How we each got to this place
is actually irrelevant,
as are the stories we have spun
to justify our current situation

What motivated us
is deeper than any of these things,
deeper even than what we thought we wanted,
and even what we knew we needed

What motivates us
has power to overcome
all the particulars
of time and place,
all the ins and outs
of history and reasons

What motivates us
will keep on burning
while all the papers fall away
and in the end,
beyond all of our roles,
in fearless clarity
it will shine.

©Wendy Mulhern
February 16, 2017