The Wheel of Compassion

If Gandhi's spinning wheel had spun

A million yards of cloth so fine

We would have clothed our war dead

In garb fit for their sacrifice

 

And with the surplus, we would have built

Cities of tents to shelter the homeless

From the raging storm of war

And provide a safe haven for all who suffer. 

 

But alas, the wheel did not turn enough

And the cloth was in short supply

Our war dead lay uncovered

Their spirits restless and untethered

 

We mourn their loss, their precious lives

Snuffed out by the cruelty of war

If only we had woven a million yards

Perhaps their fate would have been different

 

But we can still honor their memory

By weaving a tapestry of peace and love

And ensuring that no more lives are lost

In the senseless madness of war

 

Let us spin the wheel of compassion

And clothe the world in kindness and empathy

So that no more tents need to be raised

For those displaced by conflict and strife

 

If only Gandhi's spinning wheel had spun

A million yards of cloth for all to share

Perhaps we would have learned the value

Of peace and harmony, beyond compare. (The Wheel of Compassion") by Courtney Weaver Jr.