Poetry  |  Peace, Human Rights & Democracy

Begin with Rage
By Christine Rodgers
Thursday, December 4, 2003
 

Begin with rage.
It is the most
obvious and
formidable.

We are all ticking
it would seem
and we will
either deactivate

ourselves or explode.
How do we disarm
ourselves then?
Try climbing into

the boat of solitude
and floating for a
while. Let the sky
bend over you

in her huge blue
skirt and allow your
head to fall quiet
in her great wide

lap and be still.
So still. Only still.
Until mercy rises
up from the water

like a great gleaming
fish -- her scales
shimmering in the
autumn sun.

And at last I believe
peace will come.
She will sit on the
edge of your boat

in her rich green dress
and she will help you
on your way. She will
help you stay the course.

---

Christine Rodgers is an actor and writer living in San Francisco, California, who considers both acting and writing to be forms of giving witness and of praying. She is a regular contributor to The Witness and can be reached at tallpilgrim12@hotmail.com.