the universe is cold
beyond survival
the universe is huge
beyond imagining
the universe seems
perfectly indifferent to our
dreams
yet here we are
in a cold, huge, indifferent
universe
on a sphere that
nurtures & maybe created
us & is our indulgent
paradise
if we prospect meticulously
with our hands & hearts
& open our minds to see
we find all the free will,
wisdom, compassion &
stem cell love we need
to be fruitful &
multiply
within the limits of our
household earth
of mountains, plains, sky
& seas
we find cities, civilizations, farms,
parks & harbors, churches, mosques,
temples, schools, universities,
children, adults & old
ones (all lovers)
& we find knowledge of the world
& of our selves protected in books,
libraries, museums & growing
in invisible clouds that can be
shared by all
like gods, we create what
we choose––
weapons & wars, advantage for the few––
poverty for the many––
depressions, recessions &
suffering
more goods than any body
needs & blind egos stimulated to
aching want (another word for
poverty)
we are conditioned to unfeeling
wastefulness of all we have &
any thing that touches our lips
we blindly foul the air, expend
ancient-ripped-off energies
every second without caring
& flush shining fresh water forever down
to unforgiving drains
we circulate money
(which means absolutely nothing)
through a brainless system & pretend it makes
one person superior to another––
a lying mirror of inequality
we waste people, talent & human
blessings
we cause refugees, ruined
villages, decimated cities,
starvation, unending casualties
traumatic distress, broken families,
suicides & assassinations
we are animals
among the living & non-living
things
concocted by,
for & of this planet––
for all we harm
we are free to choose––
sharing over selfishness––
kindness over self-interest––
love over paranoia & death––
we can pray & we can act––
to open our hearts
to be one
we choose