community?

united we stand divided
it seems schemas have changed
paradigms have shifted
and some want their rights to include another’s nose

perhaps communities can
break through the system illusion
recreate themselves as communal
where rights and responsibilities are protected and exercised

perhaps unity
compassion and
empathy will become ingrained
as the united states strives to stand united

Paul Cech has been writing poetry since 1970. Several of his poems have been published as Saturday Poems in the Pittsburgh- Post Gazette and the Thomas Merton Center of Pittsburgh has published several of his poems in NewPeople. Read other articles by Paul.