I'm not giving up on peace today 

I have been inspired lately imagining what we would be without war 

Imagining what we could do with our energy if we weren't spending it on opposition I want to blame the others 

That's certainly divisive 

But it takes two to tango and both sides must contribute 

It is 2020, I know peace is possible 

We're simply lacking in imagination if we think it is not 

We have smart phones, space stations and robots 

Don't tell me it's impossible 

I don't believe that nonsense 

Peace is always possible for those who want it 

I'm not giving up on peace today 

You're either working towards it or preparing for war 

You can't do both 

I'm just as guilty as the next guy 

I'm just as capable of pointing the finger 

It's what we know 

And we should know it, we've been dancing this step for millennia 

We're accomplished at participating in conflict 

We're adept at creating and fostering separation 

Most of us can do it in our sleep 

Awareness is the first step 

To break out of the old pattern requires consciousness 

To believe in a third option requires inspiration 

And it can start with just two 

I'm not giving up on peace today 

I reject the conclusion that it's too late 

I believe peace is who we are at our cores 

That it is preset in everyone 

Even in those who look like the enemy 

They love their mama, they pet their dog this morning 

They want something and fear losing it 

Chances are, at the core, it is the same thing as you 

Don't tell me it's hopeless 

Even when it appears that way 

Today I'm going to keep on believing 

Perhaps it can start with just one 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world 

As humans we have brought to fruition marvels of mortal imagination 

We have also played - on repeat - the brutal destruction of those we don't like 

We make up countless and original justifications but it's all the same plot 

We have desired the top 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world 

As humans we have fought for the idea of freedom 

We have stood on foreign land and railed against global oppression and bullying 

We have also turned a blind eye and given enthusiastic oppressors a pass on our own soil 

We have desired the win 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world 

As humans we have been waking up to the possibility of peace 

We have, in actuality, been doing so for thousands of years 

We have known for at least that long that our experiments in extinguishing those we don't like won't yield the lasting peace we say we want 

We have desired the drama 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world 

As humans we have had the audacity to dream, compose, engineer and heal 

We have continued to expand the scope of what is possible for the human mind to materialize We have proclaimed our commitment to advancement while leaving others in the dust of poverty 

We have desired the glory 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world 

As humans we have been ready and able, though are we willing to bring to fruition equality for all 

We have been ready and able, though are we willing to fight for freedom for all 

We have been ready and able, though are we willing to work for peace for all 

We have been ready and able, though are we willing to materialize opportunity for all 

It is long past time to get about the business of creating a better world for all 

Something there is that doesn't love a brain 

Could it be from Mother Nature's shame 

At what God wrought; knowing not who to blame Nor what evolving instincts sought to tame? 

As coalescing tribes found ways to thrive 

By targeting "the other"-as bad lies 

While promising nirvana when we die! 

These myths, persisting for millennia-are lies. But rather than admit some new beginnings 

Man clung to worn out tropes with logic thinning And shallow thought then came to be "new normal" With common folk rejecting all things formal 

So, civil discourse landing with a bump, 

Small wonder that we ended up with Trump! 

New life springs from the soaked black soil g c 

Some of it, she pulls up from the roots g d7 

Weeding, while thinking of mother things g c 

Sometimes she wonders - who is she to choose? d7 em em 

Turning, she sees her baby toddling c g 

Proud that he's motoring along am d7 

Yesterday he was only crawling g c 

Now he runs headlong into her arms d7 d7 

          Kneeling, she sees the world em bm 

          From a different view c d7 

          Trust ---- strength ---- am em 

          Love she can't overdo d7 d7 d7 

Buttoning his raincoat for the walk to school g c 

Reminding him she will always love him g d7 

"Call for me when you need strength" g c 

Rising, her smile flashes above him d7 em em 

Now I'm kneeling in this place I call holy c g 

Trying to figure out how feelings flow am d7 

How a man can kneel for nine minutes g c 

And not feel what mothers know d7 d7 

          Kneeling, we see the world em bm 

          From a different view c d7 

          Trust --- strength ---- am em 

          And love overdue d7 d7 d7 

Losing twenty dollars takes a moment c g 

But taking a life, moves humankind am d7 

For the Lost and Found are in the same place g c 

And we search there many, many times d7 d7 

          Kneeling, we see the world em bm From a different view c d7 

          Trust --- strength -- am em 

          And love------ overdue d7 d7 em 

          And love-------- long overdue d7 d7 em

The fifth element: alley Young boy running from the devil, or cobble, hop.  In his story, 

            she never understood alley. 

Where her birth and running were all trees. Climbing vertical, root even, though down.

Then someone said Beloved and she knew: the object of the alley.

Enter seller, basket weaver.

Since we are all invited, let us move to alley.  Call out, shall we: watermelon, onion, milk.

You see that weaver, he returns to the same window each night.  Sometimes fifty cents mean I love you. The tarry, please, light your lamp.

If we begin to do the work of alley: we all become light.

So, if in the alley, and you see a caged creature, offer key. And drink

Sit then:  cup unwashed, alloy of yansoon and mint.