Mixing metaphors on a Saturday morning
By PoetPJ

an older film with an older Peter O'Toole
asked his protege, Boris: "You have to
look at the big picture..."

i ask back another metaphor: "...Losing sight
of the forest for the trees"

the forest is the big picture my friends
and peace is that forest

to mix the metaphors and blend
the picture into a yet larger truth

and so the trees
of all hues and shades
and sizes
are the people

and we cannot forget to see the trees
to save the forest

poetpj 061805 1225

my goodness
all the fussin' and fightin'

who minds some friendly banter
some exchange of views
'i'm right'
'no, i'm right'

accepting that no matter from where
no matter why
we're all here
stuck together
for the biblical term
three score and ten
whether even if that be your bible...

i catch myself caught
in the conflict of others
whether myself even conflicted
because one side, the other side
or innumerable sides
just push push push

by whatever faith you may or
even may not keep
i slip then back to the wisdom prayer
as i remember it...

g--, grant me the strength
to change what can be changed
and the patience to accept
what which cannot be changed
and the wisdom to know
the differnce between the two...