Welcome to responsibility
When enough has been said
to fill the head
walk alone and listen
for a decision with precision.

Welcome to shit
When blue and sad
till the field,
sow the grass, set the vines,
read a book, pick wild berries,
cook.
Mow the field, stack the hay,
crush the grapes, make a nest and rest
until it doesn’t feel quite so bad.

Welcome to fulfilment
At work, or with strangers,
caught short in a stable with a manger,
solemn or holy, reverent or rank
at a crossroad, in a station,
at times of very high inflation,
in rain, boredom or commotion
Feel the Emotion;
Fill Your Space;
Manage The Face – as necessary;
commit senseless acts of kindness
As if blindly.

Welcome to your food
Eat your greens.
They will keep your insides fashionable and young
Demonstrably indicated by a tongue
That is pink and expensive-looking,
Peeping out in fine restaurants.

Welcome to all your love
Should one turn out to be frightful,
not delightful, one shall find it fruitful
to be grateful.

Welcome to society
Hello body hello mind! Welcome to human kind.

We are animals on the earth.
We come from stars and think we’re clever.
We have ideas and make them real.
Ideas that deny compassion.

We stand on opposing sides of one bridge;
we draw water from the place beneath.

We share visions and make them real;
we agree not to compromise compassion;
we are all downstream.

Welcome to your psyche
Here we find you in the Garden of Wrong,
blessed by worry and ripe with guilt.
Let the night wind wildly wave your load,
shake your leaves and drop your fruit.
Join us in the autumn festival throng
and let us wrap you warm for winter!

Welcome to faith
Welcome to your Faith Group.
Is it a Doubting Group or a Pretending Group?
A Pretending Group has no need to ask questions
is liable to Ideas Beyond Compassion,
costs more to join.

© Andrew Downs