The Vengeance Tree

Written By Marvin Thomas Cox Flynn

Copyright 2009 Marvin Thomas Cox
DBA: Marvin Thomas Cox Flynn

To those whom I have wronged,

Do words exist which take away pain?
is there penance which can be done,
And hurt will not remain?

What salve or ointment might I offer thee,

my blood, my life, nailed to a tree?
oh, that such an offering would bring to you peace,
and all your pain quietly cease.

Pain festers within you from wrongs received,

grasping for vengeance that sweet relief.
can you not see you are feeding a fire,
one which consumes through hateful desires?

And when, at last, an end to me you see,

tasting the sweet vengeance you fervently seek,
'twill be the end of you, as well as of me,
as we face each other upon that tree.

Your goal at last so greatly achieved,

mission accomplished though heart deceived,
hanging upon the vengeance tree!
nails through you, and nails through me!
 This tree takes no prisoners, offers no quarter.
it knows not mercy, nor bribe, nor barter.
it renders stripe for stripe, pain for pain,
innocent or guilty no living remain.

As the driver of nails and pierced alike,

are sentenced together through hateful spite,
when an ounce of forgiveness would have bought,
that ease of pain which both have sought.

an example was set for us each to see,

by a Jewish man who was nailed to a tree.
'Father forgive them, they know not what they do,'
as he breathed his last, like me, and like you,
for death comes for us all a reality all too true ...

(Written June 22nd, 2009)