On this bench, many times I have contemplated skinned knees, heard stories of woe or watched battles royal fought by three- and four-foot folk. Now the snow and cold drives us indoors, where children’s pains seem more internal as well.
Speak softly
Without haste,
For a word,
Ill-placed,
May strike a blow
To one hurt
On the inside.
This we can avert.
Reflect on any
Plans or actions.
Evil arises from
Creation of factions.
Harsh words divide,
Conquer and defeat.
Imagine being the other.
Use compassion. Repeat.
Whether we are talking about children, adults, religions, towns or countries, we all need to pause and reflect. To imagine life as the other.
I don’t like to moralize,
Or antagonize,
But in the face of evil
Speak I will.
Choose an action
From compassion.
Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: The combination of poetry, interspersed in prose, is called a haibun. This recent rash of school shootings, terrorism and racial and religious violence moved me to speak together with many others, in a movement started by Yvonne Spence. Let’s create a better world for our children, a magical, safe world where differences are celebrated rather than used to divide and ridicule.
This is beautiful. Thank you for your awareness and compassion for our children. Blessings and peace!
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I’m glad you do, too! 🙂 I have to take my daughter to a birthday party, but I’ll try to swing by and say Hi at your site later. 🙂
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Have fun! Always a pleasure to see your smiling face. Blessings!
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We were cutting glass! How unexpected for a class of 6 year olds. 🙂
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It certainly is. Children are exposed to many things at an early age. Sounds interesting. 😊
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It was fun. Can’t wait to see the finished shamrock we made together.
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There’s nothing better than family time!
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Too true!! I will be sad when they are all grown. I’m loving having them home with me.
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Yes I know the feeling! I couldn’t wait for them to grow up, now I miss them. 🙂
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LOL We never know when we have it best. It’s not easy being a parent, but I wouldn’t trade it.
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The rewards are plentiful! Children are precious! 🙂
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Yes, they are dear. I just wish I had more energy. I waited a long time to have my kids. Now I try to enjoy every day with them. 🙂
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They are full of energy. I had mine at a very young age, but went to work earlier than I would have liked to. Enjoy every moment Brenda. They grow up so fast.
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Thanks, Ms. Vee!
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You’re welcome.
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Well said, and so true!
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Thanks!!
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Brenda this is wonderful! 😀
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Yeah!! I’m so glad you like it.
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Compassion within to share will create a better world…You are succeeding in that Brenda, for you are the essence of compassion :)maryrose
Beautiful …really Beautiful
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
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I am not sure how my name is up by your smile…ahhh see even cyber smiles draw us to you 🙂
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LOL I’m so glad my smile is near yours. Hugs, Brenda
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Thanks, Mary Rose, you are lovely! Hugs, Brenda
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Reblogged this on chrllrobb.
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Thank you for sharing both these pieces about the need for compassion and the hurt we can cause others if we fail to show compassion.
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Thanks, Sistah, maybe if we start with the kids, they will create a better world in their day. 🙂
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Speak softly and without haste is definitely something I needed to hear Brenda! I had a terrible row with my landlord yesterday, he’s not very thoughtful at the best of times and often tries to break his own tenancy rules. He’s doing a refit of my bathroom soon (should have been done last year) and he tried to change everything he’d previously said to me how and when the job was gong to be done and because he didn’t like me objecting he then tried to tell me he only needed to give me 24 hours notice of any major work in the flat – which is complete rubbish and not legal at all. The trouble is when people get blatantly selfish and try to walk on others, I find that very difficult to stay calm and not speak in haste. But of course that reaction often leads to making the situation worse. My brother rang my landlord and managed to talk some legal softly spoken sense into the man, he then agreed to give me ten days notice for the job (which is what he should have done to start with). He even put it in writing as if it was me that was objecting to the entire job being done – stupid man!!! 😐 I’m going to need learn to speak softly to him and definitely without haste. I have to remember that even tough he is essentially stupid most of the time – he is still human and probably has his own set of problems too.
See, you never know when you write something what effect it has on another the other side of the world – thank you for that. 😀
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Oh Suzy, dealing with acquaintances over legal matters, proper notice and fulfilling obligations requires lots of deep breathing and firm talking. I hope all continues to go well. How lucky your brother helped you out.
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Well said, Brenda. You not only speak with compassion, you communicate with compassion.
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Thanks, I hope we can all remember to do this. I try to teach this to my kids, but it requires constant effort. So much easier to be lazy.
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Oh, yes, it does require a lot of effort.
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I love the poem so so very much! 🙂 It is beautiful! 🙂 And I want to come and sit on the bench with you and drink hot chocolate and talk about fairies and trolls. 🙂 ❤
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Anytime! That’s why I have a bench among the lavender and sage. 🙂
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Oh, lavender and sage!!! Oh, that must be so heavenly!! 🙂 ❤
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It smells lovely from spring through late fall. 🙂
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Oh, I can imagine! 🙂 ❤ I remember sitting under my granny's Lilac tree in summer, that was so so lovely!! 🙂
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I have lilacs nearby, too. In the hopes of seeing butterflies. I do have butterflies who spend long summer days dancing on the oregano, too, now that I think about it.
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Oh, how utterly dreamy!! ❤
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🙂
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Brenda, I wish we could make children our world’s focus instead of business, oil and other impersonal subjects. The most important reason for Peace is to provide a safe and happy environment for the children, who truly are our future.
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True! Thanks for adding your voice, my friend. Hugs, Brenda
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what a beautiful place, filled with beautiful moments of love and compassion, accompanied by such beautiful poetry )
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I wish we could all pause before we speak. Always. 🙂
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So beautiful Brenda. Lke you!
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Thanks!! You are sweet!
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Beautiful! And thanks so much for the shout-out! Now I just need to get my post done for tomorrow!
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Yeah! I will look forward to seeing it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention in time for me to join in.
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Wonderful .. Yes let us indeed create a better world.. Lovely words you have shared..
Hugs Sue
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Thanks, Sue. Let’s hope our voices can change the world.
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I am so with you on creating a better place for children, cheers to that!
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Yeah!
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