in payment for the torment

by vincent van goghÂ
I'm not sure what he called this painting
but I call it 'manky old boots'

heaven wears the face of a pigÂ
         and the hat of a sailorÂ
jesus has a kissing boothÂ
         just outside of the entrance to hellÂ
for an american dollar you can be kissed by jesusÂ
         before you burnÂ
a man on a downtown streetcorner has been whispering toÂ
         people passing by that to be a good christianÂ
         you need a good credit rating
a blue sun rose this morning but it's ok
        because the air force shot it downÂ
and tomorrowÂ
        what thenÂ
-----
the child is chained to a wall in the basementÂ
and has been down there so longÂ
         that the tears no longer comeÂ
so it is that the eyes of this childÂ
        are the most beautiful on earthÂ
as if in payment for the torment and sufferingÂ
of course you and I knowÂ
        that there is no way repay a personÂ
        for such an evil as thisÂ
not even justice is enoughÂ
------
I know that there is no heavenÂ
         no life after this oneÂ
so I go on just for the sake of livingÂ
         and that's enough
-----
For all the things I seek through prayer, may I remember to be thankful for all that is already here, around me, with me; the beauty of existence.
james lee jobeÂ

Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom.
Henepola Gunaratana

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