A Version of Me

There is no strength in fear and flame,
naught but the bitterness of blame,
which leads us all to guilt and shame,
finger pointing and naming names.

Better still our hearts to open,
forgive and live with hope and
honest emotion,
a chain of grace unbroken,
positive words to be spoken,
and put our heart into motion.

Easier though to give anger it’s head,
to wish all of our enemies dead,
leave no damning word unsaid,
and encourage our hate to spread.

And spread it will unless we stand,
take our enemy by the hand,
strive to understand,
declare our oneness before the land,
grace and tolerance to expand,
love for brotherhood our command.

Eschew the path of the xenophobe,
abandon the notion of a divided globe,
tap well into your temporal lobe,
encourage agape to brightly strobe.

What a world it would be,
if they and us became we,
if you and I began to see,
instead of difference, similarity,
oh, to be so free,
and know my brother is a version of me.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Hind Avatar
June 18, 2025 at 5:29 PM
So very inspiring- an enjoyable read
Derden Avatar
June 18, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Thank you. I believe it is a message we all need these days... more than ever.
Greenhough Avatar
June 18, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I enjoyed the well-written poem and its masterful rhyme.
Derden Avatar
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I wrote this for myself, to remind myself to be a better version of myself. But perhaps the world needs to hear it these days as much as I do.
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