True Peace by Kris Ferraro It seems so fluffy, this pristine notion of cloudlike calm peace in effortless motion way too fragile up against hard edges and sharp pokers of mercenaries super weapons and death tallies sparing ideologies and blame, blame, blame the idea of peace can seem quite quaint What a shame Old fashioned. Out of date. Like lace curtains, grandmother’s tea, and family dinners on Sundays Like we’ve all been smeared with the red letter A for all the abhorrent apathy A lost innocence that can never return because it wasn’t built for nuclear burn A faulty design from a much better time Like maybe it’s all too late? But the truth is, there’s nothing soft about peace It requires more than you may be willing to give It wants acceptance to exactly what is It asks that you let go the need to know and control And love those that you consider your foes But deeper still, there’s a harder journey to take Seeping Into the darkness of your bitter self hate If you think I’m talking about someone else Consider there’s parts you’re denying yourself There’s no separation Between them and you You are the filter that gives meaning to views You color the story, saturate its hues You write the script and then give it life You are the joy, you are the strife Can you love the brokenness you want no one to see? Can you accept all within that is wounded and ugly? Can you see your selfishness, insecurity and spite As part of the whole, as part of your light? One thing I do know what you deny in yourself is mirrored wherever you go There’s no escape; it’s sinister and seductive Convincing you everyone else is disruptive “It’s them that’s the problem, if only they’d change, if only I could erase them right off the page if only they’d come around to sharing my views we couldn’t lose but until then I refuse. “ This is the core of every world war It starts right here So I’m asking you Are you willing to go there? Can you be brave when facing your pain And friend your ego that seems so insane? Can you love your foibles, failures, and faults? And stop the endless self assaults? This is what it will take Not for the meek, the weak, or the fake But you have the strength, it’s time to wake True Peace is granite hard Unbreakable in its ease Like diamonds, mountains and redwood trees Stand up in love for yourself Create inner peace Then see how it sets you and others free © Kris Ferraro, 2014