Changed Slowly [rev.] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

It was hard in the beginning,
hard to understand that you did
not agree with me – I needed

You to agree to fairies and
spiritual ideas – and yet you
were not against me.

It seemed that since you did
not agree, you might even have
wanted to change me, and then

I came to understand you were
simply standing on your own
ground, expecting me to take

My own chosen place without
necessarily insisting that you
join me in my convictions.

Because you were a special
person, because I had audacity
to appropriate you as my hero,

A Big Brother whose ideas are
important, I wanted you to think
as I do for your own benefit;

And today it is clear that you are
free to think as you do without
constituting a threat to me, and

Your convictions are beneficial.
Wonderful isn’t it, the change
took place slowly, and today

There is no hint of threat

[25 February 2014]