And so for my last performance...

 


Mr. Garrick in the Character of Richard III, William Hogarth British, Etching and engraving; second state of two

But it was never supposed to be for you

It was supposed to be for someone not you

Who had shown me scorn

Who had not taken me when I was wandering

Who had not loved me when I stumbled

I don't want to break YOUR hearts


Narratives don't fit

I refuse ours to be one of hate


But now I have to be me

And I want that to be in service to you

And I know that's not what you want


I just didn't want it to be this hard


And so for my last performance

I bare in pain the man you loved

The man I cannot be anymore

I witness to my love for you

And take my leave


And when you hear the truth

You will likely grieve that man

You need not look further than the steps to your altar

For he was not there

Except for my heart

Which always defaults to love


It is grievous that God wrote love in the cosmos

And humans rewrote it with hate

We meet some day at the foot of the Cross

Because love wins out


Remember how I told you that story?

Old and familiar but still comforting


I hope I told it well




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