I’m balancing precariously
On a crack
Where the darkness comes in.
On one side, the debilitation of grief,
On the other, the seduction of avoidance.
And all around, cruelty
And angry, overwhelming noise.
Who will I be when my own chaos subsides?
How can I move forward to help the helpless,
To stop what sometimes seems unstoppable?
By recognizing that my fears will sink me,
That helplessness is the pre-obedience that emboldens bullies,
And that the crack is mine to close.
Being kind to myself is not selfish,
But a civic duty.
My joy is not surrender
But a battle cry for love,
And a little denial is needed
To be present
And water the garden.
How can I contribute to the common kindness?
We need kindness, and one another, if “we the people” are to survive.
Together, we can be a network
To catch who is falling, to make space for the silence
From which dreams arise.
To hold the hope
As we each find our steps toward
Letting the light back in.
Sculpture by Anna Pohorely
Oh so well said in this poem!!!! I resonates on all counts. Thank you!!!