To my granddaughters who visited the Holocaust
Museum on the day of the burial of Yitzhak Rabin
Now you know the worst
we humans have to know
about ourselves, and I am sorry,
for I know that you will be afraid.
To those of our bodies given
without pity to be burned, I know
there is no answer
but loving one another,
even our enemies, and this is hard.
But remember
when a man of war becomes a man of peace,
he gives a light, divine
though it is also human.
When a man of peace is killed
by a man of war, he gives a light.
You do not have to walk in darkness.
If you will have the courage of love,
you may walk in light. It will be
the light of those who have suffered
for peace. It will be
your light.
Wendell Berry, A Timbered Choir (Counterpoint, 1998)
without pity to be burned, I know
there is no answer
but loving one another,
even our enemies, and this is hard.
But remember
when a man of war becomes a man of peace,
he gives a light, divine
though it is also human.
When a man of peace is killed
by a man of war, he gives a light.
You do not have to walk in darkness.
If you will have the courage of love,
you may walk in light. It will be
the light of those who have suffered
for peace. It will be
your light.
Wendell Berry, A Timbered Choir (Counterpoint, 1998)
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