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Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Monday, March 14, 2011

Walk a Mile

source: georginadollface.com
Take a look at the kid in the dirty clothes
Do you think he doesn't know he has a smell?
And what about the kid with no winter coat?
He's living in his own private hell.
And where is the girl who's not in school today?
Cause she's at home taking care of her mom
Do you think maybe she's got more on her mind
Than the dress she'll be wearing to the prom?

Take a look in the eyes of the man on the street
Who is trying to hang on to his pride
He grabs your arm as you pass him by
To tell you how the government lied.
Listen to the words of the girl who begs
Will you please give me just one dollar bill?
She's trying her best just to stay clean
But her habit is stronger than her will.

Have you ever been knocked down off your pedestal?
Have you ever tried to walk a mile?
Have you ever found every door was closed to you?
Have you ever sold your soul to see a smile?
Have you ever been hungry for more than food?
Have you ever been face down in the mud?
Have you ever tried to walk a mile?
Til then, little girl, don't judge.

12 comments:

Corvus Ven said...

i really like this. how true it is that we need more empathy in the world and less judgement. we're all people, with the same needs, capable of falling in all the same ways.

Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene) said...

I'm that guy who grabs the arm and says ...the government lied. I was there once after 'Nam'.

Thank you, once again, for this eye opening rhyme.

Maggie said...

Brava, lolamouse.

Unknown said...

Absolute wisdom woven into a pretty little poem. Excellent construction.

Rachel Hoyt said...

So, so beautiful. A powerful, well written message. I was a social worker once upon a time and heard a lot of stories about lives like these. I was told of more than one crazy government conspiracy. We all need to judge less and help more.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely, little gem this. I agree, great construction, watching you, leading you..

...tell you how the government lied...

gentle yet...walk a mile...?

Great title too. Good stuff.

madhumakhi said...

Very touching poem. Sometimes we are too quick to judge people, without seeing the kind of circumstances they are in. It is a despicable habit of human nature.

Judy Roney said...

So much wisdom here and so true. Do you think they don't know? Wonderful questions.

Jingle said...

meaningful words.
well done.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Wonderful and meaningful poem. You see the world with eyes of compassion! Way to be!

Paul Andrew Russell said...

Powerful writing, Lolamouse.

Very weird how I wrote along the same lines, yet had never visited your blog until it was featured on Poets United as Blog of the Week. Must be something in the air. lol

Anonymous said...

Powerfully expressed ... we never know what our fellow humans are experiencing until we can "walk a mile in their shoes". Thank you for sharing ~becca