The ancient stoic, Seneca,
advised us soberly long ago
to refrain from uncontrolled
anger and instead weigh our
reactions on the scales of thought,
for the consequences may be dire.

In my life, I have been angry,
sometimes far too much, and
seen the fragile glass that it can
shatter by its uncontrolled force.

But of late, Seneca’s lofty ideal
has troubled me somewhat, for
while the control of anger is
in the soul of a successful life,
anger itself is human, important
and should not be annexed. .

I am angry but not in rage.
I am angry but not to harm.

Justice and love stir me with
anger but not to break the
fragile parts that sit inside
and outside my complex life.

I am angry to drive me to
the good and to confront the
subtle forces that would strip
away the fragile parts of
these precious human souls. .

Yes, I am angry, and I raise
my open hand to the hurt and
the pain inflicted by those
whose interests are about profit,
and power and control and gain.

So, Seneca, with deepest respect
to the intent of your philosophy
of self-control, which I practice
to the extent I will , I will not
take away my anger, for in its
human textures connected to
the fragile world exist the strands
of true justice: relieving suffering
and bringing needed change.

 

14/8/2023