Times are tumultuous. Things are changing rapidly, moving forward and reverting back. Steem has split and a new Hive is born. Fear of a contagion breaks some apart and brings some closer together. The wise see clearer and understand what is worth keeping, what is worth nurturing, and what was never worth fighting for to begin with. Maybe even ... that fighting is rarely worth it and a misuse of energy and resources ... that no matter what you are fighting for, it will weaken you. Strength is only rebuilt when the fighting stops and the nurturing begins again.

Or maybe ... I just need to pick a side and hope its the winning one.

***

The Game Played

gamblers, trestle up
before claiming your seat
at the table
make sure the crescendo
of your cha-ching
doesn’t overwhelms the cut
           of your bustle

fortune will play sleight of hand
lending thoughtless ninnies
faux-grace and knave-like masculinity
take heart …
           a diamond or clover

and remember
even the luckiest fool
with a horseshoe-affected shuffle
can be beaten by the bluff
           of a spade-wielding scoundrel

(Published in Monsters, Avatars, and Angels. Link can be found at the bottom of the post. The poem was originally conceived on steemit.)

***

The problem ... sides are illusions. If the spread of a virus tells you anything ... there are no sides and there are no borders. We are in this together, no matter how badly or kindly we treat each other.

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45 of 81

The beauty of landscape is best comprehended
With a long view

Each part pales to the sum of its whole
Seeming imperfections blend perfectly
From space the earth is naught but beauty

No view is ever long enough
To take in the complete beauty of the Tao
If you see anything but beauty
Take a step back

The master does not care for perfection
He trusts only the work of the Tao is ever done

Spoken Word