We put in our protest
against this box of pain —
it doesn’t get to hem us in
or stare us in the face
in every place we turn

How have we asked to be betrayed?
What have we swallowed
to render us unworthy?
Where have we believed
that we deserve this pain —
What have we chosen?

We asked to be beloved,
we asked to be the ones
who shine the essence forth
of all that is

We asked to have the depth
that would include ourselves
and everyone we see
and everyone we know about
in the hallowed harmony
of who we are

We have not asked for pain,
and what we have not asked for
we can not receive.
This is what I ask
to see for myself.

©Wendy Mulhern
January 26, 2018