This Dream

i awaken
to words of kindness

from friends
and strangers alike

but there is nothing
strange about this pain
that we share

this bridge
we have all built

through the sorrows
of our time

grants us more
than a fleeting respite

as we gain
the understanding
that none are alone

that every struggle
affects us all

that our face is seen
our voice is heard
our truths, known

it is only in togetherness
do we stand
to court the hand
that bears the gift
of the morrow’s ingress

know, my friends
there are no strangers
among us

let us walk bravely
into vales
of unknown consequence

for love
shall harbor no secret

when its light
has finally shone

to guide us home

so it is, was
and shall ever be

this dream
e’er haunts humanity

Letting Be

Let not the pain in which we suffer
Afflict those carrying our hearts

Release allures veiling elusive
For each must tend their burdened load

Let the ancient souls subsist us
With forces none dare comprehend

Let no man stand to quash thy purpose
Stay the path shone brightly with truth

For only minds of open ingress
Sow the seeds of fortune’s reap

Filling fields we’d let fall fallow
With abundant wonders strewed

Train thy sights of weather eye
Upon these friendships, forge thy freedom

Under skies of vibrant valor
Let us rise to heights unknown

To walk in every path whence trod
Perchance, to understand our own

The Relevance of Circumstance

every word we voice or stay bears power infinite
obsessive, nuanced, veiled displays composed of artifice
presuming the right to quantify experience not known
imposing our opinion from a self-appointed throne

but every person’s truth is as intrinsic to their being
as is the inability to know what things they see
the only safe thing to assume accepts things left unknown
the circumstances relevant to that which might be shown

for once we take the time to understand each other’s plight
we start to see through empathy as things soon come to light
it isn’t necessary to condone actions not sound
instead, we must apprise ourselves of circumstances found

for then we can prevent futures perpetuating fates
by taking every measure to preempt what lies in wait
with assiduity, it is imperative we mind
in situations disinclined to ethically align

with our experience, cast ye not any man aside
lest we freely foster fates exacted by design
with great implore i urge thee not forsake things which repel
the very senses needed should we ever hope to quell

the bane afflicting humankind, as one society
to take the time to find the signs revealed by history
we must stay vigilant to heed of what we doth consist
for any conscious mind with heart not born of narcissus

considers every truth and seeks out knowledge lesser known
by poring through the pages, gauge things covers can’t alone
impress in breadth imparting challenges one has since met
are only by the grace of random cosmic occurrence

and through this understanding the perspective ye doth hold
should now include a reverence for deference since bestowed
with thanks be given to thy lucky stars thou should exist
to rise above thine ashes with the rationale to persist