“Turn sideways into the light as they say
the old ones did and disappear
into the originality of it all…”
~ Tobar Phadraic, David Whyte
Averted gazes and lowered heads
Covid ghosts
Residual angst
Fear upon fear upon fear
To be played with like toys by politicians and gatekeepers
The world turning & turning & turning
As it always has and always will
We born into the milieu
Distracted, tired, amused, entertained, programmed
Earnestly trying to sort out the game
Of our existence
The specter and spectrum of humanity
From Gandhi to Stalin or Hitler to MLK
Our “better angels” clawing at the remnants of our souls
As the wheel of history remains unbroken
While we hide in our solipsisms hoping to stay untouched by untouchables
Defined by our nightmares
Delivered to us by the purveyors of knowledge undefined
Clashes of status functions
Which story is true today and which will be true tomorrow
What do we know and how do we know it
Can we see the charade & dance in spite of it all
Giving water to the thirsty
Turning sideways into the light
Kneeling down to write poetry in the dirt
A third way out of the night