In a Bangkok Redlight District

This poem was birthed from an experience I had prayer walking in Patpong. As we exited onto Silom road, I saw this young girl, with her mom.

Some of our team this summer will be going into the redlight districts with Nightlight. Be praying for them as they try to bring Jesus' love into some of the darkest places of the city.
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In a Bangkok Redlight District

She is barely five—or six?

When I catch sight of her…

Walking

hand grasping the hand that

Pulls

her behind her mother

Weaving

through the streets

surrounded

by Darkness

encroaching upon her red summer dress.

Colorless people shove their way through

crowds

of tourists throwing their money

away for a trinket

high priced ornaments

to take home and put on coffee tables

and fire places

and hang on walls

as the red lights above

blink and

swirl and

invite

you to the show

Inside.

The young girl blankly stares

Lost in the throngs

Of people

Red dress and Red lights

her innocence

surrounded by

decadence that threatens to

swallow

her

but

she does not know, and so it can’t.

not as long

as that hand that holds her

does not let go.

I hope it will never let her go.