PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

May we be blessed to understand

on every continent, 

in every country, 

city 

and town…

We are put upon this Earth to lift each other up

not

to put each other down.

Before a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, fire or flood…

we seem to have evolved into the kind of society…

that sees as an enemy anyone with whom we disagree.

Politics, religion, the right to choose, gender identity,….

we position ourselves on opposite sides…and see the other side as our enemy.

Before Mother Nature unleashes her wrath and fury our way 

we have a tendency to let our fear, our prejudices and our hate…

lead our hearts astray.

However, when Mother Nature is angry, saddened or aggrieved…

her hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes fires and floods

don’t care what side we’re on…what we do or don’t believe.

And after she devastates us with her earthquakes, fire or weather

we tend to forget how we are enemies as we all come together.

We put away our differences, our disagreements, our hatred and our madness…

with one shared goal…to come to the aid of anyone in need…

and help to ease their sadness.

Yes, after Mother Nature wreaks havoc on our land our seas and shores

our compassion and our love for one another 

reminds us what our hearts were created for,

I only wish it wouldn’t take Mother Nature 

shattering peoples lives and hopes and dreams

to remind us we should not be enemies…

that we’re all on the same team.

May we be blessed to treat everyone we meet 

in exactly the same way

As if we’re offering them a sweet breeze and a patch of shade

on the hottest summer day.

 Last night I heard Jane Goodall tell the story of her life of 90 years.

She spoke a lot about her mother…and of her own wishes, dreams and fears.

She spoke about her chimpanzees and their world which she loves living in.

How her mother taught her to judge people by what they do…and not by the color of their skin.

She spoke of how humans think we are separate from the animals…

of how when it comes to this planet…we think we are the heart of it….

but how….when it comes to the animal kingdom…we are only a small part of it.

And she wondered when it comes to our planet…

instead of admiring, loving, appreciating and enjoying it…

how the most intellectual creatures on the Earth…are the ones who are destroying it.

But at the same time she was telling us of her ups and downs…

holding her life under a microscope….

the words she used…even after 90 years…wove a tapestry of hope.

Yes, the more she talked…the more her tapestry of words unfurled…

for the people and other animals on this planet…she has a hope for a better world.

As she outlined reasons for her hope…one rested on all the young people

ready to pick up the mantle…to help fulfill her dream and alleviate her fears…

Which, I imagine, meant all of us…because everyone in the audience…

was younger than her 90 years.

We left her talk inspired…because as her tapestry of hope unfurled…

We know together we can…together we will…and together…we must change the world.

As I listened to this courageous and amazing woman…so wise compassionate and kind…

other women whom I admire popped into my mind.

For I believe if we want to live together in a more compassionate and peaceful way…

perhaps it’s time we listen to what the women have to say!

If we hope to live together in a world where no creature loses…and ever creature gains….

It’s time we listen to the likes of Maya, Emily and Carol…

(and you’ve already heard from Jane.)

When we look at what matters in our life

when we’re trying to come up with an amount…

May we be blessed to understand

what things are important enough to count.

May we all be blessed to be like a lighthouse

able to proved a light…a spark

there to help those in need

find their way out of the dark.

May we be blessed to understand how we are all artists 

as well as canvases…incomplete

How we paint a little of ourselves on everyone we meet

And how everyone we meet…

paints a little of themselves on us as well.

sometime the strokes are bold and colorful…

sometimes they’re so subtle it’s difficult to tell.

And how it doesn’t matter if they are family , friends

or people we meet in passing and have long ago forgot their names 

once we’ve painted on each other…

we will never be the same

I know I’ve used this George Washington Carver quote before…

but I believe we can’t hear these words enough…

especially when we look our on a world

where, for so many, times are tough…

Eventually when these words might find their way into our hearts

we’ll see everyone as our sister and our brother

and we’ll look out on a world

where we all take care of one another

How far you go in life depends on being tender with the young

Compassionate with the aged

Sympathetic with the striving

And tolerant with the weak

because someday in your life you will have been all of these

Wherever you choose to go in life

Wherever you travel about

Whenever you get the chance…

take the scenic route