Facing Life's Crises

Have we embarked a Ship of Fools By forsaking the Golden Rule? And, have we formed a neutral state Sitting astride the Fence of Fate? Our devalued civility, Desensitized humanity, Deprecated charity, By deranged personalities. Appeasing now a mindless guise - Alternative truth's specious lies. Extensive harms so plain to see - Is our will blind to what should be? Then, lists of things we should not read, For thought control this is the seed. For education "they'll" discern Selected verses we should learn. We could look back one day to see Freedoms we've held implicitly Have been erased from history As if they never came to be. Have we forsaken courage too By things we say but will not do? Turning to look the other way, Failing to leap into the fray. Are we then reeds blown by the gale, Drowned in what life's demands entail? Or, are we oaks that tout our might But break in storms demanding blight? Prevaricate, capitulate, Tossed by the seas that seal our fate? Then, we are fools and cowards too Who cling to life in vain - Mon Dieu. ------------- Shackles of the body without cause - barbarity; Shackles of the mind without concern - hypocrisy; Shackles of the spirit without chastisement - blasphemy: Such shackles thus unrestrained - inveterate inhumanity