We have our instructions:
In the face of great violence,
build an ark.
So much violence in the land,
no one is even talking about it —
afraid, as they may be,
of bringing down the wrath upon their heads,
lulled, as they may be,
by the vehemence of misdirecting tales
Violence to the land,
Violence to the people,
Violence to their structures of support:
Build an ark.
Make it out of circles of our arms,
Make is out of clear communication,
Make it from the habit
of open-hearted caring,
Make it with room for everyone
Make it out of work that serves the earth,
that builds the chains of life supporting life,
Make it from our trueness,
Make it with our hearts,
Make it from the clearness of our vision.
Build the ark.
Let all the creatures in —
No point in a war against the violence —
As we build, our worth will lift us up
Upon the sea that reconfigures all.
©Wendy Mulhern
June 23, 2013