Stream

cold

always changing flow

never ending

fresh water

quench my thirst

where do you come from but the sky

filling any form

for the good of nature and man

being who you need to be at any given moment

malleable

yet unbreakable

you’ll just move if I hit you

you’ll just take the blow

spread it out throughout your body

and return to peace

calm

okay

my toes are wet now

I’ve entered the stream

I feel the current on my ankles

beckoning that I move with it

but I choose to be stubborn

not moving

like you

not fully present

taking whatever form I need to for the good of nature and man

killing anything that gets in my way or makes me uncomfortable

while you take blows

I give them

not thinking of you or them

thinking of myself

and what I want

but you

you are kind to me still

as if you’ve already forgiven me for what I’ve done before I do it

you still move for me

you still return to peace

why?

why do you not fight back?

I’ve seen you consume my friends

why won’t you consume me?

I’m certainly more evil and less perfect than them

I’m certainly unworthy of your forgiveness and mercy

yet here we are

fully submerged in you

and I can still breathe

I can still see

I can still hear

I’m still alive

there must be a reason

for all of this life that I’ve yet to live