Erren Geraud Kelly’s most recent poem to appear here was Ferguson, Missouri (July 2015).

Stephen
By Erren Geraud Kelly

forgive them for they
know not what they do
they could throw daggers
at me
and i would be
happy
a child of the most
high
has nothing to do
with fear

even as they persecuted me
i
praised them
the sky kept
falling
but i only feared
i would not be
able
to hold the righteous
one’s hand
where i am
going
days have no beginning or
end
a woman’s grace
is eternal

so reward me with paradise, dear lord
i am only sorry
i have one life to
give