To understand

And be understood

It has been taught

As a mother’s child should

Always be attentive

And hopeful

Speak softly

And not boastful

So we learn again

Today and everyday

How to understand

Upend

The night

And take the day

For the moments

That have faded away

So it is in the moment

We achieve

What we need

Today

And everyday

It was offered

And the commitment was made

To take

What was on the display

Of hope and

Continual words

Relayed

Today

I will take

Whatever comes

My way

If I was unaware

I apologize

For the blatant

Blindness

That I have inherited

Over the years

But I strive

To be better

As we all do

So be patient

For growth

Is inconsistent

But it comes

In time

By the time

I made it to the

Church

The words

Had ossified

The hopes of the people

It was too late

No more

Hope

Just hate now

As the main currency

Of the day

The city to the south

Departing Chicago

On the way

To the warmth

Of a summer’s break

Headed to Nashville

Will take

Any daylight

To make my way

On the interstates

Wednesday

A sign of the time

Without my mind

I am worthless

To be held up

From the chaos

And abrupt

Changes of

This world

A clear day

Is the adversary

Of the dark and cold

Winter months

So on a summers sweet

Step

The city blossoms

From the west

Into the city

Over the bridge

The Chicago Skyway

A beauty that is

From way above

And down below

A city scape

I have come to know

What did I want

I wanted nothing

What did I do

I did nothing

What did I say

I spoke nothing

And the wind blew

And my hair grew long

And grey

And then

One day

I spoke the words

I had sought

For many years before

To give love

To be love

And to be sweet

In being given away

I was cold

Until now

The warmth is back

In my fingers

And heart