Officer...I know you didn't mean to do it

and I know...if you could take back  those bullets, you would

Officer...I bet  when you think about it...the chance you didn't give?

You wish you could

See, you took something not restorable...a life...and you didn't have to

I mean...you're not like a hardened, uncaring criminal...are you?

I know...you've got to feel it...feel it...deep down inside

and when its just you and God...it's my guess...you cry

How do I know?

I know because you took an oath to protect life...not take it

and I hear your record's clean...that means, you didn't fake it

But something happened on that awful day

that day when you and Michael scuffled...something happened

and you allowed your anger...to get in the way

Even before he ran...you shot him

and then again in the back...before he stopped and turned

'I don't have a gun', that's what he said...with hands raised

but for some reason...mercy was spurned

My Lord...Officer, what happened!!??

you just kept shooting...His throat, his head...his eye!

four more bullets...four more...you let fly

like...you weren't satisfied...like....you wanted him to die!

You can't tell me when you looked upon his poor body 

and beheld the gore

you didn't feel marked contrition for the murder

and shame...for the uniform's honor...you tore 

Michael Brown was 18 years old...just out of high school, for real

after a couple years in collge, he would have gotten it right...but

on that terrible day...the teen needed time...to congeal

Now, I don't know about you, but most folks have done some wrong...

however, the things stored on our 'teenage shelf'?

we wonder...today...to whom they belong 

Officer...Michael didn't deserve to die...

with hands raised in the air, he stood...an act of surrender...show

but you deprived him of his life! Why?! Why?! 

Was it because he was black?! This is something... only you and God know

In my opinion, the bottom line is this...it didn't take six bullets to subdue

...he stopped and turned after two

however in a fit of rage, you killed a young black man unnecessarily

and ultimately this must be reckoned between God Almighty and you

The rules say only shoot if you feel threatened and...can do nothing else

but he was running from you...you could have let him live

you didn't have to satisfy...self

Who knows what he would have become...?

your act...so unjust!

that you should be held accountable for this...crime...is a Must!

Certainly, not premeditated...but such a grevious wound...

the mistrust which you've sown will surely not abate...any time soon

And what of Michael's parents? 

what of the hole you cannot repair...the emptiness you can't refill?

what about their tears and pain...the silence of his laughter...to endure?

their son...! their hope! now so cold...and still

All dreams are dashed...all songs for his future...gone!

Michael's no more, but the anguish of 'what could have been' will last forever...long

I found his graduation picture on line... and as I sit and look...

I envision him home, on high...perhaps relaxing near an eternal brook

free at last...all peace...his to be had

he'll be there waiting...for his mom and dad

And...Officer, if you can bring yourself to repent...you two will meet again

you'll embrace...as friends and shake hands

and all the evil that influenced you to take his life

will be forgotten...in that far away land

Oh how sad it is! How very, very sad

that this kind of love didn't happen here...with understanding...aboard

sad...that on that fateful day...his raised arms was ignored

sad...that Brotherhood did not dance...

sad...that you didn't give Michael Brown...a chance

1Jhn 1:8-10

copyright; jmsbell 8/25/2014