Dark Torches

By Nikki Grimes

News of another cross-burning
singes my heart,
paralyzing me where I sit.
I drink my tears and read
“God is light, and in him
there is no darkness at all,”
and I wonder
how many of the deceived,
professing Christ this time,
lifted their torches in unison?
How many made
of no consequence
Christ’s death on the cross
for me? How many polluted
this symbol of Life
to threaten the death
of my people?
Jesus weeps, I am certain,
though he does not
spin in his grave
but only because—
Thank God—
he isn’t in it!
And so, in spite of all,
I sing Hallelujah!
Despite the revival of
lynchings in this land,
and sanctioned shootings
past numbering,
I can continue to pray
“Lord, have mercy,”
because the heat of his
pure, good light
will one day burn
every remnant of injustice
to ash.
Good Lord,
may we be filled 
with your righteous fire.
Bless us to be vessels
of your undiminished Light.
Help the true church
burn bright for you.

I John 1:5-2:2

“Dark Torches” from Glory, Too by Nikki Grimes. Copyright © 2025 by Nikki Grimes. Used by permission of Paraclete Press.