Not the way.
Whatever is not the way
soon ends…
Laoxi, from Lao-Tzu: A Book about the Way and the power of the Way, Ursula K. Le Guin
Are we sure?
We have walked this road for a long time. Footstep after footstep across the soft earth of community, and the hard pavement of individualism. Our firm steps have crushed innocent necks along our path of progress. When they cry, all we do is wipe their tears off our boots like morning dew.
Are we sure this is the path we want to follow?
Look behind. Smoke from still-burning communities; remnants of ruined lives; the simplicity of following one’s nature left butchered by seemingly mastered comlexity.
Look ahead: Debris from stricken society, shattered by those starved of Justice for too long. The unchecked spread of pandemic, driven by the selfish ignorant and the failed leaders they chose.
Are we sure?
No?
Then … Change. Our. Way.
enshadowed road
enclosing those hands
different than ours
for Poets and Storytellers United’s Weekly Scribblings #26: Pavement
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Very thought provoking haibun Frank
Much💖love
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You paint a vivid picture here, Frank! I shudder at the possibility of further bedlam. Love the title, we are in dire need of course correction. Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt. 💝
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Subtle but clear.
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Yes, time to ponder for humans, is all this progress worth it!
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Humans do tend to question everything so the right way is often missed, then backtracking is the embarrassing result.
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If backtracking is even the option here, Robin! Thanks!
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I love the contrast of the ‘soft earth of community’ and ‘the hard pavement of individualism’. It’s a difficult choice to make and it’s even harder to walk the fine line between them. Once we put our foot on ‘path of progress’ there is no going back, no undoing what has been done.
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Therefore, we must tread cautiously when we consider the progress that we want to make. Is it worth the price?
Thanks, Kim!
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How very dystopian! Oh, wait – it’s just our everyday reality. 😦
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Indeed! Thanks, Rosemary.
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“The unchecked spread of pandemic, driven by the selfish ignorant and the failed leaders they chose.” So true. Those who flocked to beaches and bars have driven the numbers ever higher. We are a generation that’s forgotten the meaning of the word sacrifice for the greater good. Great write, Frank.
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Thank you, Beverly! It’s particularly discouraging to see this as a New Yorker. No one learned from what we survived!
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A haibun for all of time … thank you Frank.
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Thank you, Helen! 🙂
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You’ve spoken volumes in such an economy of words. So much truth..
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Thankyou, Susie.
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You have said it all eloquently in this haibun, Frank.
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