His Choice

I wish my life were simple again

As is was when I was small

Then my only worry

Was finding my jacks ball

Nothing ever happened

That caused me great alarm

Because when you’re little

You never think of harm

You never see the bad side

Of anyone you meet along the way

You think the world is like you

You believe as truth everything they say

But as you age things happen

That skew you point of view

And make you doubt your judgment

About everything you thought you knew

The right and wrong you depended on

And considered black and white

Suddenly have shades of gray

And certainty is out of sight

There is only one refuge

It happened on a tree

Two thousand years ago

This gift that sets us free

The only truly innocent man

Who ever walked the Earth

Sacrificed himself for me

So great to him was my worth

So now when I am sad or frightened

I think upon his choice

It gives me such courage

That makes my soul rejoice.

©  2008 Barbara Duffy