COLLATERAL DAMAGE

ahimsa: Sanskrit word for nonviolence
metta: Buddhist term for loving kindness

my heart aspires to both
to treat everyone as I would be treated
harming no one intentionally

but if I inadvertently cause pain
in spite of good intentions
-- what then?

I want a broom to sweep 
before me as I go
to step on no one's heart
and so to harm none 

1/31/02

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