The fool thinks he is wise, but the wise man knows he can also be a fool.”
Anatole France
Yes — I said please don’t touch
go away and just leave me be
while inside I was crying out
please draw near — stay with me
you are light — you are pure
you are joy — you are free
I am not — I am the darkness
I am enraged — I am a beast
but in my fury and manic chaos
you reached out calmly — touched me
quieted my anger — quelled my fear
in your brightness you helped me see
like the good needs the bad
like happiness needs the sad
there’s only up if there is down
who’d know a smile without a frown
like day needs the night
like shore defines the sea
like light needs the darkness
there’s only cold if there is heat
it requires two different notes
to blend pure for harmony
we can never be only one
that is a fool’s fallacy
like the yin and the yang
like any wise philosophy
we exist only together
I’m in you — you’re in me
this is the depth
this is the weight
this is the meaning
this is the sacred mystery
how can one thing
yet both things be
this is the beautiful paradox
this is the way of balance — verily
*
rob kistner © 2021
Poetry at: dVerse
This has nothing to do with the poem, but if you want to spend an incredible 90 minutes with Joni — I cordially invite you to do so.