Reconciliation
Whenever I hear older men reflecting on their lives,
the roles they played, the twists and turns,
and the slow growing humility and gratitude,
I go inward towards the dark chasm
I’ve come to know as reconciliation.
There at the edge, I may stand for days,
staring hopelessly into the abyss,
now conscious there is no way across,
but also mindful there was never a good reason
to get to that other side.
After every visit to the chasm,
I leave feeling bit lighter.
The last time there I emptied my pockets,
casting into the deep,
all of the if onlys and what ifs
I’ve been lugging around for ages.
“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.”
This poem was written on May 22, 2023.
©Brian Mueller - All rights reserved.
