Poetry | Credo by Bruce Hanna

||| FROM BRUCE HANNA |||

As age mellows my edges I wonder if I can find words for the positive core that guides my life

 – a credo – verbal symbols for the positive aspect, the awe and gratitude I awake into nearly each day.

 

I am in awe… 

that all earth matter is made of 100 or so common elements 

and that all carbon-based life on this small planet shares the same 20 or so amino acids, and the same few nucleotides. 

And that our own genetic heritage is 99.9 % the same as chimpanzees. 

 

Wondrous because of its limitless nature.  

We experience The Big Bang, Time, space as simple concepts 

in a mundane everyday way at the human scale. 

But they become incomprehensible and mystical – 

as they extend beyond our experience so far as to become limitless. 

 

Connectedness  – a dance called Community; 

an association of billions of life forms, 

whose parts rearrange continuously. 

 

The Whole… and the Parts – 

Human and Inanimate, 

Instinct and Experience, 

Chance and Necessity.  

 

In response to community we have Responsibility – Acting on the YES and on the NO – 

The uniquely human burden of Perception and Self-consciousness, 

Choice, intent, some ability to plan and teach, which bring a special Responsibility to do Good.

 

In Response to the God around us we have Feelings – 

Of Love, Strength,  Anger, 

the sweet rush of pleasure; 

and The Wonder of a sun ray in the morning. 

Music, and The muse

 

The grace to forgive, 

to accept incompleteness and faults in my self and others.  

Empathy brings Responsibility – to Forgive and Resolve.  

 

Our Culture – 

as we pass along tunes our parents hummed,

And form new patterns… together.

 

My credo comes with advice – 

Work and Serve to make a difference;

Laugh and Love like you’ve never been hurt;

Dance like no one’s watching

Sing as if no one’s listening

Act as if it’s your only day alive.

 

Bruce Hanna     (USSB reflection, 2002; eds/ 2/22/03

---