Father, Forgive Us
Down, beyond the streetlight damping
stood a stranger lost and stamping
stars of golden embers. Tamping
fires of feuding clans to black.
Found alone among his betters
bounded by constricting fetters
none could satisfy the debtors
waiting. Shadows sensed attack
by the turn of booted tanner.
Under wars' audacious banner
borne aloft in vicious manner,
actions feral earned a pass.
Men would wonder, sore confessing
what, between, deserved such pressing;
stripping hope of birthright blessing
from a son of Eden’s class.
None could answer, truth beholding
innocence by parties. Scolding
privilege untamed by molding
from staid fathers down to sons.
Ways of ages made excuses.
Past to present piled abuses
left to right among the muses
dangled as sufficient duns.
Tales foreboding, sorry, sadder
poisoned spite, as deadly adder
struck each rung of justice ladder,
coating all with venom’s spew.
Darkest earth globe ever spinning
man on man since time’s beginning.
None, original in sinning,
Eves or Adams – me – or you.