My ego gets pulled into the false narratives –
wanting to set the record straight –
who started what and who did it first
and who is the most violent
and who is the worst.

And my ego’s input feeds the beast,
feeds the narrative, feeds the hate-feast.
It becomes a finger-pointing frenzy
of sleights and wrongs and fear,
with everyone only hearing
what they want to hear.

I think I’ll get off of this crazy ride.
I think I’ll focus on what’s true.
I think I’ll spend my time and energy
in loving you and you and YOU.

-Karen Molenaar Terrell