Power Within Not Power Over

This poem was written to a man I loved, it turned out he was my greatest teacher. My own life went through endless heartbreak but I kept seeking positive transformation. I believe deeply in peace and practiced it. Even when at times the pain felt too much I just found the light within myself to try harder to be true to myself and him. It was through the hardship that I found my truth. Within that I will always be grateful to this man.

POWER WITHIN NOT POWER OVER

I am drawn to peace,
For power within not power over,
I am drawn to you,
For real love not possession,
I am the guest,
That does not feel welcome,
Yet my truth places me in situations,
Not of conscious choosing,
Yet I am choosing to live consciously.

I do not need your love,
Your stone wall has formed a barrier,
To my freedom,
The rock of your wall is hard,
My soft heart wonders why you need protection,
I am exposed to the elements,
I have shown all that I have,
Some have said I’m courageous to let you know,
Others, foolish better to hide and cover,
But I am a lover of life,
How can I be invisible?
I have to let you know who I am.

I can accept you do not have interest,
But my interest is the pattern in the wall,
The psychology of inquiry,
Power in silence they say,
Don’t show your cards,
They will go away,
But why build other walls,
In the hearts of innocence?

The human tribe,
Is a group to which we all subscribe,
Isolation is the mightiest weapon,
Disconnection is false protection,
To love others – now that takes courage,
To face the truth on shifting ground,
Is where the true Self is found.

You may interpret this as pursuit,
But it is really a reaching out to your heart,
My love is very pure,
It sets me apart,
I am not into ego or the challenge of conquest,
I try to be honest and do my best,
My love for you has surpassed me,
For your energy feels sublime,
Yet your inaction is unkind,
I toil with this inconsistency,
It has pained me in the night,
Because in my heart I feel it is not right.

Your actions are not my responsibility,
And as I look into Gandhi’s eyes,
He whispers to me non-attachment,
As the jewel that I must find,
So you are in fact my teacher,
And within that I feel respect,
Your silence was the greatest gift,
For it forced me to reflect.