I left the door open. I thought that made me good. Until the water came in. I kept a light above the door, A place beside the kitchen fire. I never asked what kindness cost, Or what another hand desired. I gave the shelter I could give, I let the cold and hungry through. But one who came to break the glass Asked for the keys to break it too. They said a good heart never closes. I believed them for so long. Until the ones I meant to shelter Were the ones who paid for wrong. What good is mercy If it cannot recognize The hand that offers consolation From the hand that holds a knife? GEVURAH! THE MERCY OF NO! The river needs its banks to flow! The fire needs a place to end, Or burns the house it came to warm! GEVURAH! I WILL NOT BOW! There is a line between The then and now! I will not strike! I will not kneel! I'll draw the line That love must feel! NO! NOT THIS TIME! I watched my father prune a tree Behind the house where I was born. He cut the lifeless branches down One bitter morning before dawn. I watched my father prune a tree Behind the house where I was born. He cut the lifeless branches down One bitter morning before dawn. I asked him why he took the saw To something that had stood so long. He showed me where the rot began, And where the living wood was strong. He never cut because he hated. He never hurt to demonstrate. He cleared the branches that were dying And carried them beyond the gate. To save a thing You sometimes must refuse. To save a thing You sometimes must refuse. Not every open door is mercy. Not every boundary is abuse. GEVURAH! THE MERCY OF NO! The river needs its banks to flow! The fire needs a place to end, Or burns the house it came to warm! GEVURAH! I WILL NOT BOW! There is a line I must defend now! I will not strike! I will not kneel! I'll draw the line That love must feel! NO! NOT THIS TIME! I know how easily the righteous Can learn to love the sound of chains. I know how easily the righteous Can learn to love the sound of chains. How quickly justice turns to vengeance, And calls another's suffering gain. I've seen the frightened become judges, The wounded grow to worship pain. A hand that learns to hold a weapon May never wish to let it go again. So let me tremble when I'm certain. So let me tremble when I'm certain. Let every verdict carry doubt. The moment judgment loves its power, The light it guarded has gone out. I WILL NOT CALL MY ANGER JUSTICE! I WILL NOT CALL MY FEAR THE LAW! I WILL NOT TURN MY OWN REVENGE INTO A TRUTH WITHOUT A FLAW! BUT I WILL STAND BEFORE THE DOORWAY! I WILL NOT LET THE VIOLENCE THROUGH! AND IF PROTECTING WHAT IS FRAGILE MEANS I MUST DISAPPOINT YOU— THEN LET ME! I can forgive Without forgetting. I can love Without obeying. I can wish you well And still... Say no. GEVURAH! THE MERCY OF NO! GEVURAH! THE MERCY OF NO! THE RIVER NEEDS ITS BANKS TO FLOW! I WILL NOT MAKE A GOD OF ANGER! I WILL NOT LET THE HARM GO ON! GEVURAH! NO CROWN! NO THRONE! NO HEART WAS MEANT TO BLEED ALONE! NOT EVERY WALL IS BUILT FROM HATE! SOME STAND TO KEEP THE CHILDREN SAFE! NO! NOT THIS TIME! I closed the gate. The rain kept falling. Beyond the wall, The river rose.
