I’d Rather Hate

Heated words
Spray forth pent up anger
Smouldering lava from a live volcano

Anger over…
What?
Whom?
The action or the person?

Prickly words
Like spiky barbed thorn wires that fence arid lands
Blazing coals
That singes and scorches tender skins
Piercing and burning up the compassionate heart

What I get in return is all love and affection
No hatred, no abhorrence, no disgust
I wince at this ever-flowing abundance of love
That covers the dry thorns with tender foliage and smiling blossoms
That drenches and puts out the burning coals

I cringe and cower
Ashamed of myself
Restless and mortified
Only to return more vengeful

I pray that I may continue to hate
Blazing and raging all over again
Hate the living presence…
Rather than only love the departed soul.

(In memory of my deceased mother...)