Her case tipped my body over
spilled soul into ground
until my back collapsed limp and
I felt her loneliness.
Until land grew sink holes
pulling mind into doubt,
tell me,
how do you do it?
Bend light to hide shadows,
speak Scripture and swoon the young,
does it taste good?
To swallow unsanctified spit and
spew seductive sayings
smothered in shallow remorse?
Older hands,
flesh of her flesh
claim her skin.
Those weren’t praying hands, oh,
he touched her and
I’m not talking by the sweet Spirit.
I can’t help but think:
would your sermons reek
if served as fragrant offering?
His case broke my body
crushed bones out of spine
until my back collapsed limp.
His trust in teachers
flew out your car window and
bashed into my side
until I couldn’t stand the thought of you.
How many students
hate to sing your songs?
Afai e lelei le leo
ae leaga le amio
e tupu mai ai le fati
e sasi ai le pati.
Do you realize,
when holding positions of power
serving public or private
within the sacred institution of church
there are standards to maintain?
A ua tigā le tino e tasi
tigā loʻu nei tino
e tigā foʻi le tino o le ekalesia.
These verdicts
these verdicts
collect petty fees
spur village rumor
usher villains to freedom
and victims to shame.
When one body hurts,
all bodies hurt.
Itʻs simple.
We fail miserably.
We all have no excuse.
Let the court case come.
Tell the truth.
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