Those horrible shows,
loathsome portrayals,
at our worst.
The glory of ugliness,
violence, hate, death,
only self.
Others as objects,
to be groped or killed,
mostly both.
I sob.
Those horrible souls,
our human leaders,
real people.
Hurting others, self,
compassionless works,
for power.
“For me! For mine! Us!
But not for those ones,
they are evil!”
I ache.
Is this how it is?
Is this how we are?
Imperfect.
Fallible. Hateful.
Doomed in disregard.
Abhorrent!
Is this our essence?
Must we die hating?
Our nature?
I sigh.
Nature replies, “Look!”
Extravagantly,
life springs.
Glorious joy speaks,
we’re naturally,
beautiful.
Greens, purples, yellow!
Abundant red & blues!
Colors sing!
I hope.
But, death, pain, win-lose,
storms, quakes, heat, eaten.
Our Ecosystem.
Colors sing and fade,
joy comes, goes, returns,
life and death.
This is how it is.
Good, evil, hurt, joy.
Love and hope.
I see.
Within one flower,
budding, wounds, and death,
and rebirth!
In each life is love,
suffering, trauma,
and deep loss.
Grief, joy, grace each come,
brokenness wants Hate,
it will call.
I choose.
Just like the flower,
fiend and saint within,
Choice abounds!
Inside one human,
pain, healing, joy, love,
I can dance!
Within one flower,
both bud and wilt charm,
beautify.
I can, too.
___
Photo: Life & Death, 2017 © Tim Graves
Poem: Within One Flower, 2017 © Tim Graves