I STILL WONDER (THE ASCENT)

I descended into hell
to see the one who,
just hours ago,
was said to have murdered
in the cruelest of ways.
Yes, a person lay dead.
I walked slowly,
each step
almost a deliberate attempt
to turn the other way.
Each step imprinted
a memory in my mind,
a reverberation down
my sensitive spine.

What would I find just
moments from standing
within inches of a man
now hated by the masses?
I was shaking inside;
there IS something strange
about meeting with one
accused of such a gruesome
crime. CHILLING, I'd say.
Would I hold his gaze?
I simply prayed to finish
the next thirty minutes.
All of this, surrealistic.

But now, it was real.
I opened the door and
there he stood on the
other side of plexiglass.
How long would I last?
In this tiny room I felt
Spirit. I needed to look;
who or what was present
in this very small place?
Could Love and Hate both
occupy this space?
I turned and looked
over my shoulder,
towards the upper corner
of the concrete walls.
Nothing was there; yet,
I sensed a Presence...
It was peace, and then
compassion.

I turned to the man,
just standing there,
with a look of shock
on his face. He seemed
shaken from a very bad
dream, only to realize
he was not asleep.
He sobbed, like a child
who just lost his mother,
as he struggled to speak,
to answer my questions,
but more a reflection
of his complete dismay.
Who had he betrayed?
Had he slayed the one
he claimed to Love?

I looked into his eyes
and, though fully aware
of the reason for his arrest,
all I saw was the child
this man once was.
Who had he become
resulting from years of
neglect, disrespect, and a
lack of connection to Love?
Inside I cried for him,
for the one killed,
for his family
and for the victim's kin.
No one would win in a
court of law.
No one would ever get
over this loss.

My work now done, I
packed my briefcase.
I knew, in my heart,
I'd never be the same.
Indeed, so it seemed
a murder had occurred
yet, on a timeline,
from beginning to end,
I couldn’t help wonder
at EXACTLY what point
this child, turned man,
could have been saved
by the hands of Love?

~© JDS 05/08/2009~

Wow, that was great.

It truly sends one into the depths of contemplation.

Hey tanya, Happy Friday...thanks for the love g/f

Very good, that brings me back to a time when I was in a court room and a murderer was convicted. thoughs thoughts when he would make eye contact with me.I did not look down until he looked away. Good Write :)

MM Ty.

Hi 2Kids! Showered with flowers...lovely, ty.

Thank you Abra....true story. One, I will never forget.

I appreciate your reading and for the comment

Hi Carol! It's nice to meet you.

Ty for stopping in. It is truly amazing what our eyes can sense, see and convey.

He had no light in his eyes, sad.

Your welcome :)

It causes pause to wonder why, when and at what cost? I've seen the sweetest children turn into the most unruly adults. A definite argument for the impact of our environment on one's life.
You are definately opening eyes with your writings as of late.

Thank you for reading and commenting (((P)))....Yes, I have learned that very few things in life are black and white.....

Everyone has a story...a beginning, a middle and an end. If a person's life ends in tragedy, knowing the beginning and middle sequence of events helps to inform and create public policy.

If we give priority to those most vulnerable in our society, and intervene with purpose and intent, I think we might see fewer endings that simply leave us with a sense of shock.

Wow talking about something that grabs your heart right down to the soul and leaves an impression this one just did it. Great write..............

Thank you so very much K! So glad to hear that. I appreciate your feedback.

So few see beyond their "eyes"; you are blessed in that you see through the eyes of Spirit. That makes you a Blessing among us.

Love you (((g/f!))) Thank you for such a heartfelt message


Miss you around here ya know! Thanks for stopping in