Don't Be Afraid

[Lisa Walford]

I have a few friends who have taken a vow to stay away from social media and to turn off the news. I have friends who get really fired up about the many things in our society that seem to compromise the values that we have shared over the last sixty years. I even made a make-shift sign and joined a pro-choice rally this last weekend. I need not count the challenges that we all face. And yet, I need to remember what is happening across the big pond, what is happening to our European friends. I will not normalize a conflict that is bringing so much pain. I have always found art to be a valuable vehicle to resolve and release my pent up feelings. I read this poem last week. It gives me great courage. And, I need not say anything else about it, it speaks for itself.    

You can read all of my posts and poems here:

https://groups.google.com/g/lisa-walford-pranayama

Oksana Lutsyshyna is a young (under 50) poet in  Uzhhorod, Ukraine. She has received the prestigious awards for her poetry and literature in Ukraine. She currently lives in Austin, TX, where she teaches Ukrainian and East European literature at the University of Texas.    

who is on my side, you ask

who is on my side? — this tree here,

as if it could be against you?

as if trees could be against people?

a whole park of trees

a whole forest, you could say — and are all on your side

all of them

and the cat? is the cat against you?

no, the cat is on your side

this cat and all the world’s cats

all — on your side, all — your army

nimble, yellow-eyed

and gods? yours and others — and everyone in the world?

wouldn’t they help you?

of course, they would

they are on your side

how could they be — against you?

and that teacher that said — thoughts are everything?

what’s his name — Swami Vishnudevananda

is he — against you?

why waste his time! of course,

he is on your side

on your side

and the sea? what — you think, the sea is against you?

all its waves and pebbles and beaches

 visible and invisible

everything is for you, don’t doubt it 

every day and every minute

do you hear — the sea roars?

it says to you: I

am on your side 

on your side

and music? which of the notes is against you?

which of the melodies?

Mozart? rappers? pianists?

The Accademia Bizantina? Paul McCartney?

no, what are you thinking

everyone is on your side

on your side

and there is no one against you

and there will never be

and so love, keep on loving

don’t be afraid