March 13, 2025

We draw our lines firmly but without rancor. 
There are people with us here
without good faith,
and they are doing terrible damage,
as Rumi knew people were doing in his day.
And we have no control over those people.

About them, the best I can say is that
if they could do better, perhaps they would.

Be that as it may, it does seem to be apparent
that they enjoy not doing better--even to the point
of one-upping one another on the field of the
atrocious, the outrageous and the shameful.

The commendable, excellent and honorable have no place
in their company
and are left with standing silent
and waiting for the horror show that arrived unbidden
to play itself out.
Which will not happen as soon as we would like,
but will happen long before we are afraid it will.

In the meantime, we must create our own good company
and enjoy one another's presence,
delighting in just being together,
being a blessing and a grace to each other,
and a constant reminder that all is not as out of touch
with the good and praiseworthy as it may seem.
Taking heart in the mutual experience of the dear and worthy,
and living on, living on--anyway, nevertheless, even so.