These days, on TV, there's a show, "The Swan" Girls who thought they were undesirable Doctored to be 'beautiful' in the world's eyes Let me tell you of a real swan From my childhood I have known her voice I remember her angelic little girl picture Let me tell you of my mother A swan without artificial beauty, but real Inside and out A true swan, a precious daughter of Zion A swan finding birds of a feather If ever an ugly duckling Only in her own eyes, clouded by lies Open her yes, Lord Show her the Swan she is She is Jesus' sister and friend I am this lovely swan's proud chick On this, I kneel before the Father I give thanks for a true swan Stephen Pursell, around Mother's Day, 4/9/04 During my years in prison I walked as a christian and
thus was the object of much hatred for my ability to love those who are
generally rejected by criminally-minded prison culture. My refusal to
participate in prison inmate politics and my open demonstrations of love
for my christian brothers(and others I reached out to in God's love)
from varying racial and cultural backgrounds was feared and hated by men
of evil intent. As a result I was physically attacked many times. Since
the prison system does not care whether or not one is defending himself
against an unprovoked attack and it only seeks to accuse, condemn,
punish and abuse I was always thrown in solitary confinement for these
altercations. I remember specifically(and recognize we the paper on
which the original was penciled) that this poem came during one of those
passages through solitary confinement due to persecution, one after
which I had had to fight a man much bigger than me to avoid being abused
even worse. But what a blessing to be persecuted for the the Lord and share in his sufferings! |   |
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