A Lament

For America, upon hearing of another shooting in Baton Rouge.

A Lament.

"I follow Yahweh"

"I follow Self"

"I follow Allah"

And yet the sting of Death is felt

A mother cries

Another bomber dies

Police enforce corrupted lies

And the sting of Death is felt

"All lives matter"

Such narratives we sell

But turn and kill each other

And the sting of Death is felt

Assumed innocent if your skin is light

Who gave those officers such Divine Right?

But should justice kill all cops in sight?

Yes, the sting of Death is felt

Redemption promised: the Prince of Peace

But how can this hope be held?

When everything is broken

And the sting of Death is felt?

The Day, it comes

Injustice undone

Oppressors destroyed, the victory won

Only memory of Death will be felt

Oh trumpet, oh glorious,

When Death be cast to hell

When every wrong be righted

And joy be all that's felt

Until that day

We lament, we grieve, we pray

We follow our Savior's humble way

And let the sting of Death be felt

"For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable... THEN shall it come to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'Oh Death, where is your sting?'" 1 Corinthians 15:52, 54-55