The Kindness of Strangers

 

Is this what God felt like –
that the world was going to hell in a bucket –
when he decided to send his Son to save us all?.
It may have worked for a while – though I doubt it,
as history shows more wars and oppression,
torture and cruelty, mostly in the name of religion,
or fuelled by greed and ambition for fame.

TV news would have us believe
that military intervention is the answer to
internecine revolution. I deny it.
More killing to stop killing?  Lunacy.
The glorification of so-called heroism,
to die for a fallacious cause.

What hope is there for the future,
for the electronic-obsessed generation?
More of the same?
Escape from reality with
violence and more violence?

What we need is kindness,
the kindness of strangers,
tolerance of others’ point of view,
care for the halt and the lame,
respect and love for all.

In response to the Red Wolf prompt today, this was inspired by  poem by Margaret Fieland(below)  published in Red Wolf Journal where I read much lovely poetry. Sorry this is such a rant.

The Wayfarer

To the stranger
who helped me
when I stumbled
up subway stairs,
made polite conversation,
as he ignored
his gut-gnawed urge
for a fix.

Bless you, buddy,
wherever you are,
these forty years
gone.