A poem by Richard Falk

 

To be human

            is to be

                        naked

                                    before and after

                                                                                    the law

 

To be protected

            if ever

                        if at all

                                    only by

                                                the decency

                                                                                                of others

 

And when unprotected

            abused neglected

                        there are

                                    dark clouds

                                                in the sky

                                                                                    of the citizen

 

He who seems proud

            only when

                                    saluting

                                                flags

            paying bills on time

                                                            this code of his:

                                                                                    ‘virtuous obedience’

 

My code

            is learned

                        (if ever learned)

                                    only by moonlight:

                                                                        ‘disobedience is love’

 

Nurtures

            the heart

                        in hard times

                                                even amid strangers

                                                                        even on crowded streets

 

Silence

            helps also

                        until the time

                                                finally comes

                                                            and when it does—

                                                                                                            it will

 

 

Then

            to do to undo

                                    to act

                                                ready to kiss one another

                                                                                                            ready to die