You don’t need to be
told again you’re wrong  –
the world’s benightedness
is not your fault.
Once more you see yourself
with muddied hands,
you feel the agony come rushing forth

The rancid shadow falls on you again,
you feel the pain, the guilt, the sorrow  –
you have tried hard,
but found you couldn’t shrug it –
it’s cast throughout your past,
it shrouds tomorrow

A taste of your deep innocence
empowers you,
incites your inner rebel
to make the change  –
it stands up for a deeper, blameless truth,
ignites the fire from which you’ll rise again.

You’ll listen as you take each step, and then
the earth will rise with you and be your friend.

©Wendy Mulhern
August 21,  2021