Faith

When tyrants justify cruelty with lies
When presidents mad for lawless power
          speak nothing but revenge
When bullies win
          journalists drop to their knees
          CEOs pucker and bend
          brown people rounded up
          transgender lives erased
                  and we wonder who’s next?
When profits matter more than
          trees and animals
          me and you
          and everything else too
When people hear bullshit
          nod along as if it were gospel
          deaf to pained cries and warning shouts
          bled dry of mercy and compassion
          blind to suffering
                  other than their own, of course
When everyone breathes the gas that lights
          racists and fascists like movie stars
When decency and democracy lie dying

When nothing left seems worthy of faith
Put your faith in
          trees budding and flowers
                  poking through March snows
          jungles reclaiming ruins
          deep river-fed canyons
          bounding puppies
          indifferent cats
          mother bears defending cubs
          laughter and tears
          long hugs, passionate kisses
          smiles and the stranger
                  who holds the door for you
Put your faith in
          resurrection resilience persistence
          unbridled joy and self-empowerment
          courage vulnerability and kindness
Put your faith
          in love

©2025 Kenneth W. Arthur