Let no child be told
she is average
(or above average
or special needs
or genius)

Let no child be weighed
among other children,
measured against them,
given a score

Let us teach ourselves
that finding out about another —
the nuances of thought, the joy,
the brilliance —
is a work of art for every individual —
it can’t be done in batches
and it can’t be done
without abundant love

This is life we’re dealing with, after all —
surging and primal, not to be trifled with,
not to be dismissed.
This is life,
larger than anything else we’ll ever know.

©Wendy Mulhern
March 12, 2017