ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Hi Maureen

Just in time (again) - here is my homework! Your prompts led me down the path of social justice this time ...

EQUAL FOOTING
(c) Shelley Hansen 6/7/17

With equal footing we are born, as babes without a name,
our lives ahead - uncharted seas to sail.
But there it ends, for opportunities are not the same
and sadly, some are doomed to fall and fail.

A perfect world would give a chance that's fair to one and all -
sustainable throughout each well-lived life.
But race and colour, creed, belief and background build a wall
that causes some to be beset by strife.

It's isn't nice to be defined by what some men believe
deserves elimination on a whim,
for those who harshly judge may cause the innocent to grieve
and face a darkened future, cold and grim.

So let us view our fellow man as human, nothing more.
Let fear or favour not corrupt our gaze.
Perhaps our gentle tolerance will help us to restore
a pathway through this world's eternal maze.

A powerful message, Shelley, but one that still goes unheeded in far too many quarters. And with all that's going on in the world at the moment things are looking rather bleak!

Cheers
David

Thank you David - yes, intolerance on so many levels.

Cheers
Shelley

A perfect world would give a chance that's fair to one and all -

A great line Shelley and I am sure many would be wishing for exactly the same thing around the world - Will we ever see it happen though? Mankind seems to be becoming more intolerant from decade to decade IMO, or maybe I am just getting older and crankier

You made great use of the prompts in this one - well done.

Thank you Maureen