Dried Pea Wars

Truth is too big

to have a brand,

Truth is too big

to be packaged.

Truth is far bigger

than any versus — mine vs. yours,

ours vs. theirs

Every sense of truth

that wars against another’s

is like a small person

throwing dried peas

against a window —

the insignificant ptick ptick

will have no impact

There will be no time even

to call them to justice —

They will be swept away

like so much flotsam

And the clean rush

of the Truth that is One

will cover everything —

that will be enough.

©Wendy Mulhern

November 1, 2015

Escape

I separated myself

from the acceleration,

escaped the vortex

with just a wobble at the lip of it,

then floated free and still —

only in the reflection on it

amazed by where I might have ended up

if I had wandered

just a little closer

I did not join that battle.

But now I am collecting

a more pervasive calm,

a positive peace,

a zone that extends its power

even to where everything

dropped down before,

even where all was lost

because everyone is needed

and no one, ultimately

can be swept away.

©Wendy Mulhern

July 15, 2015

Self reflection on struggling with this month’s book club selection

It wearies me to read of World War II —

puts me to sleep —

the plans and strategies, initiatives and blunders

Yet I get caught up hoping for “our side” —

I wonder . . . 

Though I’ve been too sophisticated

to be self-satisfied in comfort, in my privilege,

though I’m aware how very far

this country is from free,

What have I risked

in my armchair condemnation

of the bland rule of corporatocracy?

How am I strong?

How does my daily life uphold

a sense of freedom, justice, decent life for all?

Where is my courage?

And how would I fare

if we were faced with homeland war?

©Wendy Mulhern

May 9, 2015