Best Tolerance Poems
The word
The idea
The wall that separates
Disguised in honorable robes
Preached to children
"Tolerance"
Am I to be tolerated?
Just because I am different
Black, white, brown or yellow
Straight or gay
Muslim
A Jew
Perhaps I am Christian
I am painted with many brushes
A part of humanity's inconsistancies
When you tolerate
You hold yourself in high esteem
Above
Not beside
You grace me with your temporary favor
You disguise me with your perceptions
You make me a little less distasteful
For a moment
Perhaps a day
You feel proud for not looking away
I do not seek tolerance
Like you I wish to be valued
Included
Understood
To be seen in loving ways
Maybe not today
Perhaps tomorrow
Labels Will disappear with all our sorrow
For me I am you
I am the many and the few
Waiting for my turn
Will this be my day
To be heard and have a say
For me
Tolerance
Is
Intolerable
TOLERANCE
I have little tolerance for tolerant people.
Those that will endure the corruption of
the truth, the erosion of meaning. While at
the same time being intolerant of your
opinions, thoughts, and level of tolerance.
There is a quote attributed to Voltaire:
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will
defend to the death your right to say it.”
How many of the “tolerant” would be willing
to fight for our right to “disapprove of what
they say”? Hush the crowd so that we might
be heard? Unblock their ears and hearts and listen?
Does the present day “tolerance”
lack tolerance, lack understanding,
lack the ability to endure a voice that
is not in tune, does not sing the same
song, does not pray the same prayer?
Or do they tolerate, put up with, the “fool”,
while denying acceptance of his opinions,
his beliefs. Perhaps the fool is more tolerant than they.
Listening to what they say, watching how they
carry themselves, interact with those “different”
than themselves.
For they think him a “fool”, because they do
not know that he thinks, what he thinks,
and most sadly, they do not care to know.
They will tolerate his presence but not allow
him to be present, listen to his voice yet hear
nothing, speak of equality while lauding their
position, education, power over him.
For they are tolerant only of themselves,
of their ideas, their thoughts, their peers,
their alleged - equals.
They disapprove of us, and what we say,
and will defend their right to keep it so.
John G. Lawless – 6/9/2014
new nation to craft
founding fathers sought to draft
a declaration of independence
document that made sense
Thomas Jefferson sought to free slaves
but was warned not to make waves
five of thirteen colonies
he had to appease
breaking from British rule
ignited a duel
with each colonial delegate
expressing their regret
they could not sign
they would not find
all men of equal value
heated debate ensued
withdrawn from the declaration
with misgivings and trepidation
eighty-six more years would pass
until the slaves were freed at last
Lincoln paid a high price
when he acted against advice
signing an emancipation proclamation
brought civil war to a nation
twenty percent of our population
lay dead, a chilling affirmation
we failed to see what was right
every color worth as much as white
though the war is formally over now
discrimination we still allow
Talmadge Branch was just one case *
where service was denied by race
Ku Klux Klan remains active too
wounds once healed open anew
and the battle for human rights
fear and hatred still ignites
* In 2008, Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth
had to take action against a bar in Perry, FL, when they
refused to serve African-American Talmadge Branch
unless he took a seat in a “back room.”
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/florida-bar-owners-could-lose-license-over-racism-complaint
“If you don’t know the kind of person I am
and I don’t know the kind of person you are
a pattern that others made may prevail in the world
and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.*
Shouts abound, demanding equality
Yet, when push comes to shove
My choices are rudely rejected
A bat appears, held in an iron glove.
Ethics and virtue may only reside
Down deep in the soul of each
My effect on the thoughts of others
go only as far as my words reach.
Hold on to your own persuasions
And say what you need to say
Please do so in warm acceptance
With bitterness having no sway.
Only those who are politically correct
Have freedom to voice their convictions
But I, too, have my own opinions
And voted as I chose in this election.
When I reach out with a velvet glove
In tolerance, though we don’t agree
And you return resentment and anger
No one in America is totally free.
*William Stafford
"Instead of expressing exasperation, think toleration."
~ by poet
I find that I've become impatient with people who seem dense
and it only serves to frustrate me with an ire too often intense.
Sometimes, under my breath, I hear the words I'm mumbling,
"Why can't you understand this?" Then, I realize I'm grumbling.
I'm just a lowly human without a trace of Divinity to be found
so, I should be more humble, for I've not been royally crowned.
"Be tolerant," my heart whispers to my soul, as if it could hear.
"And be mindful," it said to my tongue, "words can bring tears."
I really should listen with more compassion and less askance.
I've no right to judge others. I don't know their life's circumstance.
Swallowing harsh words is a taste I should learn to find sweet
and conquer the bitterness of retorts... intolerance then I'd defeat.
People are not chess pawns that I can push around on a board,
and leniency should be allowed them across every stream I ford.
I don't control who walks the bridge with opinions of their own.
It's their right to have them, even if they're ones I don't condone.
I'll pursue being more tolerant of others and give them respect
and be sincerely diligent about this as a goal I should not neglect.
Tolerance by itself not a virtue,
Nor is acceptance,
As they generally come with poor eyesight,
No insight,
Are hard of hearing,
And tend to be motivated by fear.
The good news is that,
We still have patience and understanding,
To turn to.
There are abilities that we can call on too,
That can help us understand,
How to truly help,
How to truly Love,
How to work towards a peace,
That will last,
One that is not based on fear,
One that any heart that is open can find.
Please hear us I pray....
Tolerance, this word is not used in the bible
The closest I can find is to be non judgemental
To accept those that are of a different faith
A different skin colour, those that love their own kind
So why so much fighting......
Tolerance, to tolerate the bigots
That advise and command you,
You that live in the real world, they left behind
This is the gift I would bestow.
Please hear us I pray....
Tolerance is advocated in the Koran
So why isn't this being upheld
I ask the leaders of the mosque
Where is your tolerance to other faiths
I suggest you re-read your holy book
I beg you go hear us in prayer....
Hindus never claim that they are the 'chosen people'.
They are brought up to accept others faiths
To tolerate the beliefs not defile them
To live in peace in their own way.
So why so many wars....
Lord hear my prayer. To bestow on everybody the gift of tolerance.
Penned by Seren Roberts on 29 August 2014
This is not a perfect world, we see things everyday
That makes us take a second look, or makes us turn away
The heart of man has turned to stone, and compassion is not found
We've taken love and friendship, and beat them to the ground
No longer do we hold our hopes and all our dreams so dear
At any given moment, we will trade them in for fear
Lets end this reign of violence, and halt these evil designs
We are all in this as one human race, to that we must resign
So please reach out so all of us cease the malice and the pain
And maybe one day soon we'll hear sweet music in the rain
So as you kneel and Pray to God, for a better life for all
Ask that Peace and Tolerance be placed visible on the Wall
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of the sighted. not to see the hunger
Of their own brethren.
To the question of tolerance. I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of the wealthy, not to aid the poor.
By extending a helping hand of comforts aid.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The physically strong and sound of mind and body,
Unwilling to accept the different or physically
Handicapped.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of the stone throwers, whom judge
Others without truths evidence or justifications guilt.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of racism, inequality by skin tone
And ethnic origin.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of those whom believe their faith is
Superior, condemning all others because they believe
Definitely.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of malices hatred of those whom,
Chose to be different, in dress, lifestyles or sexual
Orientation.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of a soldier's courageous heart, to brave forward,
Against overwhelming odds, even though it places
Many innocent lives in harms way.
To the question of tolerance, I do so tolerate,
The ignorance of mankind to destroy their own
Environment, leaving nothing left for the
Future generations to exist upon.
To the question of tolerance, I do tolerate all of this,
For I am the creature known as humanity,
And I have yet to learn from my own mistakes.
BY: CHERYL ANNA DUNN
Permissiveness grows.
What was evil's in fashion.
Tolerance then's bad?
Tolerance for all was once a virtue,
And it was taught by every religion.
First to realize that every culture
Could keep their traditions, still live as one.
Then it was, when tolerance went missing
Sadly there were people within our world.
Who wouldn’t take the time to stop and listen?
When closing their minds, they let hate unfurl.
What will it take to get them back on track,
Recognize the world is one family?
All creeds and colors need to get love back,
So side by side we can learn to just be.
Knowing every culture has much to give,
With respect, we can again learn to live.
LOVE OR TOLERANCE
At first it was Love
She would check you minute to minute
She would make you feel her presence
She would make you feel the warmth of her breath
She never missed your call
Her phone was never busy for you
She checked her what's app
Every two minutes
Is it love or tolerance?
everything changed
Like it was never there before
You send her a text
She would just go online & off.
Does this love lost it's taste?
What was it at first
Love or tolerance
Was it wrong to love her?
Did you gave her more than what she expected
Was this love more
Than enough.....
Was it Love or Tolerance?
she's not the one
You used to love
she's not the one you knew
This Love was not Real
If Love was a fire
This would have been a Spark
Was it Love or Tolerance???
**** that ****.
I’m not a diagnosis.
Something to be “fixed”.
I am a combination of traits and features
that make me a woman of depth and intensity.
I will not succumb to trite references
about how much better I’ll be then
because there is no known frame of reference
not for him anyway
Dance and love and beauty were always me
Rage and anger and bitterness were not
but when I met with traumas too hard to face
they broke me finally
Doesn’t mean I can literally afford to fix them
when I have so many other priorities now
like finding a home so I don’t do the inevitable
saving myself comes first
Polishing up rough edges from a life that wasn’t easy
isn’t going to be a drop in a bucket
I’ve already been working on it for years
It’s possible that I’m just too much for certain ones
I need one with intensity
who can meet me where I stand
be kind and compassionate, but
hard when I need it and have edges
that were honed from life itself
Because this dancer, writer, baby-maker, lover
is just too much for some to handle
too many words, too many thoughts
confusing. Jewish.
Come from another world entirely.
Safe to say……
Why is it the supposedly more tolerant
Are the least tolerant around
Can we no longer speak our own minds
Without someone out there shooting us down
Feel free to speak your opinion
I'm more than willing but never forced to listen
That there my friend is your basic right
A freedom that seems to be missing
Are we not free thinking individuals
Did I miss the memo where that's no longer allowed
Should I just step into the jet stream
And become a part of this mind numbing crowd
I can clearly see that you are not me
Isn't that what it's supposed to be like
It also rings true that I am not you
So can't we just live our lives
It's hard enough standing on your own two feet
That's why at times we might step on some toes
But can't we all just get along
After all we might like the way that it goes
In this day and age that most of the things
tend to cause many of us to be haughty and callous.
That we cannot seem to bear with those things
because we simply do not like them.
This includes other people as well.
An innate in most human beings - to like and dislike.
We do not seem to like certain people because of
their dress, looks, sex, color, nationality, language,
conduct, size, skills or talents.
There is nothing much that we can do about,
other than to learn to live with it and them.
That is tolerance all about.
One thing we find hard to bear is criticism or correction.
Bear in mind that they are meant for our own good.
It's up to us to learn early in life to be lenient;
to bear with oppositions and corrections.
As the saying goes “There are no two people exactly alike
and both of them are glad about it”. The same holds true with
“when the going gets tough, the tough get going”, so let's not
fight opposition and use it to our advantage, instead.
Lastly, most of the things we cannot change are outside us.
We can only change what is inside us. That says a lot about
the good rules of life in the "Serenity Prayer".
04/20/16
An entry for
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