If only I had empathy.

No longer a thief

Stealing joy and peace,

From those whose fortresses I robbed,

Without caring who the person was.

With every hurtful remark,

Regretting the arrows

Which hit their mark.

I can’t bring myself

To unlock my cell,

Though I hold the key.

 

Despite the darkness I saw a man,

For my palm he did implore.

Gently, he grasped the contents within

And opened up my door.

A gentle word, a smiling face,

Led me from my dark place

Into light and joy and love-

 

Gone is my sorrow,

Gone is my hate,

For my heart is reclaimed.

Drowning then, but now I’m saved

Because of the Man who forgave.

 

Epilogue

Gentle steps into the prison,

A quiver of light I see.

And in the dimness I see me,

Or who I used to be.

A person enters into my view,

Dispelling the memory.

 

The Man comes into my sight.

Kindly, he tells me this advice,

“Keep trying and don’t be afeard.”

With a gentle word, a loving heart

I followed him from that dark part

Into the light and life and love

 

Where I did dwell evermore.