Time of Reckoning
- Shanta Acharya (India)
Opening myself to life’s mystery,
the foundation of my prayers, a daily thanksgiving –
my grief embraces all who die without a farewell,
none to hold their hand, a funeral or vigil.
Fearing the random touch of fate I stay home,
hoping to save lives. Every day the death toll rises –
each life precious in the mosaic of the universe –
I am diminished as a human being.
Thinking of those who have no home, no income,
no food, no water, I am unable to sleep.
Knowing it doesn’t
take much to make life bearable,
the hours weep
counting the cost of survival.
Unless we make
amends, change our reckless ways,
the damage to life
on earth will be irreversible.
A deadly virus
holds a mirror up to society,
revealing the
extent of our inhumanity.
This is our time
of reckoning –
time to walk in
the shoes of the other.
Living in strange
times, the gift of being
human is a measure
of who we are, can be.