Have you noticed how anger has ravaged your mind? The pointed finger targets and blames The fiery arrow pierces its mark And what bleeds out those sullen wounds? But our common personhood, And the scab of shame. Hide behind the mask, and so Gaze up to heaven’s gate Do not partake in the shallow earth The others don’t warrant your gaze. And if earthliness dwells within yourself Draw up a thin-edged blade Dissect yourself, twice or thrice Cut out the errant eye or hand And so become a man unhealed And brandish ‘gainst evil your steel—
You hurt, don’t you? You bleed. You are collapsing: the fire has burnt out the columns and now you are crumbling away.
You have dropped your knife, For you have cut the strength to hold it.
Can you welcome yourself again? Plant yourself by the streams, And breathe—those waters will draw you life Even while you bear no fruit.
Can you look down the stream? There they are too — bleeding also, hurting also For each of your eyes you’ve pulled out, They too have gone blind and suffer For each of your hands you have cut, They too have bled and withered.
Can you reach out your hand to theirs, And see how wonderfully it is made? Can you tell them how beautiful their palm is? And how much you have missed them? And how their smile is your delight? For now, your sight is restored, And you see them for the very first time.