Repent and Believe

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. . . ." --John 1:9, The King James Version "Some things are not forgivable. Deliberate cruelty is not forgivable." --the voice of a mad Cassandra as Blanche DuBois to The Streetcar Named "Your Desire" To prove myself of Reason worthy still to help my fellow being rise upright to clarify his state of shame and guilt to bathe his being till it light reflect, this dress of white, this kneel upon the floor shall plead before the shallow mind and heart committing Harm not knowing what they do each but an enemy to Fact and Truth No pleasure, pride, or love can one attain at the expense of Suffering and Pain-- the waste of Value, Value ever worth far more than any measureless desire-- the spirit prodigal in hot pursuit of joy extreme, of passion murderous-- of dream corrupt devolving till possessed by crazed hallucination loosed on Earth-- The man of faith his nature cannot cleanse, though he confess his history of crime, of present, past, and future brutal acts, his burden and responsibility-- so Wisdom calls his power to account, for backed beyond all doubt intelligent, his cruelty deliberate is wed to Horror unforgivable yet here Its Spot--inborn in each crusade Its Blot--inbred in inquisition's tome Its Stain--innate in slavery enchained Its Stink--of wars Its Stench--of genocides Its Howl--of man Its Scream--of slaughtered beasts Its Cry--of women witches ill accused Its Shriek--of guardians the devil cursed Its Tear--of every innocent and child Its Bloated King-- With So Much Blood In Him Dedicated with Respect for All who desire no association with any such gang Free Verse January 28, 2022 "Repent and Believe" Poetry Contest Regina McIntosh