I take my anger to Meetings

Poem by Jane Short

I take my anger to Meetings.
He sits next to me.
(On the left, actually)
An urchin
With greasy hair and grubby fingers
His knees grey with ingrained dirt

During the silence he swings his legs
Squirming and aching
To scuff the polished parquet floor
And smash the complacent windows
He knows not to shout obscenities.
Not here in the Silence.

But burns to shatter the silence of a callous world
Smothering its conscience.

Jill says ‘Reading about Friends who are reluctant to attend Meeting while there is so much violence across the world, I turned to Advices & queries 10: “Come regularly to meeting for worship even when you are angry, depressed, tired or spiritually cold”. I accept that I may not enjoy peaceful reflection during Meeting but am prepared to sit with other powerful emotions. This short poem sums up my reaction to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, and may echo the experience of other Friends.’

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