PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

I am grateful for the words on Thomas Paine…

whose words, like me, are a little old and time-worn…

but convey every parents’ dream from the time our children are born.

It is a dream we parents have…a dream that will never cease:

‘I prefer peace.

But if trouble must come let it come in my time

So that my children can live in peace.’

We had this little open outdoor space at our cabin…and every time we walked by it…

We tried to think of different ways…that we could beautify it.

Then the other day as we stood on our porch the two us became aware

of a ton of stones in another part of the yard no longer needed there

The idea blossomed to take those stones from their resting place

and move them in an artful way to fill that open space.

There was a minor problem…one I quickly came to understand…

the only way to get those stone from one place to the other…was to move them all by hand.

My hands to be exact…and in order to be able to make the little climb

I discovered I could only move 1- 5 stones at at time.

But that seemed a small price to pay…although the journey would be hard

to beautify that spot…to bring some artwork to the yard.

So I would lug 1- 5 stones at a time…and place them…with Deborah as my mentor… 

(It was her wonderful idea to create a peace sign in the center).

For a couple hours (maybe more…I lost track of time)…my body tired…

but my fortitude never ceased

and when we were all finished we had a beautiful symbol of peace.

And I thought while I was grunting, groaning and sweating…

as the birds and squirrels around me whispered to each other and smirked…

how making peace from a ton of stones by hand…is a lot of work.

And I was reminded of something people have learned…in every country…in every land…

how making peace around the world…is a lot like moving a ton of stones by hand.

How you have to move one stone at a time…turn one enemy into one friend 

and how peace, though never easy…is worth it in the end.

But in this country and the world rather than using our hands build peace with our stones…

we throw them at one another instead….

and in the end we destroy buildings, hospitals, churches, families…leaving many people dead.

I wish there was a way to stop the source(s) from where all our stone-throwing stems…

because I fear if we can’t find a way to build peace with our stones…

we’ll end up buried under them

After an election that has left us divided…a nation torn apart…

one bishop hoped her words would resonate…would find a way into our hearts. 

With the courage of her convictions she spoke… 

words filled with hope and humility.

She made a plea for, respect, for honesty 

for compassion, for kindness and empathy

She spoke of her hopes and wishes…simply…unpretentiously…

ideas that form the basis of all religions….

all faiths…all spirituality.

Her words were not new words…they’ve been spoken many times before…

You can find them in the words of Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, the Tao

and many many more.

Unfortunately her words meant to unite and help to ease our nation’s fears

floated from her pulpit and landed on deaf ears.

Some people, even those who call themselves religious, 

who have forgotten their religion states to love everyone the same

called her uninspiring, nasty and displayed to the world their wickedness

when they chose to call her names.

I believe every religion was created for concepts, like the Bishop’s, to extol.

and though they may walk down different pathways

I believe love and acceptance is every religion’s goal.

A love that’s meant to find its way into our minds and souls and hearts

A love that’s meant to unite us as a people…not to tear us all apart.

So I stand with the bishop…whose words transcend all religions

who set a perfect example of piety…

And I pray for the day when everyone…

will stand with the bishop and me.

I dream about a world where every one wakes up each day

Looks out their window and sings at the top of their lungs….

vociferously….

Let their be peace on Earth…

and let it begin with me.

Since the dawn of civilization…since we humans were begun

look at all we have accomplished…look at all the things we’ve done.

When you stop to think about it…our accomplishments are grand…

We built boats to take us across the waters…

and cars so we can drive across the land.

We’ve learned to harness the wind and sun… 

to glide high in a balloon….

We’ve sent rockets to the stars.

We landed people on the moon.

We learned how to use electricity and fire

to provide us with warmth and light.

We built houses with indoor plumbing…

We taught ourselves to read and write.

When you look at all we’ve accomplished…

and how every day we add something new

It makes one stop and wonder…

is there anythings we human’s can’t do?

But there is a downside to our creativity…if you’re keeping score…

We’ve also created different ways to kill each other….

In our hate…we’re created guns and bombs…and war.

Oh, how I wish we humans would combine our expertise…

Would put our collective minds together 

and find a way to create peace.

Creating peace, I believe, would be our greatest accomplishment of all…

And…until we do all our other achievements 

will seem meager,  

insignificant…

and small.

When it comes to peace:

May we be blessed with the humanity 

the compassion

the acceptance 

and the generosity…to deserve it

as well as the character 

the courage…

the wisdom 

and integrity to preserve it.

They come to our door dressed as witches…as princesses…

as wizards, as ghosts and goblins too…

As pirates, as cowgirls, as ladybugs…

as warriors who know karate or kung-fu.

“Trick-or-treat!” They say…

as through the night their numbers increase.

They look into our bowl of candy and ask,

“Please, may I have a piece?”

We gladly hand a piece to every baby

every child…every teen…

and when they say, “Thank you!” 

we all smile and say, “Happy Halloween!”

For one night the troubles we face in this world are forgotten…

because with every girl and boy…

under the costume…behind the masks

we see the innocent faces of peace and love and joy.

At the end of the evening we gaze into our bowl

that through the night by the children has been picked clean….

And I always wish handing out peace in the world

was as easy as handing out a piece of candy on Halloween.

I also make a second wish

once and all the monsters, ghosts and goblins have been fed:

I wish that while filling their bags with another piece of candy

we could assure them of a life filled with peace ahead.

Every day…may acceptance and compassion in each of us increase…

and may we continue to comfort one another

and be instruments of peace

Today’s blessing is a hope that, one day, 

we can find a way to resolve our differences 

peacefully

without the need to fight…

without the need kill.

Because as history has shown…

No good has ever comes from war

and no good ever will…