Collateral Damage

There is collateral damage.
The harm.

Those people, those animals, those elements of our society harmed by simply standing by.
Harmed by being in the vicinity of the devastation.
It was not their plan to get hurt.
It just happened ... because they were so close.

Where is our collateral damage? In some windows of our world, it is easy to see.

1. In war - as burned out homes and blown up body parts send a stench into the air, while hearts break from the loss. 
2. On our farms - as pesticides poison the insects and pests ... but also poisons anyone who ingests the chemicals not meant for human consumption.
3. In medical practices - as the chemicals within "chemotherapy" attack cancer cells but thrash and trash other healthy cells and organs in the process.

And there are other such scenarios where a misfire of offense can harm that which stands nearby.

The latest version of this tragic story comes to mind, when I consider interpersonal relationships.

Collateral damage? Yes. It's subtle, but yes.

Consider the times you brought your own hurt to someone in hopes of being heard.
Only to be met with defensiveness or even an attack.
Your significant other was simply trying to make a point or stay out of their own guilt.
But in their attempts at protecting themselves, they did not listen to you.
They only offered a slight, a fight, a judgment.  
You were not heard.
And you were hurt ... again.

And there was damage
Collateral damage.

On some level, their judgment was not meant for you. Deep down, it was not intentional to slight you. You did not approach a loved one to receive this.
But it happened. And it happened because you were close. So close.

You were in vicinity of their own pain. A pain that spilled out of them without knowledge or precision. They met your request for being received with a slam of energy of their own upon you.
There was not a reception, but a deflection and then rejection.

Damage.

This cycle will continue - as innocent lives are lost, as tomatoes and corn are tainted, as chemicals destroy the vibrancy, as relations are torn asunder - until we awaken to the fact that we are all connected, that everything originates from the same source, and that harmful unconscious behavior only hurts us all.

In something called "collateral damage."


James Anthony Ellis is a writer living in San Diego. He can be reached at www.LegacyProductions.org.

I Bear Witness

A friend mentioned how much she has seen in this lifetime, commenting with the phrase how she had to "bear witness." I said, "Hey that sounds like the seed of a poem."

In my time, in this world

I have seen, I have heard

Wondrous highs, tumultuous lows

Unconditional love that only heaven knows
Then harsh and heinous, the gnashing hell
The broken dreams from a wishing well
The full spectrum rainbow, I would know all of this
In my life, I would bear witness

I bear witness

To the F grade red, tests full of error
To the towers collapse after explosions of terror
To bodies piled high in devastated lands
To drone strike murder, no blood on hidden hands
To a president’s assassination, the motorcade in Dallas
To the lion trophy catch – killing senseless and callous
To the social media frenzy, virtual arsenals of attack
To the driving accident, there writhed Lucy our dear cat

I bear witness

To past due envelopes arriving in the mail
To the aging mirror in distressing detail
To gray around temples and wrinkles around eyes
To false witness that maintains the facade and disguise
To the defeat of my football team, the sea of hands
To the collective sighs of all disheartened fans
To the hungry and cold who live outside on the street
To the children who are sold to the men they must meet
To the death of loved ones, full of grieving and crying
To the hospice where I left my mom; she was dying

Why do we do it? What can this be for?

What could exist on the other side of the door?
Who would be there, would they see all of this?
When all is said and done, I would bear witness

I bear witness

To the majestic wonder of nature’s sweet beauty
To the newborn of Monica, the cherub little cutie
To gorgeous artwork born from artisan hands
To the melody and harmony of great rock-n-roll bands
To the garden of flowers, the lavish of green
To the Stanley Cup raised by a king of a team
To the cards and prose from lover to lover
To the spiritual path we all can discover

I bear witness

To sunrises and sunsets, we’ll call it a day
To footprints on beach sand as we walk on our way
To birthday cake candles blown out with much joy
To the fun antics of the children, the girls and the boys
To the thrills of the roller coaster at the amusement park
To graduations and weddings – each one a new start
To the big winning flashing lights at a Vegas slot
To the perception of value over anything sold or bought

In my time, in this world

I have seen, I have heard
Wondrous highs, tumultuous lows
Unconditional love that only heaven knows
Truly, none of these I would ever want to miss
For in my life, I would bear witness
I would bear witness