a lament, a prayer (rework)

 You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

When men oppress the least of these, 

these little birds you made:

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

When nations rest at ease, feast on fat meat, sit

on the bones of these sweet birds and say

"Peace! Peace!" (knowing, they think, 

bones cannot speak):

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

When little, brittle birds, untended, limp

to spend our pennies on small sins:

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

When proud men preen, and vomit lies, and call it truth,

when fools leap up like dogs to lick their spew:

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

When greedy priests would weave another veil

between your spirit's power, and their flocks,

Or teach their sheep to heap self righteousness 

around their hurts like dragon hoards,

Or walk in judgment, blinded by white boards

of painted over shame they dare not see:

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

And when we, still, step on your children's backs

(as if on insects: unlovely and uncounted)

to keep our ease–To keep our ease!: 

You hear, you see, you reign, and you will judge.

You who sees us: have mercy: judge.