Create Something

“In a time of destruction, create something.”

― Maxine Hong Kingston

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we live in a time of destruction

it is what we do

when we are afraid

when we see things we don’t like

when we encounter

ideas

belief

cultures

values that are scary or offend

when something seems inconvenient

to us

(who cares about anybody else)

we start tearing things apart

we start tearing ideas apart

wild life refuges apart

but mostly we find ways to tear people apart

we oppress

minimize

manipulate

we destroy

bang, bang

I know

I have done this

In my own way

Myself

I am done

I am going to try

(and I will sometimes fail)

to be a person who creates

joy

hope

love

esteem

health

peace

I am going to try

to build up

encourage

empower

I am going to try to

now and then

bring a smile

to the face of another

in whatever time

I have left