Benefit of the Doubt
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| (Taken at Bonaventure Cemetery 2014) |
the elephant in the room
don't talk about it
carefully move around
without touching
get past it
pretend there is no shadow
ghosts of lives past
cry in your ears
but they are distant
and perhaps the
voices are singing
not crying
instead singing an anthem -
a rhythmic work chant
keep the peace
look another way
listen to another music
sing another song
a song whose teeth
are not so white
a song with less
sweat and tears
a song that rhymes
give yourself
and others
the benefit of the doubt
Oh, my, I like that. First of all, you poke me delightfully with your notes everyday, and now you hit me with the clean white teeth. I don't know what I am going to do....
ReplyDeleteWe got to our beach when it was a hippy town, and the jeweler was a young bearded hippy that didn't wear shoes. We all could afford to have him make small things that grew into bigger things over the years. Now he has a girlfriend, wears armor at reenactments, and I can afford an occasional earring or ring. The repairs too, darn it.
I should write about both of them.
The seamstress's name is Mhin. She drastically undercharges for things, but thanks to her, my second hand, too large clothes semi fit. For too many years folks must have ripped her off. Now days she takes only cash.
I learned a long time ago (in my teens actually) that it was always best to give others 'the benefit of the doubt'. It just worked out better for everyone. But I hadn't thought much about giving it to myself...
ReplyDeleteI love this
ReplyDeleteand agree with Rian :)
For me the chant sings "Whatever Dear"
ReplyDeleteI had an elephant in the room last week with the anniversary of my Dad's Passing away 23 years ago.
Thanks- wonderful piece here!
Crying in your ears really struck me. I want to know more about the elephant in the room. That's where my mind always goes, to even glimpse its shadow.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of how I felt spending time with my sister during the years she worked for George Bush.
ReplyDeletei think there is a fine balance here...we do need to give the benefit of the doubt...i think too we need to talk them out so we can...so we cant avoid that elephant all the time...we address it and move on...
ReplyDeletePowerful and compelling!
ReplyDeleteBlessings from Dalamory
www.freda.org.uk
I think this is a fine piece. I am not sure I understand it completely, but that's fine too.
ReplyDeleteThe elephant in the room, in the car, in the bed, in the barn, in the field, in the stars, on the road, in my heart.....
ReplyDeleteIt's usually best to give others the benefit of the doubt. Judge not, lest ye be judged (as said by someone much wiser than me.)
ReplyDeleteI see what you were doing with your time - not wasting it, that's for sure. The way you've developed your thoughts makes me think, too. Powerful!
ReplyDelete