Judge Me Not
"None who have always been free can understand the terrible fascinating power of the hope of freedom to those who are not free."
- Pearl S. Buck
When your heartbeat slows down
and you can bear to see me flail,
until time has stilled my limbs
and I’m not pronounced dead,
then please scrape my dignity
from the floor,
scoop up my fallen pride..
It’s the only way I can thank you
for your helping hand,
until I can speak again
and that won’t be long.
If you have the time,
I’ll invite you for coffee;
we can chat about this and that.
But if you don’t care to stay,
then please take out a knife
to cut loose the string
that’s tied around my neck,
digging deep into my flesh
and shredding my heart.
Then tear up the tag;
the label that places
judgment on me.
© Christine Magee
