He spent the hours
He shed his - and others' - blood
He broke bones
He threw kicks
He received beats

And he felt them through the pulse
Of the music
The words exploded
They raked at his insides
And ripped their way out

Looking in the mirror
He finally saw that soul -
Was it his? -  That air bubble popped
And - finally - then came the upward lift

Alone but sailing
The taint slowly
Peeled back
One day at a time
He got back that suffering
He made it into songs

He changed lives
Starting with his own

And then fell back.

Time to return the favor,
They understand more than anyone
Your words still have meaning
Your message is still heard

To err is human, and
Forgiveness divine,
Forgive yourself.
We have forgiven you.