This World We Make is No Easy Place for Humans
There is no senseless suffering
or alien sorrow from which one
is exempt in this world
When our attempts do not change
the suffering or relieve its’ sorrow
one learns
Joining in the suffering
accepting its’ wound
steadfastly committed to another day
All the while seeking the solace
of a costly grace-filled love which
is a harsh and dreadful thing
Costly for the suffering one
requiring labor and fortitude
and a radical freeing forgiveness
Costly for the oppressor
requiring confession and repentance
through a veil of hubris and ignorance
Who here is the radical Christ disciples,
the bodishattvas, the Vaishnavas,
the authentic compassionate Light Beings
Do not forlorn beloveds
the transformative power of suffering
can only bring us to our Truth
and Authentic Belonging together
Herb Stone, here&now working poetry, August 2019
‘Man of Sorrows’ 15th. century German woodcut artist unknown