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 in breath
trusting the song within
led by our gentle heartbeat
simultaneously
returning to
and arising out of
life’s beginning
undefended
choose “Oui”
© R.A. 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
