We hate much better than we love,
our mutual suspicion
replacing the common community,
seeing brown skinned people with head coverings
the wide expanses of the great them,
concluding
evil intent
before we even know their names
SWAT teams dispatched
radios squawk
breaking news on our television screens
shots fired
a rising crescendo of voices
like a wave smashing into
the soft, sandy substance
of love
lost
silent
thrown aside
unseen
unfelt
unacknowledged
scorned
replaced by hate so vile
millions of hands fondle weapons
bought with Christmas presents,
16 shots and thirteen months
of hate robotically expressed
billions more to the death industry;
the real Black Friday
of our souls
already bought and paid for
with the large bunker of hate
coming so easily from our lips
our hearts
infected with the serum
of ancient serpents
from the distant beginning
our greatest enemy
teaching our children to hate once more
instead of crouching to protect the tiny flame
bringing light
understanding
compassion
empathic action
a love true
that makes the way straight–
healing
for the wide crevices,
canyons of doubt,
a roadmap of a broken world,
evidence of abundant despair
can we even listen,
with ears that hear
and eyes that see
the great light
hope and love abundantly given;
Emmanuelle.