I am the woman caught in adultery.
My dark secret divulged in the morning light
a criminal accused, condemned
an adulteress abandoned, alone
a mistress defiled, tainted
longing to be redeemed
to be rescued
to be cleaned

Do you know me?

I am the woman at the well
My beauty withered, wilted in the noonday sun
every line, every crevice on my tired face
a dried-up river bed
for tears that would not come
for love that would not stay
longing to find innocence lost long ago
to fill this gaping hole in my soul
to be touched, treasured

Do you know me?

I am the man of the tombs
My life with the dead in constant night
free of chains and constraints
yet imprisoned in the caverns of my own mind
naked, cut, and bleeding
howling anguish
longing to be whole
to be mended
to be

Do you know me?

I am these
who stood before Jesus outcast
who saw in His eyes
tears for all I had lost, thrown away
I am these
who fell from grace
or jumped
or were pushed
I am these

who needed His unwarranted forgiveness
His unsurpassed healing
His immeasurable mercy
His conditional love.

Do you know me?

BACK
2000 �Iris Laureate-all poetry copywrighted
1999 � Sites by Starr
Came to read poetry