“ETHICS”

My finger is pointing and my mouth is saying ‘ethics’

My finger is pointing, “Look at him ” and “Look at her”

My finger is pointing and my mind feels very righteous.

My finger is pointing, over here and over there.

My finger is pointing but it seems to be quite maddened

It runs around in circles in a tanglement of parts.

My finger is pointing, it fascinates to watch it,

My finger is pointing and it’s pointing to my heart.

My heart it seems is aching it wants so much to care

Replaced by pointy finger that scratches here and there.

It’s time to take that finger and join it to a hand,

To reach out with some goodness and help where helping can.

It’s time to see that ethics is not the finger part.

It’s time to see that ethics rises only in the heart.

by Tarchin Hearn

 

Many thanks to:

A Sheaf of Poems, 1991 – 2000, © Tarchin Hearn, http://www.greendharmatreasury.org