Zero

If I begin
to tell a friend
a story
that means
something
to me

how many
distraction
and
lapses
in attention

are allowed
before
I properly
feel
hurt?

one
two
three?

If I restart
the story
with some
frustration
and a
friend's begged
apology

and the friend
listens again
with
half interest
does this
become
an insult?

how many
moments
of indignation
and
righteous hurt
have i
rightfully aquired?

one,
two,
three?

or is it four
now that
I have left unfinished
a fourth time
and carefully
let the story
fade untold?

zero

zero times
need I tell that story
zero moments
may I feel indignation

because there
is nothing
my friend
owes me
though I act
as if I must
have more

I am merely
trying to find
something
in my friend
that I must
find
in myself.

If I would hold
a moment of hurt
a moment of blame
against him
I have done a grave injustice

This I have learned.

Library Bipolarity

Word comes
that Gandhi has died
And yet
there is still love

Word comes
that Buddha has passed
And yet
bliss endures

there is love
there is hope
there is compassion
they do not belong to anyone
they are not to be owned
there is no exclusivity
there is no defining man
through them

Word comes
that Torquemada has died
And yet
there is still fear

Word comes
that Hitler has died
And yet
hate endures

there is fear
there is hate
there is anger
they do not belong to anyone
they are not to be owned
there is no exclusivity
there is no defining man
through them

each is
authentically powerless
like a book
resting impotently
upon the shelf

a book
ready to be read
on a sunny
or a rainy day

a book can tell one
what to do
but that choice is neither made
by the page
nor by the binding

it is only
what it is

like a book
to be replaced
upon the shelf
as the sun sets
upon the face