Misplaced Compassion

by keith jeffries

Tuesday 6th March 2018 10:35 pm

Misplaced Compassion

He has committed the most heinous crime

people are filled with repugnance and repelled

Condemnatory and hostile words are spat out

many say he is beyond redemption

I know him, but not well, once an acquaintance

years have passed since we first and last met

I neither liked nor disliked him

he seemed cheerful, confident and vivacious

Sentenced to fifteen years in prison

he is a broken man, unable to look people in the eye

Shame has wrapped her cloak about him

he cries for anonymity, if not more

In a brief span of time he has aged

forlorn, head cowed with vacant contrition

He has been led away to self imposed misery

no ounce of comfort, no crumb of compassion

I am moved to reach out to him in his torment

a spirit of solace presses upon my soul

He is incarcerated, should I go to him

to offer myself as some comfort in a sea of despair

Comments

kJ Walker

Mon 12th Mar 2018 19:31

Ha. I couldn't have been more wrong. I was so sure you'd go.

Cheers Kevin

keith jeffries

Mon 12th Mar 2018 09:11

Kevin,
thank you for your comment. I have made what I believe is the right decision and that is to let matters rest as I don´t realistically believe I can be of any positive use. Nevertheless, thanks a lot matey.
Keith

kJ Walker

Mon 12th Mar 2018 07:11

Hi Keith
You don't tell us who this guy is or what his crime was (rightly so).
You speak as though you are in a dilemma (not knowing whether or not to visit him) but I think your mind is already made up. Because of your religious beliefs and kind hearted nature, you will go. You will offer some kind of forgiveness and comfort, then you yourself will carry some of his burden.

Life is so much easier when you are like me, and have a heart of stone..

Kevin

keith jeffries

Wed 7th Mar 2018 18:20

David,
Thank you again for a balanced appraisal. You are right in saying that forgiveness needs to be sought and granted by the person who was the vicitm. Genuine contrition on behalf of the convicted is essential and then a willingness for those who are the injured party to forgive. I cannot see any other option. We cannot seek daily forgiveness for the errros we commit unless we are prepared to forgive those who offend us. The two are in tandem. Contrition, confession and absolution or nothing. I think I can buy this.
Thanks again
Keith

keith jeffries

Wed 7th Mar 2018 17:44

David,
Thank you for this very forceful comment to my poem which merits serious consideration. My emotional pendulum is swinging to and fro at the moment but I find your words very persuasive. Thank you indeed. Keith

keith jeffries

Wed 7th Mar 2018 15:04

MC., thank you for this comment. I am not at liberty to disclose the nature of the crime but it is one of the worst in the book. Yet what you say is very true. Stones have been thrown by many and he exercised no self control. His soul is in mortal peril. Redemption or none? It is indeed a dilema. Thank you again. Keith

M.C. Newberry

Wed 7th Mar 2018 14:45

Which begs this question I put to you,
This miserable man - what did he do?
We are prey to demons from without and within,
And are today's stone throwers so free of sin?
But then again we must know self-control,
Or risk knowing the fall and ruin of the soul.

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Misplaced Compassion

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