Who Shot Jackson?

by john clare stokes

When our evening sinks and we stand in the great assize,
to give an account of our earthly words and deeds,
stand not too proud, smug in the blood covering,
for the Great Judge has His own ways of revealing,
and when He asks. "Why shot ye Jackson?",
do not glibly say, "Why would you ask such a question?"
"Everyone knows it was the 18th Carolina volley,
upon the Plank Road on the night of May 2, 1863."
And the Master will continue his long, SMH stare,
"IT WAS YOU! YOU WERE THERE!"
Do not at this point, try and win the argument with God,
He simply wants to hear you say, "I was the one."
He knows you shot Jackson on February 22nd, on a Saturday,
He knows you never understood His speaking in mystery,
He knows you thought all your deeds were past history,
He knows you hadn't a clue that Jackson was a mutt,
He knows you hadn't a clue it was his master,
who took your bullet.