A poem by: Athol Williams
Athol shared this poem on an occasion to celebrate the ministry and life of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu - 27 December 2021.
I want to learn to look deeper, to see more. Even as
his fist strikes at my cheek and her words rip at my soul,
even as they awake a volcano of violence in my chest,
I want to learn to see them and not be blinded by pain.
I want to see past his actions, her speech, their anger;
see through his religion, her beliefs, their cultural norms;
beyond his clothing, her skin, the sound of their voices;
I want to nod to their being but see more of their humanity.
I want to look deep inside him, I want to see the unseen
within her, to find that mystery flame that burns there,
and I know I’ll see hurt there, and disappointment;
I know I’ll see dreams there, and hope; and I know
that once I’ve learned to see with such eyes, I will see
the real him, the true her, and I know, I will see myself.
ATHOL WILLIAMS
10 April 2020