Fable of the Fool who Kicked by mythsteps published on 2022-08-01T21:43:07Z FABLE OF THE FOOL WHO KICKED Considering all the obstinate obtuse obstacles I’ve encountered on this path... I naturally felt frustrated at that librarian kneeling in the aisle between the bookshelves-- he must have known I stood behind him, waiting to pass. So I felt justified in giving him a little kick on the heel of his shoe-- after all, I’d been told: you must assert your rights as an individual! Only later did I see: I’d wanted to ease the pain of so many losses by scoring a small win in the history section. But as soon as my toe hit his heel the violence of the act, though slight awoke my higher self. As if by instinct, I felt ashamed. Again, I saw: causing hurt does not cure your hurt. So even though that humble man said "oh excuse me" I rushed to declare "I'm terribly sorry—please forgive me!" Later at home I tried to relieve my guilt by making right foot strike left foot-- once...twice... then I realized: instead of kicking just one person I’d now kicked two. As I relate this story I’m embarrassed but not discouraged if we grow through humility maybe by retelling this tale I’ve grown just a little closer to becoming a fool who never aims his toe-- or better yet: one who doesn’t even want to kick. Genre poetry