Choice

 

The choice is easy.

 You are living your one life. 

...and while I leave the door of "maybe" wide open to the possibilities of reincarnation, 

for now, on this earth, in this nation,

all I know for sure is we have

One shot at the experimentation

of choosing kindness or "number one" blinders,

empathy or  antipathy

toward my fellow living creatures.

I've been a teacher too long not to offer you reminders

that choosing to only care for yourself

might gain you power and wealth

but at the price of dying alone,

in your palace or expensive care home.

So can you honestly say you'd choose this

before your soul drops below or soars above,

instead of ending your one life surrounded by love?

Be Ready

 

"Be ready my child" the queen bee said

"for the very sight of you will inspire great dread.

Your dark stripes and light will make them cower in fear

or else they'll try to destroy you so you can't get too near."

The little bee frowned. None of this seemed quite right.

"But all I want is the freedom to fly and alight

on flowers to gather nectar, golden and sweet,

and to carry it hiveward on my small clever feet..

Why should they run?  Why should they want to kill me?"

The queen bee shook her head in great sorrow

"That is the question, and it's not at all silly.

They think you're a danger, my child, my sweet.

They only see your stinger, not your clever small feet,

not your sunshine gold stripes, nor those midnight dark.

They fear you in their gardens, as you fly through the park.

All they believe is their fear, and fear makes them mad."

The little bee hung its head. "That makes me so sad.

Without bees  there's no flowers, 

no fruits, no sweet honey.

What is there but these?"  

The queen bee sighed,  "They want power and  money.

more than our sweet honey,

more than the flowers that bloom

to brighten their rooms,

more than fruit, more than life,

more than sky, more than earth."

The little bee wept a small tear,

"then what are we worth?"

Now is the time

 Now is the time to decide

the breadth and length,

the depth and strength of your heart,

your soul.

Are you a part of vast and imperfect humanity,

or is your love sequestered and sealed against all

except for those who have your approval?

Do you have the vision and strength to

step forward into the glowing discomfort of 

love for all,

or will you hide in the shadows of

your own isolated denial?

Now is the time to to decide

because the questions are being asked,

and you must reply.

In a world where we are all afraid,

look at he choices you make, have made

and tell me

what is the depth and strength of your heart,

your soul?