Today is Sarah Barba’s birthday, tomorrow is Ronald Barba’s birthday, and early next week their anniversary. Both are Deputy Sheriffs in the Orlando area. I wrote this poem for them and had planned to post on Sunday as that is the day I post poetry and for Ron’s birthday; but, other events in Orlando has urged me to lay aside the message I wrote for today and to post the poem earlier. In the early morning hours a 31 year old officer making a stop was shot and killed in the Orlando metropolis. Across town a few hours earlier, it was almost Ron as well. I cannot say why God chose to take one home and not another; but, I do trust God’s plan of love. My heart is torn open wide for the mother of this officer who died bravely protecting us as for the officer who died last month. When will we awaken from our slumber so as to provide all these officers with the tools, the respect and the salaries they deserve? What kind of society values “entertainment”, “personal pleasures”, “freedom to sin” and “freedom to destroy” more than justice, honor and integrity? If we need more jails, then build more jails. Don’t tie the hands of the very ones sworn to protect us.
Not Tonight
By Effie Darlene Barba
Into the deepest darkest night
Where evil lurks-hid from his sight
An Officer goes-prepared to fight
With all His strength and all His might
Praying to God, not tonight
He gently pulls His children near
Their smiles can lift his heart with cheer
He kisses boo-boos wipes their tears
And as He leaves for work He hears
Daddy, don’t go, not tonight
She kisses him, to work he goes
And all the time, too well she knows
That he must face such evil foes
Phone clutched tight, her eyes then close
Lord, don’t let it ring, not tonight
A mother awakens to whisper a prayer
Protect my son from sin’s dark lair
Your warrior of truth-just and fair
Endowed by you with virtues rare
He’s yours to call, please not tonight
Forgotten and paid a pauper’s wage
Media and public he must assuage
While calmly holding back the rage
When violent criminals do engage
Pleading to God, not tonight
These officers protecting you
They sacrifice more than you knew.
When will you value what they do
Or even stop to say, “Thank You”?
Shame on you, if not tonight
Below is a video I made a few years ago that includes the poem I wrote when he graduated.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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