A KINDNESS REVOLUTION

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Let's have a

Kindness Revolution,

teach, encourage and learn from

children's compassion

for babies and animals,

for the disabled and vulnerable,

for other children,

and for themselves.

Let's hold workshops in every school

where kids share who they are

and the pain they carry,

so all may see

that each of us has 

our challenges, our fears,

our own burdens and heartaches.

Let's teach them to look each other in the eye,

human to human,

to reach across the divide 
of perceived differences,

to honor the samenesses 
of being human

in this world.

Let's teach them to say, 
"I see you, friend,

and I'm here for you."

Let's take our Revolution to the streets,

march, singing, holding placards that say

"Occupy Kindness",

through the main street of town, 

drums beating, smiling, singing,

inviting the homeless, the elderly,

the abandoned and unwanted animals

to join our parade.

Let's make a place at our table,

in our worlds,

in our hearts,

for Hope, and then

serve it up in heaping spoonfuls

to every child who needs a hug,

every oldster who needs a smile,

every homeless dog who needs a friend.

If we hold a Kindness Revolution,

and everybody comes,

the bullies will all be transformed

into children in pain,
who have lost their way,

to whom we'll hold out our hands,

say, "This way, Friend.

This way to the party

of Love."

A poem from 2013, in response to Elizabeth Crawford's challenge at 1sojournal : Love: to write a poem that sheds some light on the dark days we are living through, when it takes determination to hold onto hope. It is a huge stretch to envision certain dark hearts being transformed right now. But we can look to the younger generation - they have a good grasp of what's needed and are on the front lines, now, in many places, trying to effect change against an obdurate system that refuses to mend its ways.