First published
in Branches Magazine, September/October 2016
Later published
in Sometime Anyway by NavWorks Press, January 2017
Finalist
in Pride in Poetry contest, Dec. 2016
—for Carol
Welch
Americans are
vibrant blocks
in a living quilt, shades and hues
shapes and
sizes, stitched together
into a
colorful, cohesive Picasso.
But, the
media divides and separates
like Playtex
Living Bras.
In their
eyes, homogenous and
harmonious
quilts are a
non-story.
Long-nosed
puppets, politicians
over-promise,
under-deliver.
You and I
have to make
our own peace
with one another.
Formulas are
a mirage,
but consider
Rumi’s words:
“… learn to
speak by listening.”
People feel
valued when heard,
even when
disagreeing.
Pay others
this compliment.
Kindness, in
all forms, wings
its way back
to the giver.
Imagine not
rushing past the woman
in the
wheelchair exiting
your next
meeting. Walk beside
her, instead,
and converse on topic.
You’ll get
home 10 minutes later,
but well done! Instead of dodging
steel and
wheels, you respected someone.
And don’t
forget
to notice the
gratitude
in the
elderly gentleman’s eyes
while holding the door for him. That cane
is hard to maneuver!
So, no emoting
lack of time
or reciting
beliefs
or mouthing "I'm
in"—
put some skin
into it!
© 2016 Denise C. Buschmann
© 2016 Denise C. Buschmann
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