She was stationed
at the head
of a sprawling table
of a sprawling table
Clad in impartiality
surrounded by 6 empty chairs
“They’ve mostly arrived,” the Coordinator tells her
Conciliation and empathy were no shows
Resentment and repudiation came early
They marched into the room,
their steps archetypically discordant
She listened, as barristers bloviated
and parties postured
She heard - enmity’s voice
and antipathy’s quiet rage
She watched, the parties’ unsteady hands
and unmanageable tears
She asked about interests, rather than positions
She probed for common ground – and found it
In the face of an absent child
The discussion turned to him
To his education, his welfare, his access to two parents
Areas of solidarity unearthed – and manifold
She listened, as rigidity crumbled
and tensions thawed
She heard, the plunge of positions
and good will’s eruption
And she marveled, as clenched hands released,
faces brightened,
and a collaborative future was forged
First published on Waxing Lyrical at rachelaelovitz.blogspot.com/ on March 31, 2011
surrounded by 6 empty chairs
“They’ve mostly arrived,” the Coordinator tells her
Conciliation and empathy were no shows
Resentment and repudiation came early
They marched into the room,
their steps archetypically discordant
She listened, as barristers bloviated
and parties postured
She heard - enmity’s voice
and antipathy’s quiet rage
She watched, the parties’ unsteady hands
and unmanageable tears
She asked about interests, rather than positions
She probed for common ground – and found it
In the face of an absent child
The discussion turned to him
To his education, his welfare, his access to two parents
Areas of solidarity unearthed – and manifold
She listened, as rigidity crumbled
and tensions thawed
She heard, the plunge of positions
and good will’s eruption
And she marveled, as clenched hands released,
faces brightened,
and a collaborative future was forged
First published on Waxing Lyrical at rachelaelovitz.blogspot.com/ on March 31, 2011
