let there be love enough

i

let there be love enough
   for the children.

to have a home to
   return to
      when they
   run
away.

to be loved
   because they’re
      radiant. to be
   radiant because
      they’re
loved.

to always have big
   eyes for the
      whipped
   cream & the
cherry.

to cry when they
   fall down.
      to laugh when
   they jump back
up.

ii

let there be love enough
   for the children
      grown old or lonely

   too weak in spirit
      to pray any
   more.

   too ashamed to
dance.

imagine them as
   golden children before
      the hurt changed
everything.

innocent of
   hate & fear &
      anger &
defeat.

love them as
   they are, these
      gracious children of
   pain &
becoming.

iii

let there be love enough
   to feed our souls.

to tickle the
   ribs of a world that
      laughs &
laughs.

to play with sticks
   & stones & animals
      of every shape &
   color.   

to climb
   enlightened mountains.
      to stumble joyfully
   in the ecstatic
dark.

to share the
   dream-life of loving hearts
      with open

   eyes through all our
      loving
days.