And if we come to find ourselves
soiled beyond all recognition,
bound and twisted
by the world’s oppressive logic

If we feel betrayed, bamboozled,
bankrupt, if we feel the huge mistakes
we’ve made were baked in, embedded
in the vast array of lies that we grew up with –

that is good news. It shows us separating
from what we thought we were,
and, following the feelings down,
we’ll find ourselves,
ready and able to be clean

For starters, we can wash each other,
bathe each other in forgiveness,
use the vision of what we are
to see the same in them,
let their clear sight of us
help set us free.

©Wendy Mulhern
August 19,  2021