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