Mother, do I have to fight?

We live in times of war 

A war that seems to have outlived each living atom 

A war that is all new and yet the same 

A war that surpasses time, the galaxies, the beginning of time

A war that is very local, real, breathing in me and in my vicinity 

With a weary heart, Mother, I ask, do I have to fight? 


I feel the calling seeping in through my bones

Like I have always known , I was born for the battlefield, born for the fight 

Fight I will, if I must 

If only with each breath, you promise me that you will remind me where I come from 

If only with each breath, you will help me renew the battle scars that get imprinted on my soul 

If only with each breath, you will show me how to fight 


Mother, do I have to fight? 

There are parts of me which are at war with each other

Can you let me rest in your arms , so , I can die 

Die to the parts that have gone rogue 

Can you let me rest in your arms, so, I can resurrect 

Resurrect the parts of me untouched by death 

Can you let me rest in your arms, so, I can rise 

Rise with the lionheart of a warrior , the heartbeat thats both yours and mine 


Mother, do I have to fight? 

I feel the silent roar now, that reverberates through the entire cosmos and my being at once 

I can see this fight isn’t mine alone, I see my brothers and sisters now 

I can see that the enemies are my long lost friends in disguise 

I can see that the fight is at the surface, to break open our hard shells  


Mother, I am ready for the fight 

For if I don’t, we lose a fighting chance to see who we truly are 

For if I don’t , we lose a fighting chance to crack open the seeds of love that you hid in us  

For if I don’t , I will need to come again and answer the call

The call to be more whole, be more holy , be more in love


Mother, you told me once, warriors are made in times of war 

I now thank you for the war, and, for the valor 



Note: Co-created by Intra-religious Dialogue Cohort 2