Redemption

The riven, shriven, re-arisen,
by God, if not by man, forgiven,
are resurrected, not perfected
but numinous now, and luminous.

Seared in sorrow, tempered, burning,
bright as blazing beacons turning
dark to light, and yet still yearning
to reconstruct their fractured hearts,
by some sweet subtle healing arts
become the sum of all their parts
before this fragile lifespan's ending.

So they devote themselves to mending
broken bridges and unbending
laws and lending ears to those
who need defending
for pity's sake and common good.
Let this be clearly understood,
so if you wonder why they care,
they've been there, brother,
they've been there.