Kind words;
a smile;
a fond hello;
the first fall of snow;
points of light
that brighten days,
and dispel encroaching gloom.
The kiss of a lover;
the laugh of a friend;
the smile of a child, asleep;
the joy of the stillness
of the forest
at dawn:
enabling us to go on.
Stark hate
on social media;
racism’s ugly glare;
road rage, and impatience;
a frown, where a smile
could have served.
Controlled messaging
of false news;
the greed of political hacks;
religion’s need
to indoctrinate,
and to live
by faith in a fable;
frowns from passing strangers;
wars for the sake
of corporate gain;
refusal to feed the hungry;
the global lack of charity
outside of one’s own tribe.
Each day we must
seek points of light
to sooth our battered spirit;
strive always to be kind;
seek truth and understanding;
as we stumble down life’s pathway,
let us sparkle as we go.