And if we can’t save the world,
and who says we can’t, then
let us try anyway. Perhaps
we have no superhuman powers—
can’t see through buildings,
can’t fly, can’t bend the bars of cages—
but we have human powers—
can listen, can stand up to,
can stand up for, can cradle.
And if we can’t imagine
a world of peace, and who
says we can’t, then let us
try anyway. Perhaps we start
tonight—on a Wednesday.
Thursday works, too. Or Friday.
Doesn’t much matter the day.
All that matters is the choice
to meet this moment exactly
as it is, with no dream of being
anyone else but our flawed
and fabulous very self—
and then, wholly present,
bringing this self to the world,
touching again and again what is true.
What if we do? And if we can’t
save ourselves, and who
says we can’t, let’s try anyway.
There was a time I thought
I could never be healed. That
was only because it hadn’t happened yet,
so I decided it wasn’t possible.
Healing happened anyway.
What have we decided isn’t possible?
What if we stopped believing
that limit? What if, right now,
we used our human powers
of compassion, clarity, gratitude,
praise? What if we did it together—
opened all those closed doors inside
us? What if we let the opening do
what opening does?
oh my…you’ve touched my soul!
Carol, thank you! here’s to the human powers. And using them!
Rosemerry, you are magic! “and who says we can’t” – if we truly ask this question, and we truly listen for the quiet answer from the heart, we start to heal — just in the asking. I love your words, your way, your heart! I echo Carol’s response, “you’ve touched my soul” yet again.
Love and Namaste my friend, Augusta
thank you, sweet friend. I love the way you engage with questions!!! So many hugs to you!!
Oh Rosemerry, I love this poem more with every reading! I am sharing it with family members (remotely) on Christmas night because it fills me with exuberance and I want to pass that along in a way I can’t otherwise express. Who says we can’t anyway? Thank you for holding fierce hope in your heart and putting it daily on to the page. XO
thank you, Rebecca! This note made my Christmas day–here’s to fierce hope in all our hearts, how we kindle each other with kindness. Love to you!
Ooh, what a gift to me to imagine brighting your Christmas day! Now this potent poem is living on in various friends and family members. It’s filling my mind with such palpable hope! “What if we let the opening do what opening does? Big love back to you Rosemerry! XO