A Lament by Karen Leslie Hernandez

 

Dear World.

 

You are

On fire.

 

Why

Do you condone

Time

And time

Again

The guns

The hate

The greed

The violence

The oppression.

 

Why do you not speak

For all.

Why do you not hear

The truth.

 

Why do you not see

The obvious.

 

Why do you not feel

The pain.

 

Why do you say

No.

 

When saying

Yes.

Is

Love.

Acceptance.

Tolerance.

Giving.

Freedom.

 

Dear world.

Do you not feel

The fire.

 

The rapidly approaching

Wind.

 

The air

Sucked from your body

Our body

Their bodies.

 

Dear World.

Do you

Care

Sleep

Weep

Sigh.

 

Dear World.

The fires.

Rage.

 

The waters.

Flood.

And poison.

 

The land.

Slides.

 

The ocean.

Screams.

With power

With voices

Of the dead.

 

Dear World.

 

Why

Are you

Intolerant

Incapable

Incapacitated

Incoherent.

 

Dear World.

Does God

Exist.

Does God

Know.

Does

God wonder

As I do.

Why.

Why.

Dear World.

 

I am

Calling.

Dear World.

 

I am

Hoping.

Dear World.

I am

Seeking.

Dear World.

 

I am

Dreaming.

Dear World.

 

I am dreaming.

I am dreaming.

 

Karen Leslie Hernandez is a theologian and interfaith activist. With a focus in Christian-Muslim understanding, as well as religious fundamentalism and extremism, Karen is the only theologian who is a Latina and a United Methodist doing this type of theological work in the US. She has published with several media outlets including the Women’s United Nations Report Network, The Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue/Studies, the Interfaith Observer, and she is the only Christian to have published an ongoing Op-Ed Column with OnIslam out of Cairo, Egypt. Some of her past gigs include designing and teaching an Interfaith Dialogue workshop with Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, as well as spending three years working with United Religions Initiative in several different positions. As an Over-Achiever, Karen has not one, but two theological master’s degrees – one from Andover Newton Theological School, the other from Boston University School of Theology. She did her BA at Wellesley College. Karen currently lives in San Francisco, works at St Anthony’s, teaches workshops throughout the Bay Area, is an Ambassador with Parliament of the World’s Religions, is pursuing her Doctor of Ministry at Claremont School of Theology, and she is also a certified domestic violence advocate.