Sweeping sounds from Broadway stage
stir tender tide of forgiveness. But
he could neither comprehend
so deep a river to drown his agony
nor cross bridge she became when,
unfairly judged, she forgave his tyranny.

She remembered then story:
beginning, middle, end. She recalled reason
their paths had crossed again, hard
lessons learned, long bridges burned, stones left unturned.
God, have mercy. Let him love.
He would not yield, dared not walk in freedom’s field.

In her heart she carried him
along rivers that wound through ages long since.
Angel of mercy, spirit
of grace, she held his heart as he held her face –
that face he despised and vowed
to condemn, to pursue until bitter end.

Hers had been the face he saw.
Though he did not recognize her yet, strange wind
carried them, swept up in some
divine purpose yet to be revealed. Waiting,
she walked in silence gazing
into crystal waters when it all came clear.

Through narrow gate he had passed
and straightaway in righteous reverie marched,
as he’d been taught, properly,
to hold supreme accountability and
live law of the land, become
the hand that brings order and justice and right.

In an instant in her eyes
he glimpsed again wide grace he left behind when
first he chose to seal off heart
he thought too shattered to love again. Apart
from emotion, he sought soul
perfection – determined in new direction.

Self-appointed jury, judge,
he sat now across from beloved, accused,
gave her the chance to return
his sentence. Her knowing eyes fixed on him, yet
still she shone with innocence,
her acceptance of him unconditional.

Crescendo chorus hearkens
to him; he must make a choice. To forsake what
truth he’d staked his life upon?
Or to refuse her forgiveness for which he’d
had no need ‘til now and dive
into river of shame and forgetfulness?

Have mercy, God in heaven;
have mercy on his soul. She sings with angels,
brings him sweet dreams of their walks
along shores of life, death – they cross bridges, stand
hand in hand, made stronger in
choice to forgive and so rewrite their story.

God have mercy on my pain,
burning desire to be forgiven and to
forgive. Pour out your grace on
one I love who cannot seem to pardon me
for “sin” of necessity.
May I not forget my need of your mercy.



Inspired by Les Miserables