My Friend

THEY CALLED MY FRIEND A GLUTTEN
AND A BIBBER OF THE WINE,
FOR THERE WERE FEW WHO KNEW HIM
AS THE TRUE AND LIVING VINE.

YES THEY SAID HE WAS A REBEL
FOR HE DID NOT GO ALONG,
WITH THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE TEACHING
AND HE SAID THAT THEY WERE WRONG.

AND THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HIM
OR THE STORIES HE WOULD TELL,
OF AN UP AND COMING KINGDOM
AND A FIERY PLACE CALLED HELL.

SO THEY SAID LET'S CRUCIFY HIM
LET US NAIL HIM TO A CROSS,
AND WE'LL SHOW THIS DIRTY REBEL
WHO IS GOING TO BE THE BOSS.

SO THEY GRABBED HIM IN THE GARDEN
AND THEY NAILED HIM TO A TREE,
FOR HE HAD TO BE GOD'S SACRIFICE
TO SET ALL SINNERS FREE.

AS HE YIELDED UP THE SPIRIT
FOR HIS WORK ON EARTH WAS THROUGH,
HE SAID "FATHER PLEASE FORGIVE THEM
FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."

RICHARD A PALMER