Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for the night has been long and cruel
and our souls are not yet wrung dry from weeping.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for the fires are raging on cultic altars
built to sacrifice precious fruit to ravenous gods.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for the day has burned our eyes
with violence against your holy blessings.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for the heavy dust of inhospitality and racism
must be washed from our feet and picked from our toes.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for the moon rises on our endurance
and the candles of hope must be relit and shared.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
for your impossible stories make us laugh
and laugh until joy looses our bonds and sets us free.
Stay awhile, O Stranger,
until dawn finds us toasting to life
with overflowing cups of wisdom and peace.
cross-posted at RevGalBlogPals