a basket of arrows...(p.37)
“The sort of words a man says is the sort he hears in return.”
-Homer, The Iliad
-Pierre Maximilien Delafontaine
We all carry a basket of arrows.
When hurtful words are spoken our way
We may choose to draw our bows.
We wish to defend our honor.
We wish to fire back.
What we do not realize,
The arrow always returns to the one
Who releases the string.
It doesn’t land on its prey.
It is the archer who takes the fall.
Our words, our actions we use to fend off our adversary
Can never be for our good.
We have missed the target entirely.
It is the one who sees its reflection in the prey,
That lowers his bow and takes a knee.
Strength lies inward. It's not muscle nor clever words,
And needs no recognition.
The prey may be spared,
The prey may go free,
But the archer’s reward will be FAR more significant
than what his arrow could pierce. ❤️
