unforgiven youth reflects in dimming gray eyes,
fleeting words are scarcely spoken beyond simple courtesies,
the deepening echo of church bell chimes
dawn a flash of a marred childhood,
where the clouds held thunder
on youths face and mind,
cruelty in a name to haunt
and a physical being to humiliate,
the organ prelude rhythmically recalls reality
leaving time separated by natural wood pews,
only the attic memories hold the truth
gathering smiles and staining cold tears,
thoughts on images later to be met
with black pen and composition paper,
within the patterned stain glass windows
grace and forgiveness are given in belief,
the demons of an unrelenting past
fade into wisps of heat
of the standing white altar candles,
leaving only the reflection
in dimming gray eyes of an unforgiven youth.