For All The Saints Who From Their Labors Do Not Rest Yet (Final Version) Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

that there may be an end to the extremes of verbal abuse
and bullying, both officially and unofficially, in the free world
and in the world that is designated otherwise, in every nook
and cranny, in every back room business office, in every schoolroom corner, in every tenement walk up, in every wealthy enclave, cul de sac, on every rickety elevator and alley, allee, everywhere indeed that God sees into it and the angels as well that
the force of words is used to murder the soul even in so called
charitable institutions, in faith based precincts, down to the
waterlines even in Space or on every dark valentine day let the bullies STAND DOWN.

['a bruised reed He will not break'
-Jesus]
===========================================
on a day when I was beaten with words
the sky was like a flower
small birds sang their fluted songs

on a day when I was thwarted by the inspector
inspecting whatever could be inspected and
setting things straight according to the codes

for this special occasion when the sky was a bouquet
my soul was straight though beaten with words
though beaten with words when the sky was

like a flower I was made to feel ashamed
but not for the small birds singing
while the inspectors

kept inspecting kept the tirade of words saved up
who is their God
He does not beat with words
He sings his songs of fluted stars
over the wide earth turning

so I have something else on which
to fix my rapt attention
every day I am beaten with words

or burning


mary angela douglas 28 september 2012; 10 october 2023


'Thy Kingdom Come,
Thy Will Be Done
On Earth as It Is in Heaven'

-The Lord's Prayer, (Jesus)