by Mark Stellinga

While sipping on a cup of tea I spotted lying near me,
a magazine left open to a page that caught my eye.
Tempted by its headline to discern the piece’s story,
well before I’d finished reading, I began to cry.

The comprehensive article, complete with shocking photos,
stunned my heart with images that truly broke my heart.
Its hard-to-fathom-testament to something so horrific
that every decent person that would read it, from the start

Would struggle with accepting that it’s happening—in this era!
A “Practice” which but only Godless demons could conceive.
I’ve changed my set of prayers to ask that all, despite their faith,
retain the right to exercise what Doctrine they believe.

They’re also stealing “body-parts” by killing healthy people—
their sick, barbaric tactic: steal a “new” to save an “old”
When failing parts in “favored comrades” need to be replaced—
making them, to the CCP, worth their weight in gold.

I’ve asked the One I’m working with to rearrange His calendar
to focus every chance He gets on saving Falun Gong.
It can’t be done without His help and, if my prayer is answered,
they’ll dearly pay for doing what the whole world knows is wrong.

* * *

 

Winner of the 3rd Place Award in FoFG’s 2026 Poetry Contest