Road To Damascus Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

You were once a meeting place
of human goodness -
of the Good Samaritan, saving
the fallen victim of the hiding thieves,
a road to friendship
against the bridge of enemies,
the road to humility
with the ability to forgive.

You were once a meeting point
of human newness -
of Saul, the intolerant,
persecutor of Christians,
blinded by light,
and yet rode back to this road
as Paul with renewed eyesight.

Damascus, a meeting road
of human goodness and newness
met by the Lord of Light,
and yet today has turned
to be an open graveyard
guarded by violence and blood.