We see what we want to see
what we are programmed to see
rather than what we are afraid to see
or have been taught not to see
whether it is the burned skin on his shoulder
or smell of last night’s alcohol still blistering her burp
we thinks it’s love when we wrap the shawl around him
or offer an altoid to cover mouth perfume at coffee fellowship time
Why don’t we open our hearts to see what is there, instead?
to wipe clear the opinions, the dogmatic rule making (or breaking)
the lines distinguishing them and us and you and me and they
as we look down the arrow our noses make when superiority
and tsk tsk tsk smell so much worse than stale beer and
burning flesh
Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming Fall and Winter, 2014 and beyond.
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© 2015
Yes, we do seem programmed to see what we want to see...I especially like the arrow our noses make when we feel superior. Terrific image that. Thank you.
Posted by: ds | January 18, 2015 at 10:34 AM
Ooooh.....this is so brilliant! What a stirring reminder to 'wipe clear the opinions' and instead 'see what is there.' Authenticity is far more beautiful than any preformed ideas one could ever cling to anyways.
Posted by: CC | January 18, 2015 at 11:31 AM
Wow, this is very powerful.
Posted by: Mlissabeth | January 18, 2015 at 11:48 AM
Oh, those arrow noses...love the imagery. :-)
Posted by: Jinksy | January 18, 2015 at 01:20 PM
love this- "Why don’t we open our hearts to see what is there" Indeed!
Posted by: Kathe W. | January 18, 2015 at 01:33 PM
It's knowing someone beyond the cover that makes the love shared together to last longer. A very wonderful poem to read this morning. Thank you!
- ksm
Posted by: kelvin s.m. (the bystander) | January 18, 2015 at 03:05 PM
Oh yes, how we can close off our memories to things that are today, not as pleasant as the night before.
Posted by: Barbara Lake | January 20, 2015 at 07:39 AM
"the lines distinguishing them and us and you and me and they
as we look down the arrow our noses make when superiority
and tsk tsk tsk smell so much worse than stale beer and
burning flesh" - Brilliant take on the prompt.
Posted by: Enigma | January 22, 2015 at 07:48 AM
Hypocrites indeed...powerful statement...
Posted by: Tess Kincaid | January 22, 2015 at 02:23 PM