Poem For Michael's 'scottish Play' Poem by Gabrielle Ciarann Roniyah Baer

Canst thou not minister to a mind dis'eased?
Macbeth/William Shakespeare

We listen to the murderous thane/king
and hear ourselves
We hear the speech again, and again
in our lives, in our hearts, in our souls.
We've known those times
our thoughts turn against us
our faith flickers and fails,
our dreams darken and die
our lives grow lonely and harsh
our arms go empty, for lack of love
We've come through those nights and days of no more hope,
at times, coming through seems all
we can hope for,
at night, alone, faith seems frail,
ephemeral as a play,
at morning, we feel empty,
shallow as a waiting grave
at midday, at dusk,
we see only shadows.

But
if we know people everywhere feel these 'rooted sorrows'
if we know for ages women and men have 'come through'
if we believe in the human heart's strength and stubborness'
if we remember to reach out, again, again and again,
if we read the Bard for hope,
not for despair
if we search out those ties
that hold us to the earth and to each other
if we cherish, and share the times,
the nights and days that warm us,
if we open arms and hearts,
souls and minds
then we know what in this darkest play
the Bard would teach us:
evil's hold can be broken
despair can be defeated,
sorrows can find healing,
we can win back our lives, our loves,
our world
and even death is not an end.
and we can, we do, we will go on, and on.


06/19/04