Ian McFarlane – winter, 2012
_____________________
(For the compassionate wisdom of Laurel Lloyd-Jones)
To beat back intolerance,
in a time and place
that is – and equally – is not
amenable, is to risk suspension
between what we know of form,
and what we believe of substance;
like a leaf caught on the cusp
of a dangerous definition.
Because hubris defines compassion
in a way that disenchants hope –
however, to understand the leaf
with what we know of love,
is to seek all we need to know
of wisdom.