It seems we have an endless
capacity for imagining peace,
exceeded only by our capacity
for greed and selfishness.
We announce our beliefs
in equality, equity, diversity
and abide them so long
as they don’t impede our
desires, wants, wishes.
We offer alms to the poor
solace to the weak, prayers
for the needy so long as they
remain anywhere we do not
have to see or interact with them.
We imagine ourselves
the holy ones walking closely
in the footsteps of Jesus,
Moses, the Buddha, Allah
but karma keeps a ledger
and our account will someday
come due in ways that we
dare not imagine now.