We are made chains
By our lack of wisdom
Held back
By the visions false
We believe
Tricked into hating
By propaganda
Thinking the evils
Of this world come from
Differences
Our diversities are our
One rope of strength
Bound together
Knit as one.
Little by little,
In each hanging
In each ugly word
They lose it bit by bit,
Ideals they once carried
Promises they made,
Lost in the tide
Of their surging hatred.
They stayed home
clinging to nightmares
because of the violence
going on outside
A fear that should
never be collecting
on damp brows.
They sit in corners
Barely out of sight
While the rest of us
Try not to know their names
Though we do
Memorized because they
Are us.
Let there not be
Fire anymore
Except to heat us
Let the blood
Cease to be let
Except to find our
Ailing
Let there be kind eyes
To see with.
Offer them a stuffed
bear or box of cardboard
pizza for good acts,
Give them charms
for being charming,
Goodness should come
from a deeper reserve.
I was hoping
for a crushed velvet life
a positive return
a get up from the sidewalk
a warm Sunday dinner
a beautiful escape
from the world’s hurts
a new face to wear
over the old hurting one.
I would
carve a better
more hopeful
world
if only I had
the proper
instruments.
Nothing happened today worth mentioning
No bombs, no bullets, no speeches staking
Out our space or theirs, no twisted logic to
Justify our actions, in fact, today the world
Slept late, went to the beach and made a day
Of it, sat in the sand and watched children play
Felt the sun and the slight breeze, hummed
A tune caught in its head, felt joy, and wholeness
Why, it was quiet enough to hear ourselves think
Hear ourselves ask why everyday isn’t this way.
