Living

"Parisians protest bombings by returning to cafes"

  the headline read

Living

  isn't that the true answer,

      freely walking

Living

  instead of curling within

      our protectionist ball

  which breeds hate

      because the other exists

We blind our hearts

  our ears  

    to the cries

      children, mothers

  on the ground

Running

  from hate 

    only to be welcomed 

  by a wall

Have we learned nothing?

  from a savior

      who received the kiss

      who told those with swords

   to put them away

Then spread his arms 

  Wide open to receive

      death

Living

  the rains came

    in grief      hard

Swelling

  overflowing

Trampling anything 

  in its way

Today

    the sun shines

    birds sing

    the stream gurgles 

Living

    the mushrooms sprout

Can we open our arms?

   can we live the love shown?

Jeremiah tells the stingy

  protectionist Israel to choose Life

Arms open

  widow, orphan, stranger

Did they?

Is four hundred years of slavery

  Life?

Can we?

  open arms 

     live and choose Life?