Gimme Strength

He struts into the room
He drives away the crowd
He pierces you down with his stare
Your prayer screams right out loud -- 

Oh, Lord
Gimme strength with this man

The mongoose and the cobra
The pitbull and its prize --
Nature has no mercy 
The hunter needs not a disguise 

Oh, Lord
Gimme strength with this man

I crawled beneath the barbed wire
Somewhere in East Beirut
The mines and friendly fire
My captors in pursuit

I made it home okay
I thought that it was safe
One day my doorbell rang
Now every night, I pray:

Oh Lord,
Gimme strength with this man

He could've been your cousin
Could be your brother too
Your psychedelic uncle
Who likes to prank and fool

In a better world you'd find him
Smiling, laughing, loving
But here in the yard, he watches from towers
And leads you into the oven
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
September 3, 2020 at 8:29 PM
Powerful penning, Keith, and no laughing matter. East Beirut's no place to spend a quiet evening by the air conditioner... ~ Nerves-a-jangle, gw
Woodrow Avatar
September 2, 2020 at 10:58 PM
oh goodness..that end is chilling but I have known families who gave up on their psychedelic uncles...and aunties too...sad world :)
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