Marge Piercy “Councils” Revisited by Twinkle
She says we must sit down
and reason together.
Close to the earth;
no platform, no stage.
In Circle
Facing each other.
In small groups.
Easily able to see and to hear
who is speaking.
Without judgement,
as if in the dark,
where the words matter most,
not who is saying them.
Equal.
We begin
to begin to listen.
Speaking softly.
Saying our truths.
Affirming the Holy in each other
and beyond us as we do.
“It is not I who speaks but the wind.”
She says
“Wind blows through me.
Long after me, is the wind.”
Long after us
are the decisions
we make in Councils.
When we truly value each other,
we talk with each other.
Not at
or to
but with.
Our words honor each other.
Our words reflect the legacy
we wish to leave
for those who come next.
Our words are strong,
yet gentle.
In this place we create together
we are intentionally and mutually peaceable.
From this sacred space
of mutual peaceableness
we can express what is truly
on our hearts and minds,
without pretense,
without pressure to conform
this way or that way.
We can be brave knowing we are safe.
We can be flexible
knowing no one here wants to break us.
We can trust we are each equal.
We can create the highest good for all.
And,
we listen
and act
with love.
Above poem by Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Porter-Manning, April 2020
Inspired by Marge Piercy’s “Councils” poem in Circles on the Water
LINK TO MARGE PIERCY’s POETRY