Best and Worst

 

Best and Worst
 
We are blinded by hatred; we are blinded by greed.
We are blinded by what we've been taught.
We are swift in our anger, slow in our love.
Our minds--they are sold and are bought.  
 
The worst of the west, the worst of the east,
And the worst of the north and the south
Are the things that we take, from our births to our graves,
As burdens on paths that we walk. 
 
The best of the west, the best of the east, 
And the best of the north and the south
Are forgotten, my friends, as we near to our ends,
In our thought, in our action, our talk...
 
Let us see what is worst, let us find what is best, 
Let us drop then our weights and our chains.
Let us find then the peace and the wisdom we need,
And the light on the path that sustains.
 
2024 Nov. 30
Berkeley, California