July 1986

you sit aside

surrounded by your pain

a wall without relief

too sudden the clouds descend

in hordes too great to count

you sit aside

in your darkened world

begging for a light

walking by, I see you there

and in sympathy I pause

waiting, knowing…thinking

thinking, I walk on

and pause again to pray

and thus relive my guilt

beset by devils of my own

I care not to take the time

to rid you of your pain

forgive me please, for what I’ve failed to do

I know it must be you I serve

I’ve been called to this by God

forgive me please, and give me prayer

that I’ll not fail again

forgive me,

please