On this Day of Atonement,
I ask forgiveness
for nothing.
I have been deceptive
smiling when I ached inside
pretending all was well and I felt joy
when I felt despair
when I felt depression
when I felt the world had gone mad.
I regret this.
But I do not ask your forgiveness.
I have been selfish
snatching joy for myself
wherever and however I could
in the face of despair
in the face of depression
in the face of a world gone mad.
I do not regret this.
I have been greedy
hoarding my joy
stockpiling moments of peace and serenity
for times of despair
for times of depression
for times when the world has gone mad.
I do not regret this.
I have been stubborn
insisting that joy can be found
despite overwhelming evidence
of despair
of depression
of a world gone mad.
I do not regret this.
I have caused others to be selfish, to be greedy, to be stubborn,
and I regret none of it
because we are coming soon
we selfish, greedy, stubborn hordes.
We claim joy for the world.
We claim peace
and beauty
and serenity
and we do not regret this.
Dainy Bernstein 