Us

Becky Payton and I

Many men are at times misled

as most could be thought of as blind

Measuring by what they won't do

instead of to whom they were kind

Attempting to build an empire

judging themselves by what they deny

Thinking them best who resist temptation

be it a crime for a man to cry

No hungered child is a lost soul

nor a beggar be taught how to live

By preaching morals to the poor

we take from whom we should give

Goodness is not what we won't do

nor a question of who we exclude

It is an unselfish act of Humanity

to see ourselves in those we include

Author's Note

How many times do we walk by those we could so easily help?

Reviews

[Charles]

Five stanzas of near perfect poetry. Each stanza is a self-contained lesson (parable) and they are tied together by the title and pictures. The styles of individual lines are consistently interesting (stilted language in some ways, archaic in other ways, but all working together for the overall effect of the theme). And, a good theme - God's work (if you think God needs an apostrophe to help His work, check line 16. Great work on this one.

[emma]

Very thought provoking, so real and once again beautifully written.

[Poeticpiers]

well crafted with a true message Tate.Excellent piece of writing ivor

[J. Hampton]

Powerful and provocative work...
nicely intertwined group of wisdoms
very impressed
a noble truth exposed... the guilt makes us look away
so true

[SK Woodiwiss]

Wonderful. You have sincerely spoken to me. So often we, I, worry about my moral character rather than questioning my right and wrong. Christ, to me is epitomized here, so despised by the self righteous and so loved by the harlot, the lost and down and out. He found such worth in them because honesty was something that they pondered when with Him and not assumed they knew.
On and on I go but the point is you work has touched me, made me thing. Thank you - thank you.

[Halkhend]

good job

[Belator Books]

You exist among a narrow group of poets who can take the abab and keep it from all things 'corny', weaving art and emotion in with such restraint that I am delighted to read onward. One of my pieces done last year seems to mirror this hearty lesson of delayed compassion, titled 'Jurisprudence'. Nicely done.

[Jeff Miller]

I like this. Such a great message and wisdom in this.

[deeps]

This is quite the amazing write here.
I like this.

[Lilly]

really lovely poem - eye opening and beautifully written

[Poetic Beauty]

I love this poem. Our church takes turns going to one of the homeless shelters to feed the unfortunate and not long ago I taught my son how to be kind by taking ten dollars out of the bank and giving it to a man who said he would work for food. I didn't have work for him so I gave him money. This is a very touching poem. It is a real eye opener. The flow of this poem is smooth as always.