| THE CELL |
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The cell was small and very cramped Concrete walls stayed cold and damp One tiny window with steel bars Showed a ray of sun or slice of stars A burlap mattress with lumps and knots A tattered blanket...an iron cot This is where his road had led After he ignored what his parents said They tried their best to steer him right Teach him to live in God's own light But he'd made fun of his father's words While acting like he hadn't heard Responding only with hoots and jeers Unaffected by his mother's tears.. When he turned 18, he left their home Ready to face life on his own... Washing dishes, sloshing wet Was the only job that he could get For years earlier he'd quit school Didn't care for teachers, books or rules Now he spent his days being fighting mad He wanted things that rich folks had Why did some have all and others none? He thought "That's not how things should run!" He left the corner bar one night Encountered a bum who wanted to fight He knocked the drunk face down in the dirt And reached inside the torn, bloody shirt When he drew back he was holding a gun That’s when his troubles had really begun Down the street was a grocer store He'd been inside several times before The owner was an elderly man Who'd be afraid to make a stand... Outside the door....he paused for a minute The wind seemed to have his mama's voice in it... "Son, don't do this" he heard her say "You will be throwing your whole life away! Stop and ask God to help you decide" But he shrugged it off....he had far too much pride!! Waste time on God.... what was the point? Unless of course God could help rob this joint! He entered the store..the gun held steady Whatever happened he felt he was ready He never saw the off-duty cop Who had come in...preparing to shop He heard someone yell "Freeze" Then watched as the officer sank to his knees He never remembered even firing the gun... It was still in his hand....though he felt very numb Arrested and tried before he caught his breath The jury needed an hour...the sentence was death! So for ten lonely years he had sat in this cell Looking forward only to visions of hell... For though the chaplain had come to him and explained That Jesus had died so he could be born again |
