she’s listening

She’s listening.

When your condemnations
ring out like clanging cymbals
and self-righteous certainty
resounds from your lips and fingertips.

You attack, and pretend it’s love;
you mock who she is
and laugh at your own cleverness.

and still she’s listening.

You claim to love the sword of truth.
You swing it about wildly
proudly
slicing and hacking
with no thought to the damage.

God says, “Beat your swords into ploughshares,”
but your hate-filled words answer back,
“Just one more pound of flesh.”

and still she’s listening.

When one day you set your sword in the grass
and wipe away the blood…her blood
and try to tell her “God loves you.”

She won’t be listening.