FOUND BY LOVE
by Robert E. Preston

Yearning deeply, sighs of despair fill my emptiness within.
Chattel all my life for men who use and abuse,
Words of love spoken, so deeply longed for, cause me again
To hope within for true love to find me.

Silently screaming in the caverns of my soul tear at the edges of sanity.
Hooked by the nose and led by subtle lies,
Promises made of meaning and power,
Words spoken, so earnestly hoped for, cause me again
To dream within that true strength would be mine.

Betrayed by a father who whispered to me in the dark,
Whipped by a husband, abased for his ego to stand upon,
Daring vainly to trust once more words of love spoken with honeyed lips,
Betrayed yet again, this time by his denial, when discovered.

Beaten by a father, named the source of his shame.
Beaten by those whose bully courage grew from my small frame,
Praying vainly to believe the words of promise they whispered in my mind,
Betrayed, yet again, this time by chains and whips within, unable to escape.

So many men, so many beds, and now –so many men with rocks in hand.
It ends here. No more tears remain. Let them bring an end to it all.
Then the Rabbi stoops and writes in the sand.
What? Will no on cast the first stone? Where are they all going?
Head still bowed, despair incarnate, I feel His Touch!
He lifts my chin, and looking into His eyes,
I realize I have been found by Love!

So many lies, so many screams, and now – insane rage consumes me.
It ends here. No more light remains. Let them bring an end to it all.
Then the Rabbi speaks and asks my name.
What? Will they reveal themselves to Him? Where are they all going?
Open wounds still bleeding, insanity incarnate, I hear His Word!
He lifts my chin, and looking into His eyes,
I realize I have been found by Love!

11 September 2010