Our Hometown

You're not my hometown, but—
there was a before—where we all lived together—

beyond winding paths of recollection
beyond cold thrashing tides of hate
beyond colors, shapes, and orientation
beyond walls of tribes or nations
beyond divided byroads of language
beyond thick gathering storms of war
beyond choking chasms of government
beyond swollen bellies of hunger
beyond pickets of sickness and suffering
beyond deep mines—driven by gold
beyond hollow halls of recognition
beyond dark oceans of fear or skepticism
beyond sharp precipices of abuse or division
beyond a vast wilderness of lost loves
beyond tattered nests of spinning entropy
beyond thunderous rasps of control
beyond bristlecone tree rings of time
beyond our expansive cosmos of stars

As our short mortal adventure turns into its future—
all the beyond will become our bright today of hope
a healing homestead will embrace every weary spirit
and life will bloom in never-ending gardens of peace
we will remember that we are all brothers and sisters

who instinctively love and treat all as one
who care and build up an immortal family
who cherish all fulfilled truth and science
who know that time is a worldly construct
who find power in unity and God’s grace
who spread light beyond the burning stars
who work as stewards in a royal creation
who reflect the smiles of heavenly parents

 for our life inside dust clouds
of this earth is but a microsecond
yet in God’s grand design of joy
our spirits multiply beyond stars

and if we can understand today
we are children of God’s universe
we might perform in a meeker way
that better reflects such goodness…