Remain and Lamplighters

Two poems for reflection and introspection by Trisha Bender. She is a remarkable woman, filled with insight, sensitivity, and she has or holds a prophetic voice for all of us to hear…

Remain

When the world feels wrong

We must endure

Civilizations do not collapse because of power

They collapse because of philosophy

Remain when the world feels wrong

Remain true to love

Remain true to kindness

Remain true to peace

Remain true to truth

We do not lose

When we remain pure

We lose the moment we

Pretend to be pure

There is no room for duplicity

If we stop walking the talk

The truth walks out on us

And we are left with meaninglessness

Disguised as prosperity

Jesus said “whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you do undo me”

And now we know

­There is no you

There is no me

We are ALL one brotherhood

When the world feels wrong

We must remind ourselves what is right

And correct those things within ourselves that fall short of our own philosophy

To love, to serve, to remember who we are

We must remain steadfast

When the world feels wrong

We must endure

012626 TRISH BENDER

Lamplighters

We are the lamp-lighters

We stoke the fires and feed the soldiers

Holding space for rest after a long day’s fight

We are the story tellers

Reminding them that this too shall pass

Look at us, look at us

We say

Still standing

History repeats itself

But so does peace and justice

Look at us, look at us

Still standing

Long enough to make space

For you