Tenderness

Before there was a carrot
Before there was a stick
Before there was a Zodiac
And 12 signs for it
Before there was Karma
Before Pavlov's dog
Before the thousand prayers
To the million names for God
Before the iron hand of fate
Before the IQ test
There was only tenderness

Before there was justice
Before there was hope
Before the braided strands
Of the hangman's rope
Before there was truth
Though it felt like a hammer
Before the truth marched
In Birmingham Alabama
Before the wages of sin
Before I confessed
There was only tenderness

Some believe in Jesus
Some keep Kosher
Some raise a pint of Guinness
To a four-leaf clover
Some believe in science
Some believe the rules
Now and then some believe
Believing is for fools
But I'll keep the faith
As I'm laid to rest
I believe in tenderness

--Tom Prasada-Rao © 9/10/12