Bonding and Balance

While I advocate being a noble gas
with outer atomic shells initially complete,
most elements do not exhibit those properties
so molecules are formed
by atoms sharing electrons
not only to be numerically fulfilled
but more importantly: to gain stability.
It’s called bonding and it brings balance.

At our most elemental,
people are designed to seek bonding too.
In our deepest essence we crave
harmonious stability as well as shared experience.

For any one element,
there are many arrangements of molecules.
For example, water and methane exist
because oxygen requires balancing out;
both of these molecules are very different and needful.

Yes, marriage and children and family are obvious bonds
but I also grab glorious electrons
that complete me
from friends
from being in nature
from painting and from prayer.
All are essential to keep me on even keel.

It is a very volatile world
changing states all the time,
but whatever good we need is out there
if we’ll simply link up our outer shells
in every configuration moral and necessary,
compounding to peace on earth.

Polly Castor
9/29/11