Liberation

I shudder with recognition

To realize that

The life-long trail 

Of abandonment & betrayal

Leads 

To my own address

The "smoking gun"

Emblazoned

With a mosaic

Of my fingerprints.

Rolling away 

The stone

That entombed my heart

A long seized gateway

Is swung open

To reveal

The garden

While kneeling

To pray

I wonder

Just how often 

Have I forsaken?

Whom has been left

To vanquish alone?

Their prayer request

Falling upon 

The deaf ears

Of my indifference 

And self-concern

How deep has

the betrayal run?

How complete its taint?

No alibi nor rationalization

Regardless of the sophistication

Of its composure

Absolves my compliance

Nor separates me

From the rabble

In terms of person acquaintance 

I have met none

That have "missed the mark"

Greater than I.

No confession nor indictment

Rather

The key to freedom

Extricated by the sword of Truth

My condemnation

Cannot hold a candle

To the forgiveness rendered

Nor the magnitude 

Of its Source

Grateful, humbled &

Eager to serve

The roaming Prodigal son

Locates

 Love, Forgiveness, God (Father/Mother)

Far closer to home

Than ever before

Imagined

Hallelujah!!

R. O'Neill (March 27, 2018)