Remembrance:
Of a place called Jonestown
And the dignity and unity
Of its inhabitants–
Family, friends, and those who
Joined along the way.
An inter-racial, social democratic
Society dedicated to serve all people.Forgiveness:
Long in coming and difficult
To utter.
I forgive you Jim Jones
For forcing mass murder
On the inhabitants of
Jonestown.
No bitterness remains,
Only pity for your soul.Hope:
All is not lost.
Recent global demonstrations
Demanding equality and
Social justice have prevailed.
One day soon, nations with
Much will share with those
Who have not.Proud am I of family
And friends who manifested
Goodness and made it
A reality.May they rest in peace.
(This poem was recently published in Great Poets Across America: A Celebration of National Poetry Month (Shrewsbury, PA: Eber & Wein Publishing, 2012).
(Guy Brewster Young is a former member of Peoples Temple. His poems in this edition of the jonestown report are We were part of a larger family and Mona. His earlier writings are here. He can be reached at guyy@rocketmail.com.)