While Lebanon Burns

Is it not better
to be true to oneself in this life?

To go your own way,
to decide for yourself
what — and who — you love.

Do not conform,
do not contort yourself
into a mold
someone else decides is best.

Instead of constantly shrinking
to appease,
to survive,
to keep yourself safe —

wouldn’t life become an adventure
if you expanded instead?

If you ebbed and flowed
beyond the boundaries set for you.

If you became big.
If you took up space.

If you honored your soul enough
to follow passion
while the world mocked such foolishness.

“It’s irresponsible,” they say.
“It’s not financially sound.”

But what if
you lived your one and only life
free from what they say?

What if your purpose
was not to steal from others,
or rise through their suffering,

but to enrich them —
to enrich this aching world?

What if keeping yourself safe,
building walls,
fortresses,
distance —

is the very thing
that wounds your fellow man,

and all living beings
with whom we share

this one fragile Earth?

Do you abandon yourself
when you abandon others?

Do you abandon yourself
when you make yourself small?

Do you abandon yourself
when you ignore suffering?

When you refuse to stand beside
those steamrolled by the powerful?

Do you abandon yourself
when you remain silent
in the face of injustice?

When others go hungry.

When they are displaced.

Do you abandon yourself
when you do not hold accountable
those responsible for suffering —

for stealing,
for pain,
for killing,
for destruction?

Tell me, dear child,

at what point
do you abandon your soul?