There are people everywhere

The small man

Builds cages

For everyone

He

Knows

While the sage,

Who has to duck his head

When the moon is low,

Keeps dropping keys all night long

For the

Beautiful

Rowdy

Prisoners.

Hafiz

________________________________

Ah Sacred One,

there are people everywhere

scattered in my path

so thickly that I cannot help

but stumble across them

awkwardly

making my way forward

from this one to that one

from that one to this one

why are they there?

the beautiful ones

the struggling ones

the joyful ones

the sad and angry ones?

why are they there?

is it just a cosmic accident

or have they be place on my path for some purpose?

do they need something from me?

or do I need something from them?

I guess I do not really need to know

for what I do know

I have known for all my life

for what I do know

has been known for all eternity

each person is mine to love

to reassure

to empower

all I need to do

this day

every day

is treat each person as a bearer of the sacred

as one who carries deep within them

Your presence My Beloved

and with the keys of compassion

and grace

acceptance and respect

help them soar

this is not an easy task

for one who would build cages

out of need and fear

but still it is my task

and this day

this day

I will seek to walk carefully

Listen deeply

Speak grace-fully

I could use a little help!