Honor.

It crowns men.

it makes kings of whoever it falls upon,

Queens of whoever is  bestowed…

.

What am i bearing?

.

maligned

I open my backpack and start pulling out the contents until all my feelings spill out.

.

Help.

the fact is, Lord, that you are useful…

Arise.

You make the unbearable bearable…

Protect.

You send night, so we can give up without being scorned.

.

Help.

no one understands, and no one even tries to.

i alone?

i understand?

i try?

– but for what?

.

They look me straight in the eye and lie to me

as if i cannot see the answer plainly on their face.

The jam is there.

their fingers sliced with stealing it –

And they proclaim their innocence.

What am i to do?

.

Deceived

Flattered upon

Waiting for the sun to rise through the darkness…

Smoother their voice.

Pull it out of their mouth

down into their belly

let the lies become sour there.

Master them.

Play the game 

and conquer their king,

take him down

pawn by pawn

beat them at their own game

for you alone know the moves they will take.

You alone know the lies that lie in the lake of their soul.

Truth drown

rotting below the surface –

resurrect it.

.

Cut down the cities they’ve built with their tongues.

Smash them into fine dust

so that nothing can be found.

Let them alone,

stand in the rubble of their lies.

Because they paint over their crimes 

with paint only you can remove:

False words

flattery

meant to take down the innocent,

and hide what they have done.

.

Oppression

– Maligned and maligning? – 

groaning.

i know You hear –

All my sighs

– speak

your flawless words

your flawless love

– faithfulness

– kindness

– patience

Rise up protector!

Let your words strip off 

their plating.

.

i have heard 

of the way you’ve been stripped

severely flogged

and then hung

And now i have seen,

by each and every one of us.

We try you by fire

And yet you pass through unharmed

We consume you

and still you remain

bright and precious

from the furnace

clear and free

from all alloy of error

faithful 

persecution, criticism, doubt, discovery

falls short

you still have lost nothing

you stand ever faithful

In our exploration we have tried you in every conceivable way

but your promises still stand

your word does not fail

.

The wicked freely strut

about when what is vile is honored

among men.

.

little rooster.

the silver ax follows you.