A Slow Epiphany

The creatures of Galapagos

were like instant lovers to us.

We treated them the same

until some of my shipmates came.

They started throwing rocks at them

and i became suddenly grim.

I was not often so angry

but they were now my enemy.

Love your enemy i had been told

from the time i was four-years-old

and that was my epiphany

after my God had talked with me.

After that i began to see

i might be my own enemy.

I needed to love anyone

regardless of what they had done.

This didn’t happen in one night

but i am convinced that it’s right.

Walt Abbott 10-28-2011