"Don't Turn Your Face Away"

[McCamy Taylor]

At work, standing in the hall waiting for the bathroom listening to the television program playing inside the nearby employee break room. The topic of discussion--George Floyd. An employee--white, female---says "Does anyone mind if I change the channel? I'm tired of all this negativity." She is answered with silence. Since I am in the hall, not technically in the break room, I say nothing. She quickly switches the channel. And another employee--Black, male--quickly leaves the break room, his expression unreadable since we are all wearing face masks.

My emotions are in turmoil. I am reminded of a poem by the Sufi mystic, Rumi (reprinted in excerpts below)

"Being a lover shows itself in pain of heart

No evil is comparable to this pain in the heart.

The suffering of lovers is different from all others...


The commentary of words can make things clear___

But Love without words has more clarity...


In speaking of Love, the intellect is impotent,

Like a donkey trapped in a bog:

Only Love itself can explain Love,

Only Love can explain the destiny of lovers.

The proof of the sun is the sun itself:

If you want proof, don't turn your face away."

Peace, Shalom, Namaste, Salaam

[Joinfortmill]

1. Lovely poem. At the very least, they should have all left.