The Fortress

Imagine a formidable city.
With walls so high and thick,
That no one could ever beseige it,
Or get inside with any trick.
This city had numerous defenses:
A moat two miles wide,
Three drawbridges and turrets,
With countless soldiers inside.
This fortress would be safe forever,
From any outside influences.
Temptation to fall would never
Breach this city's defenses.

Now, imagine inside the protections
The citizens used no laws to govern,
For trouble from outside was one thing,
But they felt no such care for their brethren.
In short, they were cruel to each other
With mistrust they looked on their neighbors.
And they criticised one another,
With contempt for each brother's labors.
No trouble was taken to teach them,
That a person inside was a partner
In the purpose they all were achieving.
Because each man believed HE was smarter.
And so many who lived in the city,
Chose instead, to live outside in danger
They preferred instead, to live in a land
Where everyone else was a stranger.
Preferable, it seemed to them
To brave the troubling world of sin,
Instead of being safe from the outside,
And having their brothers hurt them within.

Imagine a land of peace,
Where all you need is provided.
And imagine your faith is safe,
And your lifestyle already decided.
Then imagine you find it is harder,
To find acceptance and peace,
In the place where you thought you'd be safest,
The place you should've feared the least.

Oh, Remember, my friends, to be careful
Of the caution you throw aside,
When you think no one needs your example
Because they're already inside.


***I wrote this poem for those who need it, for myself also. It's a problem that I wish didn't exist, especially here. But it does exist. Especially here.
For my friends who have been victims of what this poem is about. For myself, some days, too.