As babies we are born
With the softer side
All the way around
Innocent, tender
And gentle
To a harsh world
So cold to the touch
Clamoring for
Mother’s warm love.
We are encouraged
All the way from jump
To be nice, kind
Share and say
Thank you
And still the world
We discover is
In a word unkind,
Brutal and bitter.
What say we then
To our children
Who face hardship,
Greed and cruelty?
Do as you’re told
And shut up?
Does it all come down
To every one for themself
The hard way or highway?
Wars have two losers
And it is the children
Who suffer what we
Purged from ourselves
To be hardened souls.
Pay more attention
To growing your heart
Instead of obsessing
Over bodies.
We learn to hold hands
Early when crossing streets
So how did we forget
To do simple things
And get so separated?
Be as little children
Hold onto dreams
Live life better
On the softer side.
Copyright © 2022 Charles Edward York
No part of this poem may be used or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or form or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the author.*