After the final no
There comes a yes,
and on that yes the
future world depends.

-Wallace Stevens

~~~
afraid of surrender
dodging difficult truth

we cling
to past sins and failures
(our own and the other’s)

forget
to remember in whose
arms we fall protected

we run
run away any way
but the only way home
~~~

~~~
from above and beside
and below and within

echoes
of resistance scream “no”
and “no” and “no” again

and then
faintest whisper on life’s
unpredictable wind

a “yes”
reconciles us to hope
lost future now restores
~~~

~~~
letting go of control
and giving it over

we find
widening path of joy
where once we feared sorrow

recall
lesser moments defined
by purposeless struggle

we rest
trusting divine guidance
and the promise of “yes”
~~~