Stones

by Shadows

Trigger Warning

August 21, 2000

fallen to the ground
reluctant to rise again
fearful for life
fearful of death
judged guilty.....
sentence to die about to be carried out....
and the one who lies in the sand
does not have the strength to rise again
for who would listen?
then is heard the sound
of the sands of condemnation
being rearranged by a lowly stick....
and silence is heavier than life
as the condemned awaits the first sting of the stone
but no stone descends....no pain alights....
except what breaks the heart inside
as the prisoner awaits her death....
the only freedom she can expect
then bowed head raises ever so slightly
and dark hair covers a fearful, tear-stained face
and the hot afternoon sun bears down mercilessly
on the one waiting to die
eyes lock...her dark pained ones with His cloudless
clear ones
and she sees it
first in utter disbelief
then in flooding relief
condemnation is lifted
the gift of forgiveness gifted
to the lone dark figure in the hot sand
for the stone throwers have fled
convicted by their own sin, they cannot punish hers
and the stones drop
and sandaled feet turn and
shuffle silently away
in disgrace
and the newly-winged soul slowly rises to her feet
shedding the weight of countless sins and judgments
they fall to the earth as she rises up
and hears His words.....
"Your sins are forgiven.....Go and sin no more....."
and she feels the gentle waterfall of Living Water
washing clean her broken heart.

Meryn