I sit in the dock, my head hung low
Afraid but innocent; that's all I know.
Why was I here? What had I done?
They read out the charges one by one.
Did I do that? I can't recall.
I was just a child. The offence was small.
The list goes on, it's longer still,
An adolescent with thoughts that kill
And angry words with venom boast
Of hurting the ones that cared the most.
The teenage years when rebellion reigned
Even hurting myself to ease the pain.
Barriers of steel, enforced with pride
Independent spirit, no fear, no guide,
And trust was a word that others used
To control the innocents they tried to abuse.
So in anger I hated, poured scorn and contempt
On all that was precious and all good intent.
Unforgiving, unyielding, convinced I was right
My light was the darkness, my day was the night.
Blinded to reason, not knowing what's true
I'd chosen the evil - the lesser of two.
With head even lower, I trembled with shame
My sins were disgusting and I bore the blame.
My guilt lay before me, my crimes were deplored,
My accuser stood smirking, he knew he had scored.
Then he caused murmurs and gasps from the crowd
When he demanded the sentence of death be allowed.
That I was a sinner, not one could deny
And justice insisted that now I must die.
Sitting beside me, He rose to his feet,
My Defender, my Lawyer, His turn to speak.
He addressed my accuser, His voice strong and clear
And asked if he'd witnessed the things stated here.
For everyone knows to establish the truth
Two or three witnesses must show the proof.
My accuser looked scared but was trapped to admit
That he had been present throughout all of it.
You say you were there. What role did you play?
Did you lighten the darkness or show her the way?
When someone is blind, they will stumble along.
It's the duty of angels to show right, not wrong.
How guilty of falling can this mortal be
When her light was so dark that she could not see?
Which blind one among you could tell day from night
If you were not led by an angel of light?
Nods from the crowd and murmurs again
This time concluding they couldn't condemn.
Amazing! they cried, that she managed so well
Despite being tortured by demons from Hell.
Silence! He said. (All became still).
He smiled at His Son, pronounced His will.
Case dismissed!
Jane Townsley
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