Death of Osama bin Laden

We cannot gloat: a time for grief,
another mother's son is dead,
and if that son has killed and maimed,
it is the better least is said;
but let us mourn for all the loss,
and stand in shadow of the cross. 

We mourn for victims we have loved,
and for the orphans yet unborn;
for those for whom a searing pain
greets this and every rising dawn,
and then we bow our heads and pray
that peace might drench the world today. 

And to that end we pledge our lives,
our words, our actions and our deeds,
as following the Prince of Peace,
we'll work for peace till peace succeeds,
in breaking every barrier down,
that love may be our goal and crown.

© Andrew Pratt 2011(Tune: Abingdon)

Read the Vatican’s response here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14683And news of a wider multi-faith response here: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14689

Photo caption:  “Peace” by kavehfa  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kavehfa/2428338037/Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en