I Will Water Hope

by Vernie Lynn DeMille

You cannot make me hate.

With your words,
Your anger,
Justification,
Damnation
Or eternal salvation
On the line.

Preach your dogma,
Shout your creed,
I will NOT
Yield to hate
For any soul
Mired in
Poverty
Despondency
Apathy
Lies
Confusion
History
Pain
Or Fear.

You cannot make me hate
Who doesn’t look like me,
Vote like me,
Pray like me,
Speak like me,
Believe like me,
Or Think like me.

Shout your anthems.
Chant your march.
Raise your fists,
Your righteous condemnations,
Your voice,
Your fury,
Your ire and your rage
And blame me for your hate,
But…

You cannot make me hate.

There is too much Sorrow,
Heartbreak,
Compassion,
And Love within my heart
For your hate
To find room to grow.

Bring the storm and savagery
Of chaos
With the spittle from your shouts.

And I will water
Hope
With my tears.

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