The courtroom packed

the woman accused of shooting a Black man

turns out to be a white cop

headlines for another protest or riot

the stoking of hot tempers

the burning of cars and businesses

the breaking of glass

the crushing of reason

 

people and press await the sentence

but into all of this steps the victim's brother

who faces the accused

charged with murder of the one he loved

yet the brother proceeds not in anger or spite

but in a forgiving gesture never seen before

in any court of law

 

he steps toward the accused white cop

and boldly states she is loved by him

as she is by the Lord

and then wraps his arms around her

in front of the judge, the jury and

the watching world

 

and both cry in each other's arms

in a hushed moment

the brother's love overcomes

all rage and resentment

in his act of ultimate forgiveness

acting out the words of Jesus

to love and forgive our trespassers

 

all the air goes out of the protests

and the room goes quiet as

the people and the press see

this act of pure kindness and compassion

stunned into silence as they witness

the lion lying down with the lamb

 

no one can argue Hate

when Love is in the room

and bitterness has no place to hide

when souls forgive each others sins.