How Quick We are to Judge

How Quick We Are to Judge

I once met a old woman;

thought by many people to be mad.

She mumbled to herself;

and with expression oh so sad.

She raised her hands into the air;

odd gesture to be sure;

Others passed said; ‘mental illness’;

for her there is no cure.

Some stepped aside when she passed;

afraid she might rub off;

Others simply stared at her;

and with harsh words did scoff.

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She sat beside me on a bench;

never once glanced at me;

as if I wasn’t there;

alone: content she was to be.

My curiosity profound; I strained

to hear what she was saying.

Thinking she would speak nonsense;

I heard instead; her praying!

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Whispered words to God above;

she raised her hands to Him;

and spoke a simple prayer ;

but sounded like well written Hymn.

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We misjudge those we don'tknow;

and think of them instead;

with unkind thoughts and labels;

they are the walking dead.

Why bother with them at all;

would we bother to know a fly?

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They're unstable,

in our perfect world we pass them by;

never taking time to know them.

My question is simply why?

The prayer she offered was not for herself;

nor for anyone she knew;

askingfor compassion and forgiveness;

for ones like me and you.