People Over Politics, World Over Wealth

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Conflict and Balance ~ Philip Brent Harris

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I listen, only to hear distant voices,
whispers, asides, deep discussions, laughter.
What are they discussing, I wonder now?
Certainly not Michelangelo or Da Vinci.
War and rumors of war torments, memoirs
of lives lost. Memorialized forever.

No heavenly choir sings, nor stentorian angel
proclaims threats of violence or of peace.
What would you wish for in your deepest heart,
truly? Would you desire personal or cosmic boon?
Would you grant surcease from global horror?
Even I am unsure if I am that selfless,

Still, at times, more and more. I walk a dark street.
Only light so distant, it might as well. be
imagined. I choose to live in the light, for the
light. Aware, I will never find it without the night.
So, when I see my way to a clear pathway, it’s
because I walk between the two sides of life.

I join life and death as if we are old friends. Older
now, I realize this truth; believing this as if.
Peace fills my being beside my surfeit of struggle.
Remind myself, that rehearsal of my part is long
past. That my character fills a vital role,
even those without a line, one important thing.

Vast numbers of people, living beings, though
they are rarely silent, appear to add nothing
to the dialogue we share one unto another.
Still, in the smaller life, they are essential.
Such ensembles may bring great meaning
to this world we dance as if mere players.

Mummers, we move from life to life, after the
manner of a traveling troupe. Rolling town to town.
We find our dramas, comedies, soliloquies.
Set pieces we performed daily. Or, new lines we
must practice until they are truly ours alone.
 Such are acts of love, death, living and life.

We find, create or imitate solemn rituals,
grand celebrations and unlooked for tragedies.
All these and more fill a life. There is no
demand that we must know all. Many, birth
and death, joy and sorrow are ambiguous.
And are part of our base existence.

Spiritual, though not religious, I remind you
of fact, no matter what you may believe. The
universe was born in an instant and will pass away.
All life, all matter follows this same path home.
Life, death are always joined. Whether peoples,
worlds, stars, galaxies, or the smallest particle unseen.

We all add our moments to the time and space we
inhabit, Though we have no memory of other parts
we played and shared with other players. Some
characters, beings we meet and match, life to life,
from the past or any possible future. Still,
we will always encourage others to join us.

We gain wisdom or believe we do, which
may or may not be the same, always depending
on our perspective. Our moment, in continuity.
We may become entangled in the scenes for others.
And joining, then, rewrite the story. The ending
may appear fixed. But, also may always alter.

Ours, the journey to discover if our existence,
the existence of all that is. Comedy, tragedy,
or not such an extreme. Will we struggle?
Live lives of ease, where all have enough.
So, we may offer the best of ourselves,
share it and find our balanced ending.

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Diversity is Unity, Empathy is Empowerment

Peace is Purpose, Nonviolence is Strength,

Unite the World

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Philip Brent Harris Fine Art, Digital Art and Photography

Conflict and Balance ~ Philip Brent Harris