A sudden light revealing snakes —
twisted, tangled, convoluting —
all the things I’ve thought
about these others here
while never casting light within myself

How could I, then, have thought myself
a better model? How blind to think
that I could hold judgmental thoughts
without the mud and soot of false opinions
smearing all my windows from within!

Well, take a breath. It’s always
a good idea. And let the sunlight
reveal what has been cleansed
and what’s still needed. Let tenderness
towards both yourself and others
wash everything and show you what is true.

©Wendy Mulhern
April 7, 2019