I fortify my heart
against the loud and clamorous voices
that speak untruths -
against the hearts that have no love in them,
against the hearts that have no love in them,
who seek to divide and disappear
the most vulnerable among us -
against those promoting hate
who have forgotten there is no Other,
only Us.
I fortify my heart
against despair, against hopelessness,
against surrendering the rights
that we hold dear,
that are vanishing week by week.
I fortify my heart by believing
more of us seek justice, truth, and humanity
than those sliding into the pit
of fascism, not understanding
that they, too, will suffer
under its yoke.
I fortify my heart
by understanding that the arc of justice
is long, that the universe tilts itself
towards light, and goodness, and justice,
and that one day, when all of this madness
has done its worst, there will be a time
of reckoning, of healing,
of restoring what has been lost,
of restoring what has been lost,
a time when peace and dignity will return
to a continent that has forgotten
who we are and who
we are meant to be.
For now,
I resist.
I resist.
I resist.
I resist.
I resist.
I resist.
I resist, but I also experience much grief at the state of the world, and outrage at all the injustice. But because everything is so dark, I have had to learn to protect myself by striving for balance, finding solace in nature - and also understanding that the pendulum swings from one side to the other, and that this will not be our forever reality - if humankind survives this difficult passage. I have to believe that truth and justice will - eventually - prevail. The North American spirit is used to being free.
This poem speaks loudly and clearly! We must find ways to fortify our hearts and our minds! I hope you are right with this:
ReplyDelete"I fortify my heart
by understanding that the arc of justice
is long, that the universe tilts itself
towards light, and goodness, and justice."
Let it be so!!
It is with a heart of hope that we will find our way out of this dark maze. A time of healing from all this chaos will be needed. Clinging to the belief that justice will prevail. sigh...a thoughtful poem that challenges the reader to reflect on today.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Jonah Goldberg's "Liberal Fascism"? The concern is not whether a philosophy of government can be classified as on the left or right side of totalitarianism. The concern is that it respect the liberty of the individual.
ReplyDeleteGod help Canada. I'm not sure that the US wants to be helped any more than Canada does, but MAGA types want to *postpone* the descent into totalitarianism as long as possible.
"when all of this madness
ReplyDeletehas done its worst, there will be a time
of reckoning, of healing,
of restoring what has been lost" - I feel this poem, Sherry...but we never seem to learn from history, do we? We need to find empathy and healing, as a planet. Soon!!!
"I fortify my heart
ReplyDeleteagainst despair, against hopelessness,"...The only thing we need to do to remain sane these crazy days.
"there will be a time
ReplyDeleteof reckoning, of healing,
of restoring what has been lost . . ."
O, Sherry, I hope so, and I hope it's soon. Meanwhile fortifying the heart is essential, it is a form of resistance, not letting these times change what is dear to your heart.
wow what a powerful poem I love that stanza I fortify my heart
ReplyDeleteby understanding that the arc of justice is long, that the universe tilts itself towards light, and goodness, and justice,......... Yes we must believe and embody this
"The North American spirit is used to being free." That may be part of the problem!
ReplyDeleteThe lines you are first stanza remind me of an old punk song 'There is no them and us, only you and me.'
Nice write 👏
"I resist
ReplyDeleteI resist
I resist"
Always, Sherry, always. Thank you for this fortifying poem, I needed to read it today ❤️