they said no (good friday 2021)

they said no 

to dancing

they said no 

to racing horses

they said no 

bourbon and whisky

they said no 

to anything but water

they said no 

to sending letters

they said no 

to doing any work

they said no 

to any small justice

they said no 

and everything went dark 

 

they said no 

and the celebrations ended 

 

they said no 

and some were crucified

they said no 

and we sat bereft

they said no 

and we sat in silence

they said no 

and there were only tears

they said no
and we longed for mercy