How disconcerting…
Brace for a fight
Lace up the gloves
Vaseline the soft spots
Turn corners on two wheels
Arrive and
Kick in the doors
To find that
The Enemy
Is no longer in existence
Already vanquished
By an even greater enemy
Leaving in its wake
A pitiable thing
Arousing in a decent soul
Compassion…and
Prayers...
For one’s self--
Strength
And for the other--
Mercy…
Nothing honorably left to do
BUT pray
For one ’s self---
Only that God notices
This quiet sacrifice
Cuz there will be no
Forgive-me’s… or
Thank-you’s…or
I-love-you’s… or even
Closure
When one unlaces the gloves
Washes the face
Rolls up the sleeves
And returns
For cruelty
Compassion
For ill will
Tenderness
For Indifference
Clemency
And for Unkindness
Humanity…
And pray
For the other---
Only
Mercy…
Have Mercy…
Have Mercy Lord…