Why is it
That people choose not see
What we do and how we live
Impacts more than the ecology
What lives in our spirit
Has an enduring legacy
What we give out to others so freely
But forever refuse ourselves to see
Anger attacks the very base of a soul
Leaving it barren and unfunctioning
As clear-cutting does a rainforest
Depleted and injured
Desolate wounds will throb to recover
Painfully…
Indefinitely…
Hostility, spoken or unspoken, pollutes the very air
Occupying precious space
Manipulating moments
To spread its contagious poison
A silent, vicious and deadly poison
Unconscious bystanders will begin to suffocate
Not ever knowing why they are lashing and thrashing out
At the next person they see
Hatred is that toxic waste
That seeps into the essence of beings
To permeate foundations and penetrate hearts
That perpetuates in the form of Violence
Into aggressions big and small
Transgressions latent and manifest
Destroying our chance to be whole
A peaceful, healthy and happy whole
It’s time to take responsibility
For our actions and deeds
Own what you and I have done
To deplete our collective space to breathe
To contribute to the wounds that will take more than time to recover
And scars that may never heal
We all have a choice
We all have the chance
To make it right
To be real with ourselves
Own our intentions
And our ignorant slumber
To better our enduring legacies
Consider this an invitation
An invitation to spiritual activism
A call to action
An opening
to cultivate something new
Allow the purest of your compassion
To fall on hurt like rain
Washing away the bitterness
Making space for change
Clearing the way for you to see
That which is outside of you
As it really may be
Plant the seed of forgiveness
That you have grown from within
Make this offering to yourself and to others
Your inner voice will guide you
To the right place
And the right time
If you allow it to
With every moment
And with each breath
Apply the awareness of gratitude
In as much as you can do
Appreciating abundance
Of the possibilities and opportunities
Open to you
We have so much more than what we need
Light up your heart
Shine your love like the sun
Healing with your warmth
Let each ray illuminate darkness
Yours and others
See beyond your limited vision of before
Transcend your selfish, devastating ways
Make space
Make peace.
Contributor Biography: Asna Adhami
Asna Adhami regularly engages audiences with her video, audio, poetry and photographic works exploring themes of culture, power, inclusion, identity, pluralism and resilience. As a broadcaster, scholar, artist and “The Cultural Expeditionist,” Asna creates and designs thought provoking and insightful media content such as the radio docs Where are you from? and Lest We Forget, and poems like Spiritual Footprint and What Difference Does a Difference Make? Asna draws from first hand intercultural knowledge and extensive experience to create contemporary material that is easily accessible to her audiences. She participates in many kinds of events to share her work, such as the CBC Poetry Face Off and founded and moderated the Poetry in the Park outdoor series for many years. Asna’s positive impact behind-the-scenes and track record for initiating and participating in change–making are well established and evidenced through her work on projects such as the Equity Advisory Forum (Arts Nova Scotia/Canada Council for the Arts Equity Initiative), the Innoversity Creative Summit and as a co-founder of the CBC’s Regional Reflection Committee (Atlantic Region – early 2000s initiative). Whether teaching her Dialogues on Diversity and Interculturalism program or creating intercultural, interfaith arts events such as the Light of the Heart: An Iftaar Party series, Asna creates environments founded in principles of mutual respect and dialogue, that invite all who share in them to consider and participate in collaborative processes of un/dis/re/covery.