Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » What I Really Want

What I Really Want

What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is PEACE, first and foremost, —a utopia, I guess, Where bias, bigotry and prejudice do not exist, Where the lamb and the lion lie down-- Together. What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is EQUALITY in all its ramifications—a utopia, I guess, Where every person starts from a level playing field With equal opportunity, equal possibility, working-- Together. What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is INTEGRITY, where every person’s word is their bond, Where friends and neighbors can be counted on Fairness and honesty with one another in dealing-- Together. What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is a nation of RIGHT AND GOOD—a utopia, of course, Where all the sick can get the care they need, and Where all physically and spiritually hungry are fed-- Together. What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is FREEDOM—from want, from fear, from injustice A sense of fresh air blowing throughout the land, Where the innocent is never punished with the guilty-- Together. What I really want for myself and my countrymen Is PROSPERITY—especially for folks who work so hard, And continue to struggle with little hope for tomorrow, May all their days be better and safer, seeing a future rising Together. FIRST PLACE WINNER (Top Spot) Written March 6, 2021(D) For "What You Really Want" Contest Sponsored by Richard Lamoureaux

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Beryl Edmonds

Date: 4/26/2021 4:05:00 PM

An excellent write L, if all those wants came to fruition then those on earth who seek a better world would have completed their mission. Congratulations on your top spot win in the contest... Belle

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/26/2021 7:39:00 PM

Of course it is impossible, but they could come "to fruition" if every person in the whole world took them seriously. I'm afraid to many seek fame, power, riches...lots of things are more important to them than honesty, integrity, peace...etc.

Beata Agustin

Date: 4/26/2021 2:17:00 AM

Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing what you want for your country... in your excellent poetic style. God bless you.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/26/2021 9:44:00 AM

Thanks, Beata. I appreciate your compliment so much. Blessings to you, too.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 4/25/2021 9:20:00 AM

Congratulations on your win. A wonderful story/write. This will never be found on earth, only in heaven. Have a blessed day writing away................

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/25/2021 10:28:00 AM

I must agree with you, but they can always be goals we can work toward everyday in our own small ways. Every drop in the pond makes a difference. I wish I had the space to tell you the story of the starfish.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 4/24/2021 7:49:00 PM

Sure can't argue with any of these wants, Milt. Congrats on your #1 win in Richard's competition. May the lion lie down with the lamb. Peace, Gershon

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 8:58:00 PM

Thanks for your compliment, GW. It means a lot to me.

Susan Woodrow

Date: 4/24/2021 1:11:00 PM

it is a great Utopia you envision and I like your together refrain cos it is essential to achieving that dream...wonderful write and worthy winner :)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 1:14:00 PM

Thanks so much, Susan. I appreciate your thoughts and your compliment.

Alexis Y.

Date: 4/24/2021 11:55:00 AM

Hi L. Milton, I’m just coming back to give you a BIG congratulations on your top win. It was well deserved:-) Alexis

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 1:14:00 PM

Thanks, Alexis. So nice of you to come back with compliments.

Sotto Poet

Date: 4/24/2021 9:23:00 AM

Congratulation on your top win Milton, that's really nice to hear, wish you all the best, and my very best regards

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 9:38:00 AM

Lasaad, I certainly do appreciate your thoughts and appreciate your well wishes. Have a wonderful weekend.

Sam Kauffman

Date: 4/24/2021 9:16:00 AM

Congratulations on your win, LM. You have spoken the desire of our hearts eloquently. I really love the repetition of "What I really want" at the beginning of each stanza flowing like the parallelism of the Psalms. And you have used one of my favorite quotes from Isaiah - the lion and the lamb - God's "utopia." Blessings my friend.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 9:37:00 AM

Thanks, Sam. Your comment and your congrats mean a lot to me. I appreciate your thoughts.

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 4/24/2021 6:15:00 AM

I’m all for dreaming my friend. Congrats on your top spot in my contest.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 4/24/2021 9:37:00 AM

Thank you so much, Richard. I'm so happy you found my poem worthy of this kind of attention.

Maurice Rigoler

Date: 3/10/2021 6:14:00 PM

I can't fault you on your idealism, Milton, but you might have research the Greek term first. Utopia means "no place" or "no where." It was coined by Sir Thomas More in 1516 as a pun on the similar word "eu-topia", a good place. More changed the "eu" to "ou" meaning "no". In short, a good place became a no place. I'll stick with the prophet's words at Jeremiah 10:23, thank you. / Maurice

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/10/2021 7:17:00 PM

Ah, thanks for enlightening me, Maurice. I appreciate it. I think I probably used the word "utopia" all right in the modern context. Whatever...we'll never achieve it, not in our lives.

Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 3/7/2021 3:41:00 AM

A manifesto ...

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/7/2021 9:29:00 AM

Thanks, Kai Michael. Perhaps...some day.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 3/6/2021 7:20:00 PM

I notice that regarding Integrity, Freedom, and Prosperity, you did not write 'Utopia.' If we could have just those three, that would constitue a utopia of sorts, methinks... Great food for thought here, Milt! Write on! Liberty and Light, Gershon

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 7:53:00 PM

Thanks, Gershon, for your comment. I didn't want to be too repetitive, although I think I pushed the envelope. After the first two I moved away from the "utopia" idea. It would be a utopia, I guess, if we had any of these things, generally.

J. Summers

Date: 3/6/2021 3:53:00 PM

Your poem is certainly a lovely dream but being a realist we will never get there on our own. Enjoyed reading. John

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 7:51:00 PM

You are so right, J., but I took the contest literally and laid out what I would really like to see in our country. I enjoyed writing it even if it doesn't place. Thanks for your comment.

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 3/6/2021 10:40:00 AM

This is what we all want I believe and I hope it comes to pass - You've done a exceptional job with the poem, expressed yourself in beautiful sentiments. I love it. God bless you with a win... Love, Gina

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 11:56:00 AM

Thanks, Gina. I know it's utopian, but what a better world it would be if everyone would take seriously these words. Thanks, again!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/6/2021 9:39:00 AM

I think it's what all good people want. Very good sentiments and poetry. Oh, if but only it could come to pass!!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 10:36:00 AM

Yep, but we'll never have a utopia, I think. Still, we are constrained to work with what we have and always move forward "seeing a future rising together." Thanks for your comment, Andrea.

Constance La France

Date: 3/6/2021 7:35:00 AM

Milton, wonderfully penned, what most people would want _Constance

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 9:27:00 AM

Constance, your comment is so appreciated. Thanks so much.

Alexis Y.

Date: 3/6/2021 7:24:00 AM

Hi L. Milton, These are great qualities that a politician should have. If they did, they would make a candidate. Excellent for the contest. Best wishes in the contest. Have a great day and weekend:-) Alexis

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 9:26:00 AM

Thanks, Alexis. I so totally agree, of course.

Jenna Logan

Date: 3/6/2021 4:46:00 AM

You've compiled an excellent list of virtues and qualities that are worthy. I like their order, too, L. I applaud your thoughts and the way in which you stand up for our country and against those who try to demean it.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/6/2021 9:26:00 AM

Thanks, Jenna. Perhaps it's Pollyannaish to seek such high plateaus, but I do think our country would be a much better place if we could at least make strides in those directions. Again, thanks for your encouragement.