My Wisdom
–Naomi Shihab Nye

When people have a lot

they want more

When people have nothing

they will happily share it

*

Some people say

never getting your way

builds character

By now our character must be

deep and wide as a continent

Africa, Australia

giant cascade of stars

spilling over our huge night

*

Where did the power go?

Did it enjoy its break?

Is power exhausted?

What is real power?

Who really has power?

Did the generator break?

Do we imagine silence

more powerful because

it might contain everything?

Quiet always lives

inside noise.

But does it get much done?

*

Silence waits

for truth to break it

*

Calendars can weep too

They want us to have better days

*

Welcome to every minute

Feel lucky you’re still in it

*

No bird builds a wall

*

Sky purse

     jingling

           change

*

Won’t give up

our hopes

            for anything!

*

Not your fault

You didn’t make the world

*

How dare this go on and on?

cried the person who believed in praying

God willing     God willing        God willing

There were others who prayed

   to ruins & stumps

*

Open palms

     hold more

*

Refuse to give

   mistakes

      too much power

*

Annoying person?

Person who told me to stay home

and do what other girls do?

If you disappeared

I still might miss you

*

Babies want to help us

They laugh

for no reason

*

Pay close attention to

a drop of water

on the kitchen table

*

You cannot say one word about religion

and exclude Ahmad