Shadows swallowed the land in darkness. Prayers murmured by devout falling to their knees, begging for forgiveness for their wayward thoughts, actions, deeds, hearts, souls. After much praying, the shadows lifted. The devout gazed around them at the unchanged landscape recently courting darker than night. They thanked the One who listened to their prayers.

She observed the devout for days after their fervent praying, hearing their gossip, their judgments, how they edged around the homeless, crucified the different. Pride guided them. Superiority a goal steadfastly acknowledged.

Ignorance eclipsed kindness. Stop gap god borne.

end 9/5/2016 (2)

S. Darlington