We The Unseen

Edging towards gratitude
praying for salvation
It’s where we all want to be, right?

Why then is discernment
telling me to run –
Me, feeling claustrophobic
in crowds?

The chatter is discordant
seems we’re lowering our standards
mistaking temporary fails
as treachery

I try to stay hopeful
but my essence is parked
in invisibility, the clamour
of commercialism
condemning the likes of me
to back alleyways

Danger is everywhere
the lush slopes of ableism
 renders us shut-ins easy prey
progress whizzing by

I live in descent
drawn to and avoidant
of the lure of merging
always lagging

any vibrancy from my kind
perceived as garbage –
faith skips over the victim
drives us to hide
lesser beings are we

I take my chances,
dream of greener pastures
seeking the blessed promise

Joy, life has taught me,
always comes with a side of menace

(Image my own)

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VJ

Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

36 thoughts on “We The Unseen”

  2. That lesson, expressed so well in the last two lines, is a difficult one to face, but it is oh, so true. Such dichotomies seem to completely fill my psyche, the joy/sorrow, the comfort/discomfort, the full moon/new moon. It seems to me this yin/yang of the universe is ever present. Hang in there girl, whatever it is, it will pass, whether we want it to or not.

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  3. Wow, this is such a powerful piece—really captures that tension between hope and struggle. Makes me think how life’s about finding those small wins, like giving something a fresh start… In my own life, we recently had our cabinets refinished. Something that we’ve overlooked for a long time but turned beautiful once again, reminding me that the little things make a difference. Thanks for sharing this!

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  7. One becomes more and more invisible the older one gets. And to be disabled in addition just adds another veil. But at the same time, many things become more clear. To re/e/merge? I’m not sure. I admire the way you hold on to hope. (K)

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  11. Discernment is s wonderful, yet misunderstood tool. Yes, run from the crowds until the unseen becomes visible. Do it repeatedly until you see it is neither your earthly advocate or adversary.

    Salvation is what every person wants…

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  12. Lately people close to me who never noticed before say things like, “Humanity is not evolving; we are devolving”. This gives me hope. When enough people notice, the collective will say “no more”. In the meantime, mostly I stay home too, away from the inane. And I too dream of greener pastures, VJ. Keep dreaming. As mysterious (the inane would call it stupid) as it would seem, it is we dreamers who are really going to change it, because a new reality requires that. Great poem! Happy weekend. 🙂

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      1. You’re welcome, VJ. You never fail to inspire me to be a better poet. Did you know? “Poet” has two meanings. One is simply “a person who writes poetry”. The other is, “a person possessing special powers of imagination or expression”. Perhaps poets then, are the ones best suited to imagine a new world, and inspire others to do so, too. (?)

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      2. Oh, I absolutely believe the former. Did you know that early explorers wrote their findings in poetic form? It was required. I have been amazed by how many cultures still practice poetry as part of their traditions.

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