A WISH FOR GLOBAL LASTING PEACE | By LISA RUIMY HOLZKENNER (Chelsea, NYC)

I lived through the horrors of several wars beginning with WW II

I need time to lament, for the fire of wars have never been completely extinguished

I will lament until we control the destructive impulses in our brain

So that hatred will not grow ever again.

I wish for a time when a glimmer on the conscious eye will wake

the love that is already within each human being, a love that will lead to

oneness of humanity, with new faith in the possibility

of global lasting peace in our time.

As I am writing these thoughts, my beloved grandfather’s precious word

come to mind: “Hate is regretful and alienating.

Love, despite hate, would conquer societal ills.

Respect all human beings, for we are all God’s children.

For in the great chain of life from humankind to all living things on Earth,

we form a harmonious whole in this immense world

in ways that our finite minds cannot yet decipher or understand.”

These words inspired my soul with a sense of hope for a more human world

For what we plant today will be the harvest for a better tomorrow

Let’s join the hands of our beautiful rainbow colors – black, white, green or blue

and the shades in between, for the multiple colors reveal what is true-

the beauty of the collective wisdom embedded within our hearts, minds, and souls.

With a receptive consciousness, let the imagination of defenders of justice

arise in truth, beyond religion, race, gender or creed.

With united vision, let us think and plan toward a peaceful tomorrow

a future of no more cruel, childish games,

no more violence on the ground or in the air,

no more guns and bombs and the unthinkable destruction they bring,

and there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

Let’s fashion for a new world to be born and peace written in the sky.

Let us not be diminished by our differences; instead let us overcome the mistrust and hatred as we celebrate what we have in common, our shared humanity.

Let’s treat each other with kindness and respect in everyday interactions,

while pursuing a more just system of social and ecological relations

between nature and man and all creatures with whom we share our planet Earth,

the only home we have, ours to protect, preserve, and cherish.

As sisters and brothers let us share the beauty of our souls,

as we weave a rich tapestry from multiple stories of our cultural folklore,

anecdotes, vignettes and songs to spread love and hope for a peaceful world,

the paradise that was always meant to be on earth

created by those who love life and took a chance to dream.

With them will arrive the dove of: Paix, Paz, Salama, Shaanti, Shalom, PEACE.

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