Found on the incomparable Joanna Macy’s website. Blessings!
A Warrior Has No Safety Net
by Kirstin George
I walk on the precarious edge
of the new and the old,
wanting to shed
the locks and lies of a mechanical world,
eager to dive into the smooth cool water of abundant life.
*********
I am young,
I am a woman,
I live in a land where I can choose.
There are disco lights
and magnetic forces
pulling me into The Tunnel–
The Tunnel where everyone goes.
Almost everyone.
It vacuums up mall shoppers
and telemarketers,
executives and bartenders.
It promises clean sheets
and Mickey Mouse vacations,
automatic garage doors
and cell phone communications.
If you choose The Tunnel
you will never have to be cold
or hungry or alone.
There are pills to erase headaches
and drinks to drown hearthaches.
There are movies to make you laugh
and cars to move you fast.
If you don’t like your face,
surgery will change its shape.
There is no need for God
The Tunnel will keep you safe.
But if you stop believing,
oh! If you stop believing…
The Tunnel will disintegrate
and leave you swimming in a septic tank.
*********
My choice is clear.
I am stepping slowly
into the quiet open land beyond.
There are no roads, no maps, no guides.
There is no insurance coverage, no training school.
Edible vegetation is sparse.
Rain trickles down my back
as I fumble with reeds to make a hat.
Through the mist
I catch a thread of song
and rise to see a band of barefoot sisters
approach with open arms.
With nothing more than faith and grace,
our dance has just begun.
Wow…I think I could look at that picture for hours. I”m not sure exactly how to put it in words with out sounding cheesy. it touches my heart as much as the words do.
What a lovely poem for today! I also checked out Joanna’s site–awesome! Because I am a crone,I changed the words to “I am old” instead of I am young, and it still applies, even more so, as, in cronehood,I release the need to hang out in the “tunnel!” more and more!! Just a lovely way to start my week,Beth Owl’s Daughter! Thank you! Can I call soon for my birthday reading??
Madeleine, I so agree. If we look closely, we see many of our sisters, barefoot, extending a hand to join the dance!
Like Madeline, the poem applies to me even though I’m not young.
LOL!
I am not young either, but yes, I believe these are truths for any age and gender, too.
I like the poam very much. I feel that we need to keep in touch with the old ways and nature if we are to stay true to ourselves.
The world is moving too fast and changing too much. I like to see people slow down and listen to the wind, feel the sun on their face and gaze at the moon once in a while. Hopefully they will remember that there is more to life than machines to make things easier.
Our family and friends and nature herself. Those are the things we need to embrace the most.
thank you Beth! this is very powerful for me (though as I often do, I am finding it a little late!) as I am on this mickey mouse vacation that I did not choose and am struggling to negotiate. faith and grace, but no safety net!
Ah, it makes you think. And here I am working in a resturant serving up food to the masses that I personally would never eat because NONE of it is remotely healthy. Sometimes, it bothers me.