I could become an ocean
If I unleashed the rivers of tears
Building behind eyes seeing,
Building behind ears hearing,
Building behind a mind
Buried in grief over what I find
Hidden within family and friends,
I thought were of a kind;
Who saw hate and felt repulsion,
Who heard lies and became disgusted,
Who watched inhumanity and scowled,
Who with outrage spoke aloud.
Instead, they smirk and smile,
And change the subject acting proud
To shut down discussion and discomfort at discussing hard truths.
Either they are in avoidance of discord;
Or worse, they approve of lies and hate,
And are simply happy to see hate flourish.
They are not the least discouraged.
I could become an ocean.
Instead, I check my emotion.
I seek to find some common ground.
Impossible when they shut all true conversation with me down.
Is this what pushes us apart,
a river of tears breaking canyon
walls of disagreement apart?
I could become an ocean
Washing them away as I allow
My tears to flow.
Until the valley of tears
Washes hate clear
And silts and nourishes the soil
That love may once again grow.
I could become an ocean.
annarino writes 