'Seize Not The Treasure From Us” Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

Clothed in orange robes,
paraded on the street
with a gun pointed
at our back
and in front of us,

Made to kneel down and
ordered to denounce our faith
in Jesus, the Christ,

Denied of water and food,
Shown the sharp edge of knives
To sever our heads from our body,

We bow down our heads
in complete surrender
only to our Lord, the Christ.

We welcome death
Not seeking to inflict pain
on those who take us as enemies;
Not seeking for revenge
Not giving hate a chance
to dominate.

Seize not the treasure from us
The greatest treasure for world peace
The greatest treasure for our violence
And man-made deaths
Seize not the treasure from us,
that is JESUS!
________________________
21 Egyptian Coptic Christians beheaded by ISIS in Libya, written as response to the 54th title challenge of our co-poet, Rufus.