WHEN MINDS ARE CLOSED AND BOOKS ARE BANNED

 

 

A mind is just a mind until it’s opened…

’Til then it remains just like a book upon the shelf…

But once opened we find love

and hope

we can feel all emotions

we begin to think

and reason for ourself.

 

There is one truth about a mind that I can offer,

one certainty…

one fact to be proposed…

a mind has no ability for compassion

no power to inspire…

when it is closed. 

 

Likewise…a book is just a book until it’s opened

’til then we know not on what adventure it will take us.

will it make us laugh…

or cry…

or shudder with emotion?

Will it reach deep into our hearts and souls…

Will it wake us?

 

There is one truth about a book that I can offer,

one certainty…

one fact to be proposed:

a book has no ability to make us think

to stir our imagination…

no power to inspire…

when it is closed.

 

Our country’s history is filled with joys and triumphs

other times…pain and suffering we have brought….

but to truly understand who we are

and where we’re going

both our good and our bad history must be taught.

 

If we are only given half the story

then our true history we shall never understand

for we can never be the country we aspire to be

when our minds are closed

and when our books are banned.

 
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patriciajj's picture

Joining you in protest

Joining you in protest against the neo-nazi style practice of book banning that is flagrantly being practiced in our nation. We absolutely should rail against it because, as you very eloquently proclaimed: 

 

" a book has no ability to make us think

to stir our imagination…

no power to inspire…

when it is closed."

 

A well-penned call to keep books (and minds) open.