LET US

1

Let us from the beginning mark the way we go,

With footprints deep and solid that our sole patterns show,

That when we return along the trail stooped and frail and worn,

We shall know we walked with earnest steps towards a better dawn.

Let us leave clear trails to follow for our proud and noble kin,

That they learn that no one fails who in goodness seek to win.

Let them know it was not easy that the pathway caused us pain,

That several backward steps it took for us one step to gain.

Let us be the fine examples that our children seek to be,

And honor every soldier who has fought to make us free.

Let us serve our God and nation and respect our gallant foe,

That our brothers and our sisters seek to follow where we go.

Let us be proud of our achievements based on those we helped survive,

And die thankful that we made it better for those folk still alive.

2

We can only do our best you know each according to his state,

His health and his circumstance; his ability to relate.

We can only try to understand those things we do not know,

And educate ourselves as time helps love in us to grow.

We must seek to learn from our mistakes and set our meanings right,

And hide not in the shadows where our deeds evade the light.

Let us not condemn the person for the demons in his heart,

Where choice the basic freedom was missing from the start.

Let us tolerate all others in a truly humble way,

And learn wisdom from our every wrong see blue sky through the gray

Let us not be judge and jury and presume to speculate,

Nor demean one for his difference that turns his love to hate.

Let ones race be not in question nor his color nor his creed,

And let us seek a worthy diet that rids us of our greed.

3

If you think I paint a picture of a profile we can't share,

That we think we can't achieve it though deep down we know we care,

Then perhaps tis youth which balks you ; the despair of growing old,

Or fear of reprisal for the truth that you unfold.

Perhaps you are a victim and think you are alone,

Not knowing that your agony will one day lead you home.

For the trail of healthy learning is a desperate one indeed,

For tis not just in the Summer that you have to plant your seed.

You must learn to talk to snowmen; learn to shelter from the hail,

How to stand up proud and bloom again when your efforts fail

You must gather in the Summer what the Winter took from you,

And remember that the greatest tree from a frail sapling grew.

Just give yourself a chance to live put truth in all you do ,

And you will find as time goes by that you are simply you.

4

And being you is long hard won it takes a lifetime to acquire,

But every day you'll walk towards a person you'll admire,

If you have respect for your own health; are proud of what you are,

And cherish truth no matter what then you will travel far.

Believe in what you think is right but be flexible enough to change,

For in this world a cloaking smile can camouflage something strange.

Rush not towards the Golden beach before you check the tide,

For oft the tempting hues of joy do devious motives hide.

Applaud all efforts large and small; let others applaud your own,

And love forever all those folk who share your life at home.

Give not your love to anyone whose love is not returned,

Nor friendship to another whose friendship you've not earned.

Many will share your purpose but few will be your friend

When from the heights through circumstance you do sad descend

5

Well, who am I to say these things? Well, I do not really know,

I guess I'm what you think I am - just another so and so…

I'm what my friends decide I am; I am what life has made of me,

Just another passing butterfly just another Apple on the tree.

A victim of life's circumstance; a living breathing soul,

A minute flake of faded paint - an ingredient of the whole.

Just another mortal in the scheme of things trying to survive,

A bee among a billion bees buzzing around the hive.

You see we, are all what we are from the beginning to the end,

It makes no difference what we do, what we choose to pretend.

We are ourselves and that is that the rest is up to you,

For every action you perform is an action that is true,

So that is it: I'm lost for words; I am almost out of breath,

But that's the way it always ends, life that is ... in death.

© 9 Feb 5 Colin F Jones