MY VOICE My voice is but a simple one Tired of the lies, Just give me the truth Ain't no sunshine where there is shame Instead of flowers I've gotten rain Evil frought against me, left without a fight Going through the badlands, Not having seen, the way of right As a bat minus eyes to see, Shielded from truth and light, Of what is and what could be Never stood ground against what I didn't know,, Could not see Yet felt darkness, there before me Blocked at every turn, Kept from my purpose Silent without a voice, Til the Lord spoke my name He said "Stand up, stand your ground, What is happening I will not tolerate, These are my people,  this is my land" I asked, for wisdom that I would know, For discernment that I could tell, That the veil on my eyes be removed, For empathy to feel others pain Then I looked about and saw, Grief and pain and evil about Not that I should sit idly and quietly by, But that I stand and speak He told me "speak it loud, speak it clear, Yours is not to accept and retreat, STAND your ground, DO NOT back down, SPEAK truth and right, When evil and darkness come against you, Say it louder, call my name, though they try to silence you, they will NOT SUCCEED They may imprison or take your life, Yet your reward for truth, lies in me, Your physical being is merely a vessel in this world Your eternal lies with me, Should they silence you, I will bring more, Now Go, reach all you can, For the hour is late, I am coming soon, My army will come to clean and glean, For the harvest is plenty, Now GO, and SPEAK"                                          j Winters