When battle was among
soldiers and war
the generals’ test of will
murder was the heinous
act of monsters condemned
unworthy to live
Now police who were once soldiers
murder civilians in the city

Hearts break down
give in to amnesia
thorns from Gethsemene howl
thru rain and thunder
Forgive us! It’s our nature to pierce

If Love is a tree felled
to make many logs
and a ship of imperishable wood
that carries the willing
across a river to itself
we the people are Love
are the soldiers
the battle
the generals the monster
the police the civilians
the city the hearts
the thorns the tree
the logs
the ship and the river
There really is
(as they say)
power in the blood
compassion is that power