On life
Opening and closing
Systole and diastole
How lucky we are!
We do not have to command our heart to beat
or control the expansion or contraction
Lungs fill, lungs empty
Organs, physical and spiritual together
We live without effort.
If only that were true when the heart is pierced by pain
Or our bellies drop with fear
When the throat parches
And the tongue sticks to the roof of the mouth
Then we need effort and the courage to risk
Standing
and standing still
Even when the winds blow
and the inner admonitions sound true but are not
That is when we command our heart to stay strong
We swallow the fear
We stand and unglue our tongues
We say, No
Or we say Yes.
Systole and diastole.
How lucky.
Silvia Behrend
