Virtues – words, painted on a wall
Virtues,
Ours to consume,
To make us whole.
Energy that sustains,
The mind, body and will,
The beating of hearts,
The rhythm of lives.
Lies, like thistles grow.
Honesty - chokes the thistle, sooths our pain.
Alienation, the fog rolls in.
Unity - we were together all along.
Hurt, as an ember burns.
Forgiveness – the ointment of healing.
Failure, seeds planted, longing for life.
Perseverance – the rain that sprouts forth, seeds of Success.
Broken, lives longing to belong.
Integrity - the glue that forms and holds us tight.
Trees bend, break, in the winds of adversity.
Assertiveness – standing tall with strength in Knowledge.
Virtues,
Words, painted on a wall,
To be seen,
To bathe,
To feed,
To clothe.
Indifference, chasms that separate.
Understanding – the bridge built in Caring for another.
.
Arrogance, power, fear one another.
Humility – knows the gift of self in Service to another.
Closed, as petals in the night.
Truthfulness – in the light of our days,
the fragrance of who we are releases.
Life is our gift to give.
Responsibility - ours to learn, to know, to LIVE.
Fifty eight thousand, one hundred and ninety five.
The number of names engraved on a wall,
Shouting, pleading, praying, crying,
Peace, Compassion, Courage, Love,
Weeping, wiping tears from cold black granite stone,
In another place and time, still we remain Hopeful, wait with Patience,
And Trust that Justice and Goodness prevail for all people
Virtues, words painted, on a wall.
Dedicated to all who work, study and play within its walls – past, present, future, Community of Peace Academy Charter School, St. Paul, MN
In memory of, and with Gratitude for the life of Pfc. Kham See Xiong class of 2004