DEAR CONSCIENCE

Dear Conscience,

While you were gone

We argued and fought and denied the truth and stubbornly refused to listen

It was dogma

And we called it debate

While you were gone

We killed and trampled and tortured and stubbornly refused to love

It was murderous

And we called it business

While you were gone

We raped the planet, destroying lives, communities and precious species

It was barbarous

And we called it consumerism

While you were gone

We listened to false narratives, to confusing messages, to lies and fraud

We allowed ourselves to be frightened and manipulated

And we called it news

While you were gone

We found ourselves trapped

In the very thing

We had called freedom

When all along we knew

The answer was simply

To stop

All of it

To breathe, to care, to love

Dear Conscience

We need you back