Looking Both Ways
There’s tragedy in America
and over the world today.
One that has always been there
brewing trouble bubbling,
either hidden or ignored.
Without love, honor, and respect
inside and out,
sans pity and pride, compassion, and sacrifice,
we are doomed
to be less than
the best of humanity’s history.
Let nature and nurture battle on,
let knowledge
and wisdom wrestle
with feeling and emotion.
Nature’s questions asked without fear,
safe for all, with courage
to face battles between
sweet dreams of hope
and nightmares of reality.
Ally with truth, with
compassion, without weakness or fear,
with hope to continue
standing with universal rightness.
Look both ways and try, try, try to understand, it’s not magic, man.
Mind the gaps in the human condition as you embrace its diversity.
Note: I will be reading this poem (and others) at the Lark & Owl Booksellers in Georgetown, TX, 30 June 2022 @ 7:30 PM.
Our Literary Journey 
This is great, Bill. Love it.
❤
David
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Thanks, David.
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Good luck with the reading. May you have a receptive audience to spread the love, understanding, and tolerance.
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Thank you, Peter.
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Beautifully done, Bill.
If only people could stop pushing away different and embrace it. How much more enriched their lives would be.
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Thank you, Dale. I have been tying to learn about such things this month. The readings will be my personal culmination of all that.
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So many don’t bother to learn about anything they don’t understand (or want to). Hats off to you, Learned Sir!
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Thank you again, my friend. In the past five years I have had so many experiences with LGBTQ+ people it has helped me get it. Not until this month did I know what an “ally” is.
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Proof, once again, that we are never to old to learn, listen, embrace, empathize… I have a niece, who is now a “they” and my daughter is trans (still in transition) – nothing like having it right under your roof to help you get it.
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Indeed. I lead such a sheltered life. 🙂
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Somehow I don’t fully believe that …
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Oh? Well I may state my case.
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You do that 😉
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I will 🙂
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Haha! 😁
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I loved this:
Let nature and nurture battle on,
let knowledge
and wisdom wrestle
with feeling and emotion.
Poignant and true.
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I pleased that you liked those lines. 🙂
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