ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

We cannot change our heritage, or the color of our skin,

We can’t determine what we’ll be on the day our life begins,

When we are born our souls live too, but we’ve not yet seen our God,

Our genes are set in DNA, red is the color of blood.

We breathe our first and scream out loud, the sound continues to  pierce,

Our minds react to what we see, our voices become quite fierce,

As life goes on the choices made will alter our point of view,

Will our voice outweigh our choices, by thinking it’s right to do.

We can’t control the storms that come, the obstacles that we face,

But if we start to listen again we might arrive at first base,

We all deserve a starting point, each voice has its own merit,

But if we simply shout and scream injustice we inherit.

We can’t control our lot in life unless we’re willing to change,

Our ears are a great vehicle for carrying that exchange,

The choices made within our youth can lead to revolution,

Sometimes it just means giving in, or finding a solution.

We can control what happens next, but it involves give and take,

Still underneath the belly of hate, a quiet voice will awake,

We listen for that peaceful word, a commandment pure and true.

To place ourselves in other’s shoes and love them as God loves you.