Silent wait the prisoner,
For the rising of the sun.
He’s lost within his brooding,
Over things he’s left undone.

He will pay for the choices,
Which have filled him with regret.
And he wonders if his life
Is enough to pay this debt.

There is no absolution,
From the fetters of remorse.
They bind him to his actions,
As they place him on this course.

When the sunlight cuts the gloom,
He can hear people talking.
They lead him from the darkness,
As they shout: “Dead man walking!”

A priest offers a blessing,
And the two men share a prayer.
Then he’s led to a chamber,
Where they strap him to a chair.

He expresses his sorrow
To his victim’s next of kin.
And asks them for forgiveness,
For the pain caused by his sin.

And then he feels the pressure
As the poison fills his veins.
The blackness overcomes him,
While the soul within him drains.

Before him stands his victim,
And she offers him her hand.
She says: “Jesus is waiting.”
But he doesn’t understand.

“After all I’ve done to you,
Why would you do this for me?”
She smiles and softly whispers:
“There is something you don’t see.”

“All this time, you never knew,
That the Lord was in control.
You were meant to take my life;
I was meant to save your soul.”

“Through me you learned the meaning
And the value of a life.
Lessons carved into your soul,
By the sharp point of your knife.”

“And so I’ve come to take you,
Where my sacrifice has led.
Into the arms of Jesus,
The redeemer of the dead.”

“For He knows what fills your heart,
He has counted every tear.
He sees every intention,
If repentance is sincere.”

Then she took him by the hand,
And she led him toward a light,
Into the arms of Jesus,
Whom he held with all his might.

With tears falling from his eyes,
He softly started talking.
“If not for the two of you,
I’d be a dead man, walking.”

“Through you I’ve found redemption,
By your love, my road was paved.
I’ve been made an example,
There are none who can’t be saved.”

So let this be a lesson,
To those led by temptation.
Repentance is the answer,
To everyone’s salvation.

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Copyright©2017-1999 by Rebecca R. Hammack

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