Conversion to Love

John Steinbeck was my favorite storyteller.

I had an extremely limited view

Of the world from my church’s pew

Where I read -

Grapes of Wrath,

Of Mice and Men,

The Red Pony ,

East of Eden

While the preacher talked on Exodus

And the bones of Joseph being carried

Out of Egypt.

My parents,

Sometimes when overwhelmed

Spoke of the atrocities of the world.

The sweetest people I’ve ever known,

Who loved the world and all in it, would whisper –

I don’t know why these things happen,

These things aren’t supposed to happen to good people,

And I do not even wish these things on the worse of the world...

These things simply should not exist...

Steinbeck explained to me why they existed,

That despair and the underdog in American

Are contradictions and one in the same;

And there is hope in the American redemption

Reflected in the belief that dusty characters

On the Road to Damascus seeking

The destruction of your people,

And their own...

Will be blinded by Love!

Like Steinbeck’s characters and St. Paul!

Love will restore their sight ,

Scales of hate will fall from their eyes

To be converted to love all

A man, a woman changed ...

Once was blind but now can see.