November 25, 2005
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Choices
We are very different,
You and I.
We can let that
Tear us down,
Drive us apart,
Become the focus
Of all we are.Or we can let that be
A priceless gift,
A chance to learn,
A starting place,
A celebration
Of who we are,
Two of us together.It’s all a choice,
You see.
Shall we divide?
See only our differences?
Or shall we, instead,
Take the opportunity
To grow and learn?For I have much
To say,
And so do you.
The two of us
together,
Are better far
Than only one.It’s up to you
My friend,
What do you want?
What connection
Shall we make?
What will it be?
It’s up to you.
Comments (30)
Lovely poem !!
“Or we can let that be
A priceless gift,
A chance to learn,
A starting place.
A celebration
Of who we are,
Two of us together.”
WHat a lovely line ! Splendid
~MK~
This poem is beautiful.
Help me build a perfect nation. It will be fun
http://www.xanga.com/Building_A_Mystery/394251836/aperfectnation.html
This poem is so good and so true. We all have so much to learn from each other. That’s one of the reasons I like Xanga; I get to read many varied opinions and converse with the writers…like you.
I love your poem. How thankful we are for our differences, but also thankful for the meeting of the minds. Love to you, Nancy.
It is, indeed, a choice. Differences can be a chance to grow, if each is able to respect a different point of view. My husband has said, “If we were just alike, one of us would be unneccessary.” Hopefully two people, whether friends or lovers, can offer dimension and depth to one another.
I think as more and more of the public recognise thedamage being done by distraction in such a polarised cultural and political climate more and more of us will actively seek common ground and some degree of cosensus. I think this poem speaks to thos..it does for me anyway…and I thank you for writing it. Mia Lucia
Accept and respect each other differences. That’s all there is to it. We should not attempt to impose our beliefs or wishes on others! Great poem. Simple and to the point.
love the poem.
Nance – I enjoyed this poem very much. Beautifully written! Thank you! Hugs, Lisa.
What a neat poem. Polarization is the enemy. Looking at what we have in common is the way to go.
A beautiful poem!
Oh the art of your poetry!
hey, how are you? i hope you had a good thanksgiving. i love this poem, it’s beautiful. deep inside we’re all people with the same needs
thanks for posting it. i’m going back to hospital tomorrow but i know it’s necessary to get better. take care, charlie
Dear Nancy,
Like all your other readers, I really admire and embrace this piece of work. Allow me to post an “answer poem” I wrote in 1976 at the age of 23. It’s not as good as your poem, “Choices”, but the sentiment is similar.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
Me & You
Poetry by Michael F. Nyiri
September. 17, 1976 1:00 a.m.
ME:
I am complex
A phantasmagoria on two legs
A troubled, worried
Saddened wreck
Walking about with a smile
I will laugh
And I will always betray myself
I am like that
I wish I knew you better
YOU.
How can I know what you’re like
You seem simple
A sheer vision of perfection
Om a world of broken dreams
A lovely radiant
Beam of hope
Beackoning to joy
So he may follow.
And you’ll both have a grand time.
And when complexity and simplicity
meet
The juxtaposition will hurt the eyes.
ryc: Thanks. I’ll be back.
Wonderful poem… and appropriately, it deals with something that’s going on in my life right now. Thank you for sharing this with us!
A poem filled with wise and beautiful thoughts. Thank you!!!
This is a poem that should be on billboards…
RYC~
I’m actually not in St. Cloud I’m in Morris. St Cloud is just the nearest Metro to me. -=wink=- However… It IS wonderful to know we are neighbors! Perhaps, if I am in the area sometime, we could meet and do coffee or something.
K.L.
Lovely poem and I could not agree more with the thoughts behind it.
ryc: I appreciate your comment. Thank you! I’m glad that I’m not the only one willing to speak up on such issues. Best wishes to you and your’s this evening and night, and Blessed Be!
RYC~
That means a lot to me…. Thank you for your comments….
About the cities? You are between me and the cities…. I live 45 miles SSW of Alexandria, if that’s more helpful. -=smiles=-
Thank you for your wonderful comment and for what you said. I the situation has caused a positive change. I wasn’t a very nice person before it, and now with such a huge slap in the face, I am changing my ways.
There was a man, who I am now seeing and who was a friend before it all happened. I judged him incorrectly and placed him as the “bad” guy when in fact it was the man I was going to marry. However, instead of hating me for what I did to him, he still loves me. He has shown me so much, all of which I am grateful for.
I keep my fingers crossed that, with this first love of mine will also come a bunch of other “firsts” that he and I can share together.
As for your post for the cafe, you seem to have such a blessed life. I really hope things turn around for the better for you.
I like this!! It is so true!! We need to learn from each other’s differences.
Happy Monday!!
RYC: Thanks for the comments. I know I’ve been lax about Socrates Cafe, but I’ve only been able to log on from work and I’ve been extremely busy. Too busy to think about how I feel that in depth and to give it the time it deserves. I should have my home computer set up by Saturday so you’ll be seeing my responses very soon!
This is really deep, Nancy. And so true. The interesting thing is, you’ve managed to convey that your choice is made and that won’t change. Your feelings are yours and no one is going to tell how you must feel and be. That’s what I like the most. Never letting someone dictate how I feel and what I think…but accepting what the other person feels/thinks. I really like this one. Well done.
RYC–In a way, I’m jealous. But…like I said, I was one of those silly nits who had such a crush on him. LOL at this point, I think I’d simply like to sing along with him on a song or two. Here’s hoping that, one day, the barriers will break down. When he sees that the only thing you want is what you already have. His trust. Well done on that score, too!
This is a beautiful poem. The world would be so boring if we were all the same.
RYC: Yup, it’s been an icky, weird day, hasn’t it? It’s still raining but they’re saying it will be snowing some time tonight. Ugh…ice.
I hope you have a wonderful night and stay off the ice
!
oooohhhhh. I like that poem. I have someone really special who I would like to share that with. I’m visiting from II. Hope to see you again. We’ve probably met before.
Hey! Great poem!! Thanks for the Thanksgiving well wishes……we did have a great time on our camping trip!! Thanks!!