All these years
Thinking things were
A certain way,
Only to find that
He was completely mistaken.
Novel insights
Brought about by years of
Self-examination,
Concerted shift in
Thinking over time.
Swirling feelings of
Loss and anger,
Relief and hope,
New opportunities unhampered
By obsolete patterns.
All it takes
For a democracy to
Self-destruct is for
The people who run it to
Decide that the only thing
That matters is money
And their own power.
Lofty words succumb easily
To base drives.
After many lengthy,
Fruitless conversations,
Actually arguments,
They arrive at the same place
They’ve always been,
Neither understanding the other’s
Point of view or what’s
Really happening underneath
All the bluster,
No prospect of ever
Changing anything,
Two closed minds.
In that brief moment
He recognized that
Things hadn’t been as he thought.
People just behave the way
They always have,
With little or no forethought.
All this time spent worrying
It was about him when it really was
People just being themselves.
A sense of relief followed by loss,
So many years wasted,
Many to be enjoyed.
She changes it,
Doubting herself and
Her abilities yet again.
She changes it again,
Realizing how wonderful
Her talents are.
Continuous fluctuation
Between incertitude and
Recognition, celebration.
A lifeless dinner party,
Superficial conversation
Interspersed with
Large silences,
Tight smiles,
People who can barely
Tolerate each other,
The hostess trying hard
To pretend it’s
All going well.
