Joyful Ruins

This room is crowded
I cannot hear
the voices in the back
The people forced to stand outside
The sea of white in front
Shouting
the same old things
I always hear their voices
Everyone does
I used to pay them attention
After all
they are in front
hard to ignore
and no other voice to be heard
But I started noticing more
the beautiful faces beyond them
Often
behind them
Different faces
bodies
voices
I pushed past the sea of white
It was not easy
The voices grew louder
Expressions of judgement
hands and feet
pushing and kicking
I did not stop
because I saw
other faces
which smiled
held peace
Showed me more of the world
more of God
more of humanity
I’m still pushing through
but finally hearing
other voices
Voices in the back of the room
And they are the most beautiful voices
Not one the same
Teaching me about life
Showing me through their precious eyes
It’s not easy to hear them
but as one of the faces in the sea of white
I won’t stop
moving and listening
to those forced to the back
They are the ones
I choose to hear and see