Once there was a garden

full of every natural wonder

where every tree was fruitful

and all the creatures would frolic in peaceful union

but when the seeds of sin begin growing

they bring a harvest of division

like pride that separates itself

from all those lower classes who should be working

Once, there was a wonder

given by the Creator

the plains that ran as rivers run

through the country of caribou

before the golden calves of religious grandeur

were pounded into the corners of the land

claiming it all as plunder

spoils for a greedy invader

and to every action

there is an equal reaction

says the natural law

we love breaking

but for every salty tear we are given

we raise up a greater hatred

a storm of violence to make them pay

for the happiness they are stealing

and for every little hurt we hold on to

we cook up a bigger retaliation

then our ancestors ever saw

in their time of wandering

this troubled world

The thing is, once there is a betrayal

a breaking of trust, an ignored appeal

denial only preserves a fantasy of health

allowing us to continue, to fail

while confession acknowledges the truth of our condition

our evil, to the judge we’ve cursed before the trial

allowing grace to flow, like medicine out and over

those of us broken, bleeding beside the trail

the hands of the offended, reaching down to the offender

a picture of forgiveness, the Creator’s will

a vision to restore the union, broken

because only though reconciliation we will heal