We’ve been trained
these many years
not to ask for much —
That we don’t deserve —
That we have no right to expect
daily abundance and joy
That to receive it
we must earn it
through great toil and sacrifice
Worse than that
we’re taught that it’s OK
to wish to have, to win
to rape, to dominate
to blindly flail, mindlessly mouth
the words of hate
That if we strive to beat each other
we’ll be great
So it is
that the first revolution
is within
To see we have the right
to be at peace
to have a world designed to bless
where each of us can know
that we deserve
to have our lives be cherished
recognized as gifts
recognized as gifts
not weighed for what they pay
and then perhaps begrudgingly allowed
and then perhaps begrudgingly allowed
And as we give this to each other
we will learn
how it is done
how we can sculpt a greater vision
so we know what’s to be won
and then we’ll march unhesitating
shining whole before we’re through
for the sake of billions waiting
standing strong because we’re true.
©Wendy Mulhern
October 15, 2011