If Taken in my Hand

Should we accept how everything appears to be, or not?

if taken in my hand
the dove pecks at my fingers
— the hawk watches

Everything is as it is not. Those who proclaim the world needs love loudest are the least lovable souls and least likely to be loved. Those who demand we go to war have never worn a uniform, and those that council against war the most are military leaders. Democracy is a multicoloured coat, which governments slip on when they feel like it, ignoring popular wishes, such as legalised cannabis, and yet marijuana is freely available in North Korea. So many voices in the West accuse Putin and Russia of being Nazis, but 29 million Russians died fighting the Nazis — including in concentration camps.

The last Pharoahs knew less about the pyramids than we do. Classical Egypt lasted over 3,000 years — longer than Christianity. Who is to say how long that will last. Greece is revered as the cradle of civilisation, while Persia’s huge contribution has been just about wiped from history.

The world’s first university was started in Morocco, by a Muslim woman. Anyone is allowed to request a direct audience with the King of Saudi Arabia every Thursday, to air grieviances.

One of Iran’s best allies is Armenia, the world’s first Christian country. One of Israel’s best allies is the corrupt dictatorship of Azerbaijan.

More women have been presidents or prime ministers in the Muslim world than in the whole of the non-Muslim world.

Things are not the way they seem. The dove pecks at the hand. The hawk graces the skies.