holy tuesday

“Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her; the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should become his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.
The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and behold my suffering; my young women and young men have gone into captivity.” Lamentations 1:17-18

you stretch
out
your hands
hoping someone
(anyone)
will grasp them
tenderly,
compassion's balm
softening the callused
pads of your palms;
firmly,
with the grip
of friendship
drawing you into
an embrace;
hopefully,
as the hearts
of others swaddle
your shattered heart . . .
but
we slap them
away
muttering
for you to leave us

alone.

© 2022 Thom M. Shuman