
What do you pray for the longing inside
What begs your attention disturbs your pride
What is the thorn that won’t go away
What needles serenity won’t let you play
What rankles plans for a life with more play
What leaves you alone with not much to say
What calls forth amazement at what you observe
What makes you crazy ignites each nerve
What won’t let you rest till you are thrown down
What’s taken your smile replaced it with a frown
What pollutes the air and water we drink
What clouds your good judgment makes it hard to think
What rages inside breaks your sweet heart
What prowls your deep corridors demanding your art
What shocks your wisdom draws out your tears
What’s growing louder with each passing year
What beckons your voice rise up and protest
What pulls curdling screams from deep in your chest
What galvanizes the burning within
What has the capacity to restore a grin
One simple answer wells up in my being
A world that is peaceful all people seeing
We tend to the suffering heal the ills
Breathe loving kindness spurred by clear wills
We realize violence only gets more
We all know that love is what we came for
We let go all thoughts of winning or blame
Leave behind war with it our shame
We honor the peace and compassion we are
We let go of all else it won’t take us far
We sing with clear voices angels we are
We let go of all else it does not take us far
What might you let go of in service of a broader peace?
Can forgiveness end the suffering and pain in an instant?
– Stewart Levine ©
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