foundation of value

self-worth, knowing i am loved

that is what i work to have all children

take within themselves to enable each

to respect self and those other uncertain beings struggling to find place in

the enormity of unsure relationships

and hints of danger

to have strength of foundation

to be able to respect us all and see

fellow humans with caring

and compassion

chilling

another night of silent snow

to laden pine branches with beauty

another morning of soul-reaching chill

to remind us of the plight of wild

creatures who cannot always

protect their offspring

and of the parents of war

who cannot always

protect their children

from leaders willing to sacrifice them

in the name of policy or conviction

listen to what is—and isn’t

hearing the sighs of friends

in deepening anguish at the loss

of function and companions

humbles me in contemplation

of my own demise

but what reels within my being

for the lifetimes to come

is listening to the silence

of children engulfed in the horror

fear and degradation

of hate

john s. thornton

gentle poet

who captures the anguish

of uvalde and ukrainian children

and their devasted familiesmplate.

imagine that

sensitive to who kids are

witty in the spirit of their games

kathi brings out laughter

and gives safe haven to imagination

and so it became

i love the story of children, delighted

by orange, pink, blue, purple wings

flurrying around them

parents called them ‘flutter bys’

the little ones, too excited to listen

closely, spied a yellow enchantment

and called out, ‘butter flies!’

and so it was

slaughter of innocents

haiku

kindergarten child

drills for gun rampage lockdown

dad hugs tight good-bye