For a brief pause
Among the clutter and noise
Of life
You have offered us protection
And we
With our schedules
Rushing from here to there
Never giving thought
To your kindness
You offered us a moments peace
You allowed us to be
Philosophers, searching for truth
Or the most idiotic of court jesters
We took your kindness for granted
We disturbed the silence and tranquility
Until they were nearly dead
Our obnoxiousness grew louder and louder
Drowning out your protests
Those same protests came from us
Because all that you are came from us
We were just too loud to hear ourselves
We are grateful for your unending patience
And we apologize for not listening to ourselves
From the beginning
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