a man sits at the bottom of the steps not blocking the path but he cannot be missed begging alms from the myriad who climb and descend in droves the cup he holds is barely weighted by the meagre amount he has received he patiently wishes goodwill to all who pass despite their lack of offerings even though the majority will ignore purposefully averting their eyes or apologetically decline to part with any lose change instead saving their coins to pay their entry to marvel at the gilded interior of the church whose teachings include "love thy neighbour"
I learned how to wake up without his voice, Somewhere deep down , I still doubt my choice. I am trying to Heal myself, but at great cost, no matter where ever I go, I will always be lost.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing. The last of human freedoms - To choose one's attitude In any given set of circumstances, To choose one's own way."
Choice Responsibility Interlocking concepts But rarely as simple as cause and effect
We always have a choice To act To react To endure To survive
Choice is a source of power It can’t be taken away by another
Don’t believe them when they say “You have no choice” Even if they are you
But our choices alone are rarely the only cause of our circumstances
Other peoples’ choices The systems we must navigate Our environments and ecosystems, human-built and beyond All contribute to determine the fertility of the soil from which our range of choices grow
In fertile soil Choices abound
But even in barren soil You still must choose To act To react To endure To survive While holding onto hope for future change
Through intention Through community Through action
To believe that your choices alone Are responsible for an outcome Whether fortunate Or dire
Is the height of arrogance Born of a need to feel in control Of the world around you
We all should be held accountable for our choices But take care How you parcel out responsibility and blame
To yourself To others With awareness of the state of the soil from which those choices grew
Have you ever heard your truth Echoed back to you from another's lips? Like a droplet into still water Their words reverberated through my soul They mirrored back my struggle with trauma With their walls of fiery anger Holding onto rage like a lifejacket We've been floating in similar waters Preparing for battle in every moment While we're the ones aiming the guns Grasping so tightly to our secret truth That one day the pain will **** us We're acting like we're already dead Before we ever learned how to live
At the edge of a cliff My heart sprints like a bullet My arms tremble impatiently Waiting for my decision Do I stay on solid ground Where the illusion of safety is a blanket Only faintly covering The truth of impending doom? Or do I dive into the unknown Hoping to splash into water And avoid the jagged land?
