mercy for the oppressed

Claude Clark 

- - - - - 

how beautiful,

how perfect 

the flowers on my cactus 

that live for just one day 

they bloom with color and glory 

if only for a short while 

and i stand there marveling at the sight 

wondering why it is 

that the cactus flowers move me 

like no other 

more than roses 

more than lilies 

when it dawns on me 

that they are all the more lovely 

because they will die so soon 

how human of them

- - - - - 

i am visiting putah creek 

where i left some of my son’s ashes 

when the beautiful cry of a pheasant 

rips through the air 

cutting me like a fresh sorrow 

every new day is like another year 

of suffering

- - - - - 

mercy for the poor 

mercy for the homeless 

mercy for the oppressed 

mercy for those 

who have no safe land of their own 

- - - - - 

my road to heaven is not the same as yours 

likewise my road to hell is different too 

life is often random

i have had two marriages 

one lasted thirty minutes

and the other lasted a lifetime 

love is often random 

when i was young i was ruled by my anger 

i had to learn to let that go  

my choices can be more random

i live a quiet life now 

i say ’no’ more often than ever

the things i say ‘yes’ to are quite random

i might mention heaven and hell 

but i don’t believe in them

or fate 

i believe what happens in life is mostly random

now i will end this poem 

i might make some coffee or sweep the kitchen

or both

by james lee jobe 

Banksy

Sometimes it’s not the strength but gentleness that cracks the hardest shells.

Richard Paul Evans

- - - - -

"There is no such person as a stranger. Everybody needs compassion."

 Yoko Ono 

- - - - -

It’s important to remember that until we straighten up our own lives, we probably won’t be that much help to anyone else.

Clancy Martin, “It’s All for the Better”

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jlj