"I'll Be Coming Home for Christmas, Mama"
[from behind prison walls], by Buzzy Martin
Jesus Christ's Christmas in Solitary
At Christmastime it seems so cold
to lock sick people in the hole
Mental illness is their crime
Over a million doing hard time
We sing carols about Emanuel
and His blessed Mother Mary
But Jesus' left the manger now
He's locked in solitary
"Whatever you do to the least of these,
you do also to me"
Christ shivers in His lonely cell
Every sick prisoner is He
What will we do to rescue our Lord
and save Him from His plight?
God gave His Son to restore us all
Let's treat His brethren right
by Mary Neal - all rights reserved
EMPTY CHAIR AT CHRISTMAS
That was yours to fill
It’s been ten long years since you left us
And we don’t know why – still
We’ve asked year after year
But no one will answer our query
"Why was he arrested – why did he die
Please tell us what happened to Larry"
"No explanation! No records! Stop asking!"
This is the official reply
From all the government offices
“He’s dead – let sleeping dogs lie"
But we’ll not give up, my brother
Until we know what is true
There’s an empty chair at our Christmas table
That should have been filled by you
We'll have dinner together again some day
At the Lamb’s great Wedding Feast
You’ll have a sound heart and clear mind
No longer last and least
Until then we’ll help those like you
Befuddled, confused, afraid
In jail for mental illness
May our commitment never fade!
It’s been ten long years since you left us
And we don’t know why – still
We’ve asked year after year
But no one will answer our query
"Why was he arrested – why did he die
Please tell us what happened to Larry"
"No explanation! No records! Stop asking!"
This is the official reply
From all the government offices
“He’s dead – let sleeping dogs lie"
But we’ll not give up, my brother
Until we know what is true
There’s an empty chair at our Christmas table
That should have been filled by you
We'll have dinner together again some day
At the Lamb’s great Wedding Feast
You’ll have a sound heart and clear mind
No longer last and least
Until then we’ll help those like you
Befuddled, confused, afraid
In jail for mental illness
May our commitment never fade!
by Mary Neal
written 12/2006,
published 12/2007 (all rights reserved)
published 12/2007 (all rights reserved)
Website: http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com/
In solidarity with prisoners and their families, happy holidays.
The Human Rights for Prisoners March
Mary Neal, director
