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Recorded Reading (1:55): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g7dz14gj9yht3f030zueb/Give-Us-Barrabas.m4a?rlkey=n7qkyj9x2vik1d7miwd7t4q09&dl=0

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The poet hasn’t been writing much new work of late. The level of mental exhaustion produced by the cruelties of her stalker and the hatred of her fellow man prevent such intricate exercise ~ if you don’t think what she does is hard work, write just four rhyming lines you won’t be embarrassed to read aloud afterward.

However, the poem below popped off the presses around four thirty this morning, so we interrupt our currently running “Visions” series to share it.

It does occur to the poet that this little offering indeed summarizes much of her 64 years of experience among the indwelling hominids on the third dimension of Earth.

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Give Us Barrabas!

If they want to despise you
They’re going to find a way
Be you as transparent 
As the dawning of the day

Be you as uprighteous
As a tow’ring totem pole,
Strive you with your final strength
To serve the greater whole

Smile you from the heart
And offer all your very best ~
They won’t rest until they’ve 
Put it to such thorough test

That they have destroyed
What might have enjoyed
Sacrificing quality
To petty venal jealousy

Much easier it makes it
When selfish self believes
“I’m sure He merely fakes it ~
He once hung out with thieves”

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