OPPRESSED

YOU CRITICIZE,

SCORN,

SQUELCH ANY OUNCE OF DELIGHT

THAT JUST MIGHT BE

TRYING TO FIGHT ITS WAY OUT;

CRUSH MY SPIRIT,

AND YOUR EMBARRASSMENT SHINES,
ESPECIALLY
IF A SLIVER

OF MY CREATIVITY
MIGHT HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SLIP.

I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS SIXTY,

AFTER MOST OF THE CHAINS HAD BEEN BROKEN

BY UGLY THINGS THAT WERE 
INTENTIONALLY,
I BELIEVE,
SPOKEN

IN ORDER TO REALIZE

I DID HAVE SOMETHING

WORTHWHILE TO SAY.

TO CLARIFY,

NOT MY WORDS BUT HIS.

AFTER BEING SO OPPRESSED

FOR SO LONG,

IT WASN'T EASY

FINDING ME.

WHY WOULD A MOTHER

WANT TO SMOTHER

THE GOD-GIVEN GIFTS

OF A DAUGHTER?

I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU COULD NOT SEE THAT SO CLEARLY
AND IGNORE THE SPARK IN MY GREEN EYES.

LORD, IF NOT FOR YOU,

NONE OF MY PRAYERS

WOULD NEVER HAVE COME TRUE.

THANK YOU, JESUS,

FOR TAKING A LITTLE GIRL'S TRAMPLED HEART,

RESHAPING IT

AND MAKING IT YOURS.
MAY YOU
AND YOU ALONE
BE GLORIFIED.

PSALM 9:9

THE LORD IS A REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED,
A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.