My heart pounding
my survival fear activated

remembering
the environmental powerlessness
where any choice may not be the right one

relationships repeatedly misconstrued
by societies imperial conditioning

having experienced
abuse by numerous systems

the unchanged resurfaces

a re-traumatizing trigger
reminds me again of
my own humanness

horror
shock
disbelief
vulnerability

momentarily overriding
my thought processes

confused by
interpretations
reactions

my cognitive brain kicks in

recognizing
how
in these unfiltered  layers

there creates
a perceived need for self defence

both real and imagined

the ensuing
results

deem differences
as the dominating focus

can We

step back

pause

an essential prerequisite
to sort through and revise
our accepted patterns
of conscious and unconscious
behaviours and judgements

are We willing to

uncover
shed old beliefs
casting off righteousness

to recognize each person’s
inherent value
innocence

an ongoing challenge to
becoming more present

to find the centre of each storm

the reality
that We are all made of
flesh and blood

sharing equal rights
to know
love

to be in life’s fullness of breath

trusting the song within
led by our
gentle heartbeat

simultaneously
returning to
arising out
of life’s beginning

undefended

choose “Oui”

Ruth Roberts

This poem is in response to Trevor Noah’s response to: http://www.ctv.ca/The-Daily-Show-with-Trevor-Noah/Video/S2E123-Wednesday-June-21-2017-vid1148316