our open wound hope

the reality of anger and wish for revenge

on all who may have hurt me in the past

or may lash out against me in the future

the reality of fear that assumes betrayal

and finds security only in conspiracies

and in signs and symbols

that only some can understand

such reality has been true for centuries, but hidden

perhaps, now that it is out in plain sight,

perhaps now we can learn to comfort, assure and include