Patience

“Be patient,” my mother said
“All good things must wait.”
Did I believe, did I accept?
Or did I just sit, stewing as time vanished?

As I count the days on the calendar
I see them passing by
Lost to time, possibilities cast aside
Without action, wasted opportunity
Was I too patient, waiting for the perfect chance
Deliberate, or just inactive?

The years flew by, but I didn’t notice them
As they winged upon the air lost to forever
And now I’m just a fossil, stretched out upon the sofa,
Skin and bones, no muscle, but I waited
Patiently for events to unfold
And the situation to improve
But it never seems to happen
Until it’s way too late to change.

--

When evil lurks in your neighborhood
In your city, state, and country
Why should you be patient
Why would you not take action
To make things better
To improve the state of your surroundings
To make a difference
Instead of sitting like a mushroom on a log
Rotting away from the inside
Having nothing useful to contribute

--

The gullible one says all will work out
If we wait for the right time
The time that never comes
Because no time is right for revolution
There is always pain and anguish
Since change is hard, so awful
Ripping us up by the roots
And throwing us into the fire
To burn away the bark that protects us
From the attackers on the outside
The predatory rulers who want to keep us down
Under foot, under jackboot
No escape without trying
No wriggling off the hook
If we just wait
We will be their dinners
As the cannibals eat the country
On their gold-enameled plates

--

There is a time for patience
But today is not the day!
Fight for change!
Don’t wait!