Blathering Poetry

Word to the Wise

Word to the wise little ones

This world is much bigger than our town

Much bigger than the animosity of

“That sister said that.”

“That brother did what!”

 “That cousin said hey!”

“That nosey neighbor is a no-way!”

“That stranger is creeeeeeepy!”

Word to the wise children

When an outsider looks at you with wonder and smiles

It could be they see a tower of possibilities  able to remedy

the intolerant, ridged, predictable, and unimaginative that weed the field of soulful nourishment 

That darkens and decays promise into the impossible.

And it could be that smile is just a wide open cheer

When an outsider says they dream of you, it might not be lecherous, lunacy 

It could be dawn painting pictures in their head of prairie bees that flutter and float

 Where adult noise has vibrated into powder dusting the center of a static blossom

And you have turned it into something sweet and worthwhile

And that dream is now echoed into a cheer

When an outsider says they care about you

It could be they see through that self protection posing as tough

Because they know tough is about embracing the hazards of consideration, of compassion, of concern,

 The outsider might just be celebrating that courage in you  

And that courage is bounced back into a cheer.

Perhaps the outsider is an evil snake charmer,  waiting to strike

Perhaps their kindness is an illusion meant as a trap

Perhaps their compassion is a lure to catch and filet you into a scrumptious meal

Or perhaps these are cyclical clichés spit out as words of caution not to be engraved as the absolute

How do you decide?
Because
Perhaps that outsider is not..... the caution

Word to the wise sons and daughters,

Predators hide in the high grass

 waiting

Crawling silently with controlled heart and breath

The silly fools who reside on the outside of your circle and flay about with earnest enthusiasm

That shout uninhibited words unfiltered from their hysterical heart

 “You can win this race!” “You can write that rhythm!” “you can figure it out!” “You can be!”

Youcanbeyoucanbeyoucanyoucan! I believe in you!

What weirdos, eh! What whack jobs! What a dubious cliché to wear their heart on their sleeves and whip it about like grandstanding cheerleaders.

What fools!

 Right?

Well a fool they might be but they seem much too loud to be a predator!

Word to the wise friends,

When an outsider cheers it could be love in all its virtuous forms.

Because they know it is needed

Because despite skin, faith, geek, nerd, jock, or the socio-economic position that places you across the track or on top of the hill, love inspires.

For this outsider love is not a tv show,a sports team, candy cupcakes, or a venti soya double caramel salted mocha chino  latte with a splash of cinnamon.    

For this outsider, love is hallowed

For brother Jerry who saved his ass so many times,

 for sister Josie who cradled his broken heart until it mended,

for brother Tom who rushed to his mother’s side after an speeding SUV crushed the remaining years out of his father

for the sister stranger that took the time to save his life when others had just passed on by

even for the furry friend Fido that wags his tale and licks his face as they wrestle in the backyard

it is for his mother, for his father, and his sisters and brothers by blood or fate

For the outsider, love might simply be shared with the worthy

And they deemed you laudable

Word to the wise my brothers and sisters,

Sometimes the outside is located along a journey far far into this bright world

Sometimes that outside is uncovered the next block over

That outside is just steps from the inside of the familiar

What are you familiar with?

Because be assured, as an outsider you will be found

And when an insider looks at you as a snake or a fool

Be brave

Smile wide, echo dreams, bounce a caring remark

And you will let love cheer

 By Bill Legge