Before wars
and strife were,
before there was
darkness
and darker deeds,
before one man thought
himself better than another
and woman forgot
that love was all,
before this,
before the fall,
the sharp juice of apple
dripping down Adam’s
chin, chest, bare thighs,
before insinuation
of snake into the
core of innocence,
before temptation,
envy, greed –
what was?
If minds can’t
unravel that fable,
and memory falters
in drumming up the beat
of perfect harmony,
of heavenly harmony –
what will be?
Hope is the gift
we find in others
and in ourselves.
Hope is the
discovery of
unimagined strength,
unlearnt wisdom,
vision beyond what
was planted.
Hope is,
after wars, strife,
destruction
and the sharp, acrid
stench of burnt
forests,
what rises,
grows again
from the ashes;
dignity, equity,
respect for the
uniqueness
of each person
but
first
we
must
slide on
our
bellies
and
shed
the
membranes
from
our
eyes