’s undesired shield
from the hum of bees,
of birdsongs,
of joy.
Help me—oh mama!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
Injustice walks the streets, armed.
Legal structures and strictures shield
ideologies of subjugation;
they rule with impunity,
sparking outrage.
Legal structures and strictures shield
ideologies of subjugation;
they rule with impunity,
sparking outrage.
Help me—oh mama!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
A virus propelled by breath runs unabated.
Much needed conversation is stifled
—not to mention song,
medicine the spirit
longs to feel.
Much needed conversation is stifled
—not to mention song,
medicine the spirit
longs to feel.
Help me—oh mama!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
Gather, all ye in the village squares,
mourn that capture by all such restraints
as leads to the stifling of breath,
sending, untimely, more men of color
to meet Jesus in Paradise.
mourn that capture by all such restraints
as leads to the stifling of breath,
sending, untimely, more men of color
to meet Jesus in Paradise.
Help me—oh mama!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
I cannot breathe!
Bye-bye!
Fire beetles, light the night,
signal the elusive dove to morning flight,
and when comes here the sun,
rain upon us a fire for righteousness.
signal the elusive dove to morning flight,
and when comes here the sun,
rain upon us a fire for righteousness.
Transform these hearts of stone
into the living hearts of compassion;
Make us to speak only justice,
to understand the language of love and no other.
into the living hearts of compassion;
Make us to speak only justice,
to understand the language of love and no other.
Let not the riotous soul go unheard,
that stands by with help for all humanity;
strengthen us to bring comfort and blessing
to every neighbor, in these times of trial. Selah!
that stands by with help for all humanity;
strengthen us to bring comfort and blessing
to every neighbor, in these times of trial. Selah!
© 2020 by Elisabeth T. Eliassen and songsofasouljourney.blogspot.com
We live in dangerous times. People who should be leaders are fomenting unrest for political gain. Innocent people are caught in the crossfire. Some sworn members of that profession intended to “protect and serve” abuse their power.
I am reminded of Ezekiel, Chapter 7, a description known as “The End Has Come.” At the very end is this line:
“I will deal with them according to their conduct,
and by their own standards will I judge them.”
and by their own standards will I judge them.”
As bleak as this seems, there is much to hope for. There are good and compassionate and loving people in every place.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said:
“Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”
Love truly is the answer, and the only one.
